The Reality of Homelessness Requires Many Solutions

Friday, Apr. 07, 2017

Take a look around your house. Consider the small things you do each day within those walls, like throwing your keys on a table and sitting in a favorite chair at the end of a long day. Or heading to the kitchen for a glass of water after a walk around the neighborhood, or just because you are thirsty. Or grabbing a snack while watching a favorite show on television. Or using the bathroom whenever you need to, without having to consider where you will go and if basics such as toilet paper or soap will be available. 

Now consider that these are just a few of the simple, daily luxuries not available to those among us who are homeless. 

Of course, a homeless individual is denied far more than just these minor moments most of us take for granted. As the debate in Salt Lake County over sites for new homeless resource centers illustrates, “the homeless” are far too often denied individual identities and human dignity. For years, homeless individuals have been lumped together into a broad category of undesirables. During the course of the site selection process, it has become very clear that “the homeless” are defined most commonly as criminals, drug addicts, and a danger to society. 

Reality is very different. Like any community, “the homeless” represent people with a myriad of circumstances, dreams, points of view, and personalities. There are individuals who worked good jobs they lost through attrition and could not find employment in time to save their homes. There are women who left abusive situations to find little support, no work, and no affordable place to call home. There are individuals who prefer not to live the American dream or who are not able to do so because of mental health issues. And yes, there are former felons, addicts, and others who have found that getting out of addiction or back on their feet through legitimate means is nearly impossible without some help.

Catholic Community Services strives to recognize the dignity of each individual homeless person and provide a safe, comfortable environment. Doing so is costly and certainly not easy. The dedicated men and women at CCS also know that no matter how caring they are, how many services they provide, or how much food they serve at lunch time, the best solution for homelessness is housing, coupled with the supportive services tailored to the needs of each individual. 

For some, few services are needed. Many of our homeless population are temporarily homeless and fully prepared to get back on their feet if they can just find affordable housing.  Sounds simple, but affordable housing in Utah is in desperately short supply. 

Sensible budgeting practices suggest that no one should pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing costs. Utahns working full time at minimum wage jobs make a yearly salary of $15,080. Thirty percent of that is $375 per month. There are no rental units in Salt Lake County for that amount, without a subsidy or housing voucher, and the most a person could afford for a home is $37,000. 

For the chronically homeless, finding housing for less than $400/month is just the first phase of the battle. The longer a person lives a life that involves daily struggles to meet the most basic needs, the more out of practice they may become at thinking long term, budgeting for expenses, and navigating workplace and neighbor relations. Solving the problem of people living without a permanent roof over their heads isn’t always as simple as providing housing. For many, learning to live in that housing is just as important as having access to it.

There are as many causes of homelessness as there are homeless individuals. Recognizing their individuality and dignity is the first step. Finding housing options and services that meet their needs is part two. Salt Lake County, the state legislature and Salt Lake City have made great strides, but much more needs to be done, beginning with each of us examining our attitudes toward “the homeless.”