Homelessness: Who’s to Blame & How do We Fix iIt?
It was a dark night. The twinkling stars were the only source of light; the street lights were nonexistent on the large, usually bustling road. It was cold– frighteningly cold for a place that was meant to radiate with so much heat that you would want to splash a bucket of ice cold water all over yourself. A man, barely standing, shivered with fright as another wave of wind thrust through him. He could feel the storm coming– one that would cause a loss of power for days, a loss of water for days, not that it would make a difference for him. He never had those things to begin with. He retired to his home, walking underneath the crook of US-183 into his tent, to catch at least a second of sleep. Climbing in, he knew it would be a long arduous night... but where else to go?
That was Texas, Feb 2021, when ERCOT failed hundreds of thousands of families; when the government didn’t prepare enough for a snowstorm; when there was no water in houses for days; when pipes burst; when people turned on their cars in a closed garage just to keep warm, causing severe carbon monoxide poisoning. And that’s what happened to people in houses; people like me. I lived through the outage with a temperature of 50ºF in my house sparing a fireplace or power to cook food. I lived through sitting in my car for hours charging my phone and trying to warm up.
But, I can’t imagine what happened to those suffering in the 30º weather, no coat, no home, just a thin cloth tent keeping them safe. The thought is terrifying, and most would just rather not think about it. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
Homelessness hasn’t just existed in this type of situation, and it certainly isn’t just an issue in Austin though.
Homelessness in South Asia
Out of a 1.378 billion population in India, 1.77 million people were found to be homeless, and another 65 million people lived in slums. A 2017 Times of India report also found that the average household size was about 4.8 members, with 94 sq ft available per person. To put that into perspective, that’s the size of a prison cell. Even worse, only 28% of the Indian population has sustainable access to improved sanitation. Unfortunately, homelessness and poverty is not a new issue in India, and South Asia as a whole.
Localized Individual Action
In sixth grade, I held a drive for a homeless shelter as a part of my English project; it was my first time participating in community service. I didn’t know what I was doing. I advertised it through the school announcements system and told all of my friends to donate. They nodded with excitement about the opportunity to make a change in their community.
When I peered into the very empty donation box at the end of the week, I was much more than sad or angry. I was disappointed.
But, I was unsure. Maybe people just didn’t have the resources to donate and help those in need. Maybe those at my school were those in need. Maybe I didn’t advertise it enough. Maybe they just didn’t care.
Ten years ago, my localized actionable steps did virtually nothing. Now, though action is being taken individually, the impacts aren’t enough to solve a systemic level problem.
So, who’s to blame?
Those homeless people standing outside in the cold in Austin just two years ago underneath the primary highway in the city this year were chastised for not being “aesthetically pleasing” in the city. In fact, Proposition B legislation was passed in May 2021, prohibiting homeless citizens from sitting, lying down, or camping in public areas. The city threw them out as if they were camping for fun underneath a highway.
Why do we seem to be moving in the opposite direction?
The fact is, we do care, or at least most of us, individually. Our problem is that this is a systemic-level issue that individuals cannot solve. We need something bigger and stronger. Here are the three very broadly defined categories perpetuating homelessness in the United States, as defined by John Heinz.
“Income-related issues including low income, unemployment and precarious employment, and limited income opportunities due to low education and skills
Lack of supports and services including those geared towards addressing such problems as ill health, mental illness, substance abuse, and social isolation from family and friends
Those related to housing factors including eviction, and vulnerability due to living in crowded and/or unaffordable housing”
People do not choose to be homeless. They are forced to.
So, how do we fix it?
This story isn’t about blaming our more wealthy neighbors who refuse to donate or spread awareness, or even think about the issue, or the systems in place that support modern capitalism; it’s about starting to take action and working together to both comprehend and solve the issue. There are a myriad of ways that society can come together to support those out on the streets, whether it be donating, or simply lending a smile. Social media awareness and community awareness are both great ways to educate the public.
However, the change can’t just come from citizens; it has to come from policy and policymakers. We need our policies to support people who are homeless, not prohibit them from living in the only space they have left. We need to uplift them through providing food stamps, and a shelter to live in, and listening to them. We need to get companies in and provide more hiring opportunities for them.
The root of this issue does not lie solely within the people, but a corrupt, sexist, racist, classist government– a government that only cares about ruling and not true democracy. We need real tangible solutions that will not only bring awareness and donations to a 6th grade donation box, or any donation box for the homeless, but will also bring a home to all those in need.
So that even when it’s frighteningly cold, whether it be in Austin, Texas, or in India, they have somewhere to find warmth in.