Help our homeless
Homelessness must not exist in the United States!!
Homelessness in the US has been increasing at double-digit rates in many cities. As policymakers, we must examine the root causes and create a national policy to eliminate this suffering within our nation. Large metropolises like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley can’t afford to let their cities deteriorate. We have the capability and means to help the homeless get back on their feet and become dignified parts of thriving societies around them. As a humanitarian and potential policymaker, I have practical solutions that can be implemented in cooperation with cities and states. Please join me in addressing this important issue for our nation.
Millions of immigrants come to this country every year to establish a home. They are attracted by the United States’ unequaled economic opportunities. Yet, in this same country, where we have such a large amount of resources, we let over 600,000 unfortunate homeless souls suffer. Why? What are our leaders doing to put an end to homelessness? Almost nothing!
Out of about 600,000 homeless people, California hosts about 160,000, a very disproportionate number. A large population of homeless people lives in metropolitan areas – NYC has the largest at 80,000, and Los Angeles has about 66,000. San Francisco and Santa Clara County each have about 8,000 homeless people.
The saddest part is that 40% of the homeless population are youths under the age of 18.
Various causes have been identified in studies conducted over the past decade. Major causes include high housing costs, inadequate shelter spaces, mental illness, drug addiction, and deinstitutionalization.
Only about 40% of the homeless are in shelters, where the conditions are quite horrific, and the paperwork for admission is cumbersome.
Today, the responsibility to remedy homelessness primarily rests with the county or the city. Therefore, it has been tackled in a haphazard way. It should not be left just to local levels to take care of our suffering populations. This results in the deterioration of our large metropolises. What we need is to understand the problem at deeper levels and correct policies to eradicate this blight on our nation. Consider the following that happened in Silicon Valley in the recent past.
Between 2007-2012, Santa Clara County spent $3 billion, or $500 million per year, on homelessness issues. The majority ($1.9 billion) of the money was spent on medical expenses, and approximately $0.8 billion was spent on justice system-related issues for homeless people. The top 5% (2,800 people) of the homeless population cost the most; about $83,000 per year. This is an amazing amount of wasted money that could be utilized in a better way and still address the homelessness situation.
Root causes: To eliminate homelessness, we must examine and understand the root causes of the problem. It turns out that most homelessness is due to job losses and alcohol or substance abuse, which can be a result of a job loss. Many of these situations can be rectified within a short period of 3-6 months. I intend to introduce bills where job loss-related affordable housing rental projects become tax-exempt. I will support similar measures from the state.
Improving housing affordability: California needs to streamline and accelerate housing production and re-examine the regulations that have hindered new housing development.
I will build more shelter capacity and increase investment in cost-effective housing, which is needed today. This will help reduce the unsheltered homeless population.
Expanding Job Loss Protections: For people who lose jobs and succumb to alcohol abuse, becoming homeless, they should be encouraged to enroll in tax-exempt affordable housing developments and must participate in remedial programs at the same time. I will also examine the feasibility of tax-exempt temporary job programs for homeless people who are then able to look for permanent jobs. A skills retraining program with nationwide job search programs would be helpful in reducing homelessness.
Family Stability and Youth Job Training Programs: For people who are homeless because of family disputes, particularly the youth who are neglected or abused, we need to promote children’s original family support and safety-net ideas and modify or supplement the foster care programs. It is critical to enroll all affected youth in skill-training programs with job internships, so they can be independent when they leave their parental homes or foster care homes. If they choose not to be in foster care, then a well-run living and schooling facility for these homeless youths must be considered. We can’t let our youth go without care and guidance until they are well-prepared to take care of themselves. I will sponsor such federal programs and implement them with the cooperation of the states.
Drug Addiction & Mental Health Programs: Drug addiction and mental health are great challenges for our communities. We need federal and state-level cooperation and funds to create well-run facilities attached to local hospitals to take care of our mentally ill homeless people. They need clean, hospitable places to live, and not be left on the streets where they can catch illnesses and end up in emergency rooms all the time. There need to be lower barriers to treatment.
Post-Incarceration Job Programs: Lastly, people who come out of incarceration face stigma and have a hard time finding jobs. We can’t let these people live on the streets and fall prey to gangs and commit more crimes. We need job programs for ex-incarcerated individuals. It may be that federal, city, and county governments employ them in safe starting jobs, train them, and over time they can gain the dignity to be part of the larger society. I will sponsor such programs nationwide.
