According to research, at any given night in California there are over 129,000 homeless people state wide sleeping on the streets. The sheer magnitude of that number alone shocks the conscience.
Rightfully, some who read that number will react by contemplating why more isn’t being done to help the homeless and others will wonder what specific conditions led to throngs of families being without shelter in state that’s rich in resources and opportunity.
Both reactions are legitimate—and hopefully will drive people to action—but the polarizing nature of these reactions has caused us to forget that the answer to solving our homelessness crisis is complex in the middle.
For those who wonder why the state hasn’t done more to help the homeless, you’ll find allies in the likes of the governor and state Legislature, who together, have worked to implement new laws aimed at reducing homelessness. Some of those laws loosen restrictions around construction, which could speed up the building of homeless shelters statewide and others make it harder for cities to block homeless shelters.
Additionally, the governor signed over 18 pieces of legislation he claims will boost housing production.
If you’re a resident who has empathy for the homeless, but are concerned about the impact shelters will have on your neighborhood, you’re in good company in too. Many cities throughout California have concerns about how a homeless shelter could transform their neighborhoods and communities. When you break it down logically, it’s quite a reasonable concern to have.
According to a study from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, two of the leading causes for homelessness include untreated mental illness and substance abuse issues. Desperation is often the bedrock for many societal ills, which is why residents often express concern about the impact shelters will have on their neighborhoods and local schools.
In Los Angeles alone, just last December the Los Angeles Police Department reported a 50 percent jump in homeless-related crime. Now, one could make various arguments for why that crime is happening in the first place, and while there are some solid answers, the rest is candidly left to speculation. And without being consulted by their elected leaders as to the conditions that have caused homelessness in their communities, it makes sense that residents would be ambivalent.
There are simple solutions that are based in reality and would require folks not to demonize each other’s position:
Homeless shelters should not be on property near residential neighborhoods, especially in poor working class neighborhoods. It makes sense to not compound the problem of poverty.
When planning shelters and new laws aimed at tackling homelessness, state and local governments need to have extended periods of review and community input. If regional interests are at play, it may make sense for neighboring cities as well to join forces for community input sessions.
Lastly, it should not be expected that individual cities alone should solve the homelessness crisis. Regional partnerships with surrounding cities are crucial to acquire the funding necessary to make an impact and to deal with the possibility of increased homelessness. New state laws could make this easier.
When discussing the homelessness crisis, it’s easy to see how inflamed passions can get in the way, but when you step back and take a critical look at the issue, you’ll also see how most people involved are driving toward the same goal. Everyone wants safe and thriving communities for the families, including Californian’s vulnerable populations.
Joseph Laughon is a former journalist and commentator on local community issues.
