Ticket to ride....

I have really mixed feelings about an article in today's LA Times about the city of Lancaster providing bus tickets for the homeless to get out of town. Sure, on some level it makes sense to provide people an opportunity to return to places where they have the support of family and friends. But is that what's really happening?

The article says little or nothing about mental illness. Time and time again we've seen "ticket to ride" programs fail because people with mental illness have been shunned by traditional support networks: that's why they're HOMELESS TO BEGIN WITH! Shipping them out of town isn't going to solve anything...it's simply a way of saying "we don't want to deal with this."

It reminds me of the 1976 film about German Jewish refugees on board the S.S. St. Louis. The whole voyage was an anti-Jewish propaganda scheme to "prove" to the world that no one wanted the Jews. It feels that way sometimes, with the homeless, and particularly those who have mental illnesses: no one really wants them...they just want them to go away.

Hate crimes

In 1994 California Governor Pete Wilson vetoed the Legislature's addition of the homeless to the categories of people who can be considered victims of hate crimes. Fifteen years later, Los Angeles County supervisors unanimously recommended that sheriff's deputies, prosecutors and the county Human Relations Commission start tracking and reporting attacks on the homeless as hate crimes.

With concerns about "an emerging pattern of homeless individuals being an easy target of violence in our community," Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky sponsored the proposal with Supervisor Don Knabe.

It's a step in the right direction.

(from LA Times story, March 25, 2009)

More than "facts"

A recent article from the Associated Press did a major disservice to persons with mental illness. Assembling a packet of "facts" into a piece that was clearly designed as a scare tactic, the article basically villified people with mental illness as being uncontrolably violent.

It reminds me of something I heard a long time ago: "Even the Devil can quote the scriptures." The point, of course, is that anyone can string together various facts that are unrelated, create a false relationship, and force whatever point they are already convinced is true.

The truth is that people with mental illness are more often the VICTIMS of violence than they are the perpetrators, and that when variables are adjusted, violent acts against others are most often the result of drug and alcohol use/abuse....a fact that was conveniently left out of the AP piece.

The only thing the article does show (and, unfortunately, it was picked up by internet provider Yahoo and printed in local papers too) was how hungry society is for a scapegoat, and that, once again, those without a voice are the easiest target.

Ivory Tower BS

Well, what can I say? Over and over again the "system" proves it cares not a lick for the people it professes to help.

Every conversation I've ever had or witnessed in the boardrooms of government, agencies, organizations...whatever...was, at best, about people and not for them. I really don't care what people say, what justifications they use, it's all a lot of BS. When you talk about people you objectify them. When you justify actions that result in the harm (or lack of help) of the marginalized, you are doing one thing: justifying yourself.

I don't know the answer. But in a city that has a "10 year plan to end homelessness" that's been gathering dust on a shelf of years while people are dying, well, it becomes pretty obvious that talk is cheap.

Worth a thousand words

Not so simple mathematics

It's something I don't understand. There are those who say we already offer enough help for people who are homeless (or even too much). But if that's the case, then why are there still people who are homeless? If our funding, our programs, our help is "enough," why are there still people out there who need help?

Can't THEY do the math?

Is it simply a matter of fact, as some would have us believe, that those who remain homeless WANT it to be that way?

I suppose it has to do with goals, and logic. Some feel that assistance ought to be offered at a level that helps society's most marginalized to just get by...to barely make it. But there are others who believe that assistance can actually lead to transformation...and in the end, a society that embraces all people and the gifts they have to share.

Worth reading

This is from David Kalke at Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino:

What are Your Images of Homelessness?

When you think of a "homeless person," what image comes to your mind? The media and sometimes our own church news have created an image of a homeless person in America that is not always accurate. Is the created image clear in your mind? Has the image created someone you can trust? Or someone you should fear? Does the image welcome the homeless into your church kitchen? Or does the image suggest you keep him out.

When we began our sanctuary at the Mission program on January 4th, we had some of those images. Board members had some of those images. "Pastor, what about safety?" "Pastor, if they see our computers, are they safe?" "Pastor, what our children? Will they be safe?" And the questions reflected images that all of us carry because of what the media and uncaring politicians have created in our minds.

Does your image include a homeless man who is homeless because of illness? One of the men who came to our shelter had recently been diagnosed with HIV and had subsequently lost his job and therefore his apartment. Living in the streets, he had no idea where to turn. When we discovered his illness, he was transitioned into one of our 16 homes where he is now part of a continuum of care that includes shelter, nutrition, community and medical advice. He and our neighborhood are safer because he has a place to live.
Does your image include a twenty-year old young man in school? While California provides great benefits to go to school, i.e. tuition, assistance with books and fees, housing is not in that package. A part-time job is not enough to pay for a month's rent. He had to choose between continuing his education and being homeless or an apartment and a life-time of low wages. He chose to continue his education. He now joins with three other young men in school living in St. Matthias House, adjacent to the Mission, where young, homeless men are provided shelter as long as they remain in school. Our sanctuary has three other young men in similar situations.

Does your image include working men? Several of the men in our sanctuary are working, but do not earn enough to pay for an apartment. Close to 35% of the men in our sanctuary have jobs but do not earn enough or cannot get an apartment because of a bad credit history, a recent jail sentence or a recent divorce or separation. A shortage of low-income housing in San Bernardino means these men are homeless.
Does your image include a victim of the recent fires? Several of our residents were employed in the mountains before the fires. The fires damaged their work places or their work places closed due to a lack of business following the fires. They lost their low-paying jobs, and became homeless. Coming back into the valley in search of work and shelter, they find themselves at our doorsteps.

Does your image include a man whose family is staying with maternal relatives while they seek to find an apartment that they as a family can afford in a city where housing prices rise much faster than wages? Several of our men have jobs and families but are seeking to save enough for the first month's rent and a deposit. Hardly a family image, right?

We have a growing challenge in America around homelessness. As housing prices rise and jobs or salaries diminish, more and more of the working poor are finding themselves homeless. Cities across the nation are adopting measures that work against the homeless and agencies working with the homeless are not supported.

In San Diego, for example, a recent ordinance makes homelessness "illegal." Following a third citation for being homeless, a mandatory jail sentence of six months is given. A similar law in Santa Ana is being challenged in court by the Catholic Worker as a discriminatory action against the homeless. In San Bernardino, ordinances prohibit agencies from assisting the homeless in public areas, such as food distribution in public parks.

The homeless. A growing number of people. Negative perceptions. Increasing laws and regulations nationwide that discriminate against the homeless.

Churches and non-profits are being challenged to find creative ways to both serve the homeless and to challenge systems that do not meet their needs. Churches are being challenged nation-wide to open their doors and become sanctuaries for victims of economies and policies that have locked them out.

Last Saturday I went to the Mission in the late afternoon to drop off the twenty dozen eggs, four gallons of milk, four loaves of bread, butter and nine pounds of bacon that would be our Sunday breakfast. As I approached the Mission, the laughter and shouts of activity became louder.

As I turned the corner, I could see young homeless men playing basketball with kids in our neighborhood. The men had found children to care for and the children had found adult role models. A new urban community had gathered.

As I entered the kitchen, two of our residents invited me to stay for dinner. They had cooked for themselves and for the kids. Two turkeys, potatoes, vegetables and fruit were on the menu. The hardened faces of the chronic homeless because of mental challenges had softened to smiles and faces showing comfort and relaxation. The fear of the cold night had disappeared. A sanctuary had been found and they were at worship celebrating the feast of life given to all by our common Creator.

Images of homelessness need to change in America. Church persons especially are called to speak truth in a context of misperceptions, lies and attacks. CCLM staff invites you to come visit our sanctuary. Come and share a meal. Our staff is open to come and speak to your council or preach to your congregation about our images of homelessness and share plans for how we can work together to better serve the poor.