The ignoring of an issue that affects us all: Homelessness (NV-03)
There are so many issues that are affecting this country that goes constantly ignored by our government and elected officials. There are issues that we face as a country that have bi-partisan solutions but that are ignored only due to the lack of lobbying and money behind a particular issue. We see this often with Social Security Disability, nutrition assistance, food stamps, free school lunches, etc.
One of these issues that are often ignored is homelessness. It is an issue that as citizens we cannot ignore because we constantly see it on our streets. We can drive to the grocery store, and it would be a surprise if we did not see at least one homeless American on that drive. Here in Nevada, the homeless issue is largely ignored, except by a few special groups who try and do all they can on a shoe-string budget.
Since the housing and economic crash in 2008, the number of homeless individuals and families has risen. Often, the plight of homeless families is often unseen and unfortunately left unfixed due to the inability always to tell if a family is homeless. Homeless families are hard to see in society because of the doubling up with family and friends as well as sleeping in cars in hidden areas and parking lots. This is the stark reality of two Americas, and one can rightfully argue that there is now ‘Three Americas' that make up the United States. We have a completely ignored class in this country, beyond just the poor in this society. Homelessness can no longer be ignored.
Right here in Southern Nevada, we are often seen as the city with the lights, glitz, and the glamor. What is not known, is the underbelly of the city of the citizens that have been left behind and ignored. For those of us who live here in Southern Nevada as well as those who visit here and walk the strip, the homeless problem here is hard to ignore. Just outside of the billion dollar Hotels/Casinos that make up the strip, are folks who are sleeping on the sidewalk hoping for a meal and a dollar from the thousands of pedestrians that walk by each night.
According to the organization Nevada Homeless Alliance, the numbers are staggering:
34,397 individuals will experience homelessness or a lack of steady housing each year.
7,509 individuals and families are without shelter or steady housing.
1, 240 of the homeless are children.
692 are Veterans.
833 are seniors.
1,479 are victims of domestic violence.
197 families are homeless with children in Nevada.
These numbers are staggering and unacceptable in the richest country on earth. This issue can no longer be ignored, not only on a local level but also at the national level. This issue is not an effort to “clean up our streets” or to make sure that the top 1% and their politicians are not seeing the end result of their failed economic policies that have decimated families and communities.
The issue of homelessness is an education issue, as a student cannot properly learn if they are going to school hungry and without a secure place to call home. We cannot say that we ‘Support the Troops’ if we let our real life, living heroes living on the street. We cannot call ourselves great caretakers of our elders if we allow for seniors to be sleeping on the street. We cannot begin to say we care about ‘Family Values’ if we have families sleeping in cars, having to find a safe parking lot to sleep at night. We cannot begin to think that we have an equal society when victims of domestic violence (often women) are having to resort to homelessness just to escape abuse at home.
So, what are the solutions to this problem? The Federal, State and Local governments of America have to start recognizing the urgency of this issue. There are numerous cities in America who have recognized this problem and have properly declared it a state of emergency, with Portland, OR, Hawaii, King County/Seattle, WA doing so and Los Angeles declaring their intent to do so.
As a country, we need to make sure that cities and states have the proper resources to fund outreach programs to reach those who are already homeless as well as those who are at risk of being homeless. A Federal program was presented to the office of the President of the United States in 2010 called “Opening Doors” that outline concrete steps to tackle this problem and I fully support this plan and an expansion of this plan when I am in Congress.
These recommendations were a great first step toward addressing and ending homelessness in America. The recommendations that were given are achievable and offer us a chance for success in the ending of the ignoring of such an important issue. These steps are taken directly from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness:
An end to homelessness means that every community will have a systematic response in place that ensures homelessness is prevented whenever possible, or if it cannot be prevented, it is a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience.
Specifically, every community will have the capacity to:
- Quickly identify and engage people at risk of and experiencing homelessness.
- Intervene to prevent the loss of housing and divert people from entering the homelessness services system.
- When homelessness does occur, provide immediate access to shelter and crisis services, without barriers to entry, while stable, permanent housing and appropriate supports are being secured, and quickly connect people to housing assistance and services—tailored to their unique needs and strengths—to help them achieve and maintain stable housing.
Like every other issue in America, we need to provide the necessary resources for cities and states to properly treat this problem. We know that these programs can work when they are fully implemented and tried. The state of Utah did it by providing homes to the chronic homeless and providing services later, once the individual was placed in the home and was safe. The director of this program is a Conservative, who was skeptical of such a program succeeding, but is now a firm believer and is now the director of the project. Now, if an ultra-conservative state such as Utah can achieve this, there is no reason other states across the country should not be implementing similar and more ambitious programs, knowing that they can and do work.
As a candidate and resident here in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, this issue is important to me and my constituents, I will continually bring this issue to the forefront whether I win or lose, as this issue can no longer be ignored. Our fellow American citizens can no longer be ignored, and the idea that it is only ignored because of the lack of lobbying and money behind it is not a good reason for me to have it be continually ignored.
Thank you,
Alex Singer
SingerforCongress.com
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