Treating people like cattle

 

 

"We treat pets better than many of the homeless are treated. It is beyond shameful..."

My wife and I have been involved with the homeless youth problem in Anoka County. My youngest daughter works with homeless outreach in the City of Minneapolis. My other daughter works for Social Services in a country just north of here. And I have relatives who also are involved with helping the hungry and homeless in the metro area and points north.

Today in the paper was huge news. Because of a grant of $100,000, two the homeless shelters in Minneapolis are going to be allowed to stay open a bit longer in the morning. What does that mean? In one of the shelters, your "bed" is a mattress on the floor with sixty other people. If some snore, if some talk on the phone, or whatever - a good night's sleep is seldom in the cards. Then after putting in a fitful night of sleep, the rules are to be packed up and out of the facility no later than 7am. This new grant will allow the shelter to remain open a bit later than 7.

My wife and I have learned things about the homelessness which are eye openers. First, very few people who find themselves homeless planned their life this way. When you talk to some of these folks who have no place to stay, it is shocking what they go through on a daily basis. Next, according to NAMI, it is estimated that 80% of homeless youth have some kind of undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues. Finally, drugs. Some are also hooked on some kind of drug or booze.

We really do need to come up with new thinking on how to help these people. In the editorial page today was an article about a Section 8 lottery which was recently held by the Met Council. Over 30,000 people were vying for 2,000 Section 8 housing units. That means that over 28,000 are still without a stable place to live. People end up "couch hopping", staying in cars, over crowded shelters, put in jail, or living on the street.

There was an article this weekend about "mini houses". Very affordable and very small. Big enough however, to give some modicum of privacy and shelter to those who need it. The kitchen and bathrooms are communal. That is the only drawback. But a person can have their own bed to sleep in and chairs to sit on. Residents can talk on the phone, listen to the radio, read, or watch TV without bothering anyone else. And these housing units are very cheap - about $4,000 each.

People who are without housing, without a permanent place to stay, deserve our compassion and help. Most are not bad people - they have either made bad choices or have received bad breaks. The status quo on how we help the homeless really needs a tune up. Treating people like cattle, no matter where you live, is just plain wrong.