An August 8th Boston Globe editorial explored the idea of a future without homelessness. I include an excerpt:
WE DON’T have to study homelessness,” state Representative Byron Rushing says of a new state commission that he proposed to address the issue; good research is already available.
Instead, the commission has to answer two questions. What kind of housing do people need? And, what will it take to keep formerly homeless people housed?
If Massachusetts can find and pay for answers, it could end homelessness — for families, adults living on the streets, people leaving prison, and those with mental illnesses or addictions.
[…]
A key piece involves creating a careful transition away from shelters and toward providing more supportive housing, which includes social services that could range from substance abuse programs to financial literacy classes. Shelter providers and other nonprofit organizations could help deliver these services, helping to ensure that people’s specific needs are met. And because formerly homeless people may have future problems — job losses, addiction relapses, or illnesses — there should be long-term outreach to prevent setbacks.
I agree with Byron Rusing that we already have enough information about homelessness. We now have a choice between using what we know to end homelessness or not. Basically, we can end homelessness by ensuring that the homeless get education, job training, and employment.
To avoid homelessness and live self-sufficiently, people need a stable job that pays for the costs of all contemporary human needs, including food, clothes, shelter, and healthcare. Additionally, the person needs to make enough to pay off their student loans and to secure retirement.
When getting education and job training, these people need access to food, clothes, shelter, and healthcare. We cannot forget healthcare, because these people cannot escape homelessness and poverty without treating their illnesses, including mental illness and addiction.
In regards to how to provide these services to homeless people, I suggest using student loans that cover not only schooling itself, but also food, clothes, shelter, healthcare, job training, and job placement. We cannot reasonably consider an education complete without those necessities, and thus student loans need to include them. By using student loans, we can end homelessness essentially for free, while also allowing homeless people to participate more fully in their own salvation, which emphasizes the self-sufficiency required to permanently escape homelessness and poverty.
If my plan interests you, please join my Hunger & Poverty Forums to discuss it with me further, which you can do for free. You can find the forums at the following URL:
http://millionsofmouths.com/forums/
I encourage constructive criticism, and welcome all opinions and viewpoints.