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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 4/13/13

Helping the Homeless Will Take Fresh Thinking and a Focus on Mental Health: Part I

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Even if you manage to disappear every single homeless person, Wing Nut, or alien "other," the economy and the businesses where the homeless now congregate are not going to improve. Saying that these unfortunate folks are the reason for the decline of local businesses is like saying that rape victims are the cause of the crime committed against them. In reality, all the victims have done is fall into circumstances that place them in a dangerous situation.

We Need New Ideas To Solve the Homeless Problem

We're not going to get close to even managing the problems of the homeless, as long as we keep implementing the wrong "solutions." Until fresh minds come up with some new ideas, the problems will persist. 

I have one new idea, which is akin to what Utah does with its tax revenue. It instituted something called the "Job Service of Utah." Under it, men and women would line up in the early morning hours to receive one of fifty available bingo balls that entitled you to bid on day jobs. You had to get there early to earn a good shot at work for that day.

Then calls would come in for "four people for a landscaping job," and people would begin to bid. "Fifteen!" one yells out. "Eight!" shouts another. "One-hundred-sixty-six!" someone would jokingly bloviate. The low four bids would get the job.

And when they said you would make fourteen dollars an hour, you would make that. Either check or cash. Sometimes, the employer would be cool and even buy the entire crew lunch. Some bosses would pay for eight hours, if the crew busted their humps and got the job done sooner than expected. I can imagine running a place like this, not ever trying to make a profit. My only mission would be to get people at least temporary work and cash, so they could live.

And a shelter could be built in the same building, as well as showers and laundry facilities. We would even try to accommodate those who couldn't work in the service industries, mainly because of "underwear-goes-on-the-inside-of-the-pants" hiring specifications.

Mental Health Is the Crux of the Homeless Problem

Mental health is the crux of the entire homeless situation. Even those people who aren't severely mentally disabled will have some form of mental illness after only six months on the streets. The number of severely mentally disabled increases ten-fold after a year outdoors, as they become afflicted with "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD).

I myself am mentally disabled. I'm not ashamed to disclose that, because I own it. So what? Most people are affected by mental problems in some way or form, and don't even know it. That includes people living in houses: especially people living in houses. 

At least I know my own problems. It's okay. I'm not going to do what everyone thinks I'm going to do...ha ha. But that's what the Whitey Creek, $6 a pint, Denali crowd believes. Some of the well-off may be fearful coming into the downtown Berkeley area. Most likely, however, they're even more frightened by the prospect of their own bank account dwindling... spiraling downward...and the horrific thought: "I'm going to have to be out there, with those people?!"

But to all those who might have such a thought, I say, take comfort. I would treat you as I would any of my brothers and sisters who are down and out on their luck. I would direct you to food and give you a general idea of how the sleeping situation works. I would treat you with respect, unless you gave me reason to act otherwise. I would treat you better than you are most likely treating me now. That's the difference between you and me. I've heard people ask, "What makes you so 'special'?" I ask in turn, can you define "special"?

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James Armstrong II Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

I'm a homeless student, writer, and activist... currently panhandling my way through school (and life.).
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