Source: LA Times

10 Things We Can Do to Perpetuate Homelessness

July 19, 2003

Commentary

By Joel John Roberts

To many people, the world today is upside down. Look at the problem
of homelessness, for example. We are the richest and most powerful
nation in the world, and yet there are still thousands and thousands
of people who sleep on our streets each night.

It doesn't make sense; it is an upside-down reality. But maybe
we need to look at homelessness with an upside-down perspective,
with an absurd logic that just might illuminate the immensity of
this crisis and move us into positive action.

Maybe the utterly absurd conclusion is this: We really want homelessness
to exist in the United States.

Maybe homelessness is good for our economy, since doing nothing
saves us money. (We avoid paying increased taxes to feed, house
and provide the homeless with job training.)

Perhaps it boosts our self-image. (We need to feel positive about
our own lives, so it's good to have people worse off than us.)

Homelessness helps our environment since the homeless are great
recyclers. (Perhaps homelessness gives us a great reason to clean
out the old clothes form our closets.)

It is a good object lesson for our children. (If they don't do
their homework or find a job, we threaten that they'll end up like
"them!") And what else would we do with our spare change?

Sure, this "logic" sounds ludicrous, but so is the existence
of homelessness in affluent America. If there really is an absurdist
conspiracy to keep people homeless on our streets, then here are
the "Top 10 Ways to Increase Homelessness in Our Community":

10. Keep thinking that the homeless are just lazy and shouldn't
be helped.

9. Assume foster kids magically become responsible, self-sufficient
adults at age 18.

8. Provide public food programs, but ignore the real reasons people
are hungry.

7. Make it hard for the homeless to access services by spreading
out services all over the county.

6. Encourage NIMBYism.

5. Let law enforcement deal with it. Outlaw homelessness and throw
the homeless in jail.

4. Sweep the homeless into other communities.

3. Eliminate the welfare system.

2. Keep minimum wages at a minimum.

And finally...the No. 1 way to increase homelessness in our community:
Reduce the housing stock and eliminate affordable housing.

Sadly, although this Top 10 list might seem outlandish, some in
our community encourage such steps. The reality is, if we just do
the opposite, we could end homelessness.

It just makes sense that if we take the right steps to end homelessness
in our nation, our community and our country become stronger.