To effectively address homelessness, it’s essential to implement both short-term interventions and long-term systematic changes that will ultimately result in lasting solutions. One viable solution involves providing affordable housing and housing programs to ensure accessibility. Collaborations between government agencies, nonprofits, and the community can also generate sustainable and comprehensive solutions. Mental health services are also critical in addressing underlying factors that contribute to homelessness. To tackle this complex issue, an adaptable approach is necessary, and it’s important to address root causes such as the lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, and unemployment. These are just a few potential solutions to alleviate homelessness. An example of this is the Conestoga huts over by Autzen Stadium, here in Eugene, They are small, portable, and are provided to the homeless as temporary shelters. They are a modern approach to temporary housing made with weather-resistant materials and wood. This provides not only shelter but privacy for individuals as well as a sense of home.
Figure 1: Conestoga Huts Eugene, Oregon
I agree that in order to address homelessness, we must come up with both short-term interventions and more long-term systematic changes. As you state, it is important to provide affordable housing and housing programs for those in need. Collaboration between the government and the community is a must to develop a sustainable solution to this problem. The problem is perpetuated not only by the lack of affordable housing but also by the lack of support. Many unhoused people face mental health issues, and due to lack of mental health services. By providing these services and others, we can address the root causes of homelessness.
As discussed in lecture, people in the past and present view the homeless as lazy and interior. Often blaming them for being homeless and not acknowledging how the system is often working against them.
I agree! Your mention of the negative stereotypes and the serious misconceptions about homelessness is significant. The perceptions society has of homeless individuals as being lazy and undeserving can negatively impact the stigma and stop efforts to address the underlying systematic issues here.
This also makes me think of the lecture where we discussed the past and present views of the homeless population as inferior to people who aren’t struggling without a home. Putting the blame on someone and people who are struggling with the system and the harsh reality that it is working against them.
Understanding this and the system at play here and how it may work against the homeless, and challenging them and these stereotypes is a very important step towards the mission of fostering empathy and understanding.