From Kennedy to Biden
62 Years of Fighting Poverty Four years ago, I stumbled upon a statistic that stopped me in my tracks. No matter the policies, the funding, or the political leadership, one number remained unchanged: 11%. For over six decades, the U.S. poverty rate had hovered around this figure. How could this be? Hadn’t we learned anything […]
Housing First vs. Rehabilitation First
What’s the Right Approach? In the past few years, I’ve read hundreds of articles and written numerous viewpoints about the importance of affordable housing for the homeless. Politicians, policy, and program advocates have concluded that housing is the panacea to ending homelessness. Their conclusion is that if a homeless person is housed then the problem […]
The Real Reasons Behind Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex issue that has been researched and discussed for years, yet it continues to affect millions of people. Despite efforts from both the government and private organizations to end homelessness, the numbers haven't decreased as much as we hope. So why is this still happening? At the heart of the problem are […]
ANOTHER HOMELESSNESS FIX
The recent Supreme Court decision to ban street homelessness has led to discrimination and criminalization.The decision allowing states and local governments to create laws to prevent the homeless from living on the streets has resulted in the destruction of encampments, forced involuntary sheltering, detainment, citations, fines, jail, and criminal records. Systemic fear and discrimination have […]
FIVE DOLLAR BILL
A couple of times a week, I go to the local grocery store for food and other essentials. Occasionally, I see homeless individuals and families asking for money. The customary request begins with, "Do you have some change?" I usually do, so I give whatever is in my pockets. I avoid reaching for my wallet, […]