Sound Familiar? "Ann Arbor struggles with homeless influx."

Ann Arbor struggles with homeless influx.

Ann Arbor — This progressive city, long known for embracing the poor and destitute, is learning that its support has a price.

For several years, homeless from around the state have descended upon the city because of a largesse that ranges from social services to the generosity of U-M students toward panhandlers, said city police, social service agencies and transients...

There are solutions that recognize the values of a progressive community and yet do not create conditions detrimental to the homeless and the community.

As the article notes, those who want to help the homeless should donate to organizations that provide food, shelter, and treatment, not to panhandlers.

There must be recognition that some of the single men, often veterans, suffer from substance abuse problems and their situation is not going to improve without treatment and counseling, efforts that are beyond the resources of the local city or county government.

The problem deteriorated with 1980's Reagan administration 'reform' of federal housing policy. There must be a new national housing policy and it must focus on the homeless -- both families and single men and women. Local efforts can solve part of the problems, especially for those who have an income, no matter how modest, but it cannot address the needs of those with health issues.

Simultaneously, there need to be rules: rules as to the operation of shelters, where people can sleep, and how they can occupy pubic space that belongs to the entire commnity.

Finally, it must be recognized that this is a state and federal problem, since so many of the homeless move across state borders. The irony is that voters will focus on local officials to solve this problem and ignore the candidates who can do something about it.

 

 

 

Comments

[antpoppa]

Excuse me?

"In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time. To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal."
G.W. Bush
Excerpt from second inaugural speech.