Helping the Homeless
December 19th, 2006 | Posted in Philanthropy, Responsibility, Society
On Sunday night I had a conversation with a few people in my building about a couple of nearby homeless shelters. I’ve had the conversation before over the last few years but was engaged as new parties were involved. Two shelters were in question:
- The first could be one of the worst shelters in America. It has multiple code violations including fire, occupancy, safety, etc . . . In addition to housing people in need it houses the worst of the worst of the homeless population - the substance abusing criminals who will do anything but try to help themselves. It offers no programmatic services and forces people to sit through religious sermons to get food, which it allows outside the shelter, causing a giant mess to be created by people who are supposedly hungry but like to throw their food everywhere. But, the shelter also houses those who can’t find shelter anywhere else.
- The second could be one of the best shelters in America. It follows all the rules, institutes programs to help the less fortunate and is admired in the community. It wins awards, grants and helps people get back on their feet. But, if you are a career homeless person with no motivation to help yourself then it’s not the place for you.
The two shelters exists close physically but not philosophically. What each does to help the less fortunate in the community varies tremendously in detail. Each shelter’s efforts begs the question: at what point does society stop trying to help people who don’t want to be helped?
Clearly the mentally unstable, the victimized and the occasionally homeless should receive a helping hand. But, there are people out there who just want to coast by, getting a hot shower and a warm meal when they need recharging. Many of these people are harmless, just unmotivated. Some of them are criminals, and use shelters like the first one described as recharging centers. The main criticism of shelter one is that its operations enable the homeless, not allowing those who want help to gain the skills to function in society. But, they also allowing those who don’t want help to recharge enough to maintain their lifestyles, which sometimes include criminal action against the law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who live close by.
Unlike some people I know, who so ignorantly believe everyone in this country has the same chance in life, I’m not naive enough to think that you are where you are because of your actions and no other reasons. People need help. The fortunate should help them. But at what cost? In the conversation that brought this piece about I was mildly criticized for not having compassion for the homeless. The criticism came before I explained my position and came from someone with heart, but much less familiarity with the situation at hand. It’s strife with religious and political posturing, an army of ignorant but compassionate supporters, and a religious zealot of a homeless advocate who uses the media to keep people who stand for accountability and responsibility at bay.
The situation hasn’t gotten better is a number of years. The haves have more and the have nots still have nothing. The debate on what to do goes on, and the person (in this case) who claims to want to help the most is doing the most harm. This holiday season, if you give or help with homeless causes please support the ones who truly help the less fortunate. Giving money to places that enable homelessness is like flushing money down the toilet. Only when support for the bad shelters dries up will support for the good ones rise tremendously.
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