Temporary shelter in Eugene, Oregon. Source:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/3470/Homelessness
What’s the best solution to homelessness?
To be honest, I’m not sure there is one.
Maybe there is one solution; homelessness is a systemic issue that is a byproduct of much larger issues like poverty, inequality, and inadequate supportive resources. The best solution is to address these problems at the roots and pass policies that promote economic opportunity, equal access to affordable healthcare, affordable housing, and social justice. The problem with this solution is that it requires a complete overhaul of our current economic, bureaucratic, and cultural state, which could take decades to overcome.
In Eugene alone, there are over 3,000 houseless individuals, over 2,000 of which are living on the streets – this is due to a sever lack of temporary shelters and not enough resources to holistically treat everyone affected. Before the best solution can be successfully enacted, there needs to be a greater supply of shelters, half-way houses, and affordable housing options to meet the overwhelming demand. Additionally, more funding should be allocated to existing resource groups and more effort should be placed on creating new social safety nets. This is not by any means the best solution – it’s sort of like slapping a band-aid on a gaping wound – but nonetheless, immediate relief is better than holding out until for a long-term solution.
The complexity of homelessness as a systemic issue, intertwined with broader challenges of poverty, inequality, and inadequate support resources. This modern issue parallels the structural issues underlying 19th-century workhouses in England. Much like the workhouses were a response to poverty and destitution, modern homelessness is a symptom of larger societal failures. Addressing homelessness requires tackling these root causes through comprehensive policies that promote economic opportunity, access to healthcare, affordable housing, and social justice. However, similar to the challenges faced in the 19th century, implementing such solutions demands a significant overhaul of existing economic, bureaucratic, and cultural systems, which may take decades to achieve. The current situation, with thousands of houseless individuals lacking adequate shelter and resources, mirrors the shortcomings of historical responses to homelessness. While immediate relief measures, such as increasing shelter availability and funding for support services, may offer temporary relief, its equivalent to applying a band-aid to a deep wound. Despite their limitations, these immediate actions are necessary to address the urgent needs of those experiencing homelessness while efforts continue to enact more sustainable, long-term solutions.