Sunday, August 5, 2007

Where are the homeless workers constructing the Dallas homeless center?

By James K. Waghorne

DALLAS — Certainly one of the most often heard expressions when discussing homelessness has the words in some form or variety stating, "Go get a job". In the last seven years I cannot count how many times I have heard these words spoken from every part of society; even from some homeless themselves.

It is my personal belief that if an individual can work and be self sufficient contributing to mainstream society, then that should be the goal not only for the individual but also for our entire community.

Many remember the fight over Proposition 14 last year; bond monies to be used to build a new Homeless Assistance Center and the almost $200,000 which was spent by both sides of the issue seeking passage or its defeat. Proposition 14 was so emotionally charged, that it received the most votes on the ballot that day, second only to the strong Mayor proposal. While many thought they were defeated with the passage of the bond monies, I saw an opportunity for everyone to come out a winner.

With the official groundbreaking held last February, I watched as Politicians and Guests of Honor take their bows, patting each other on their backs and give speeches of a grand and bright future for not only our homeless but also for Dallas and Downtown revitalization which this new project would help bring. I also heard one thing that would make this project truly a win-win for everyone. This new Center would be built by hiring homeless individuals. Building a Homeless Assistance Center without hiring qualified homeless is equivalent to building the Latino Cultural Center without hiring any Latinos. Or building the memorial in Washington D.C. for Martin Luther King Jr. without hiring African Americans. The next day many homeless went to the location told to them by the politicians to apply, only to be told the Construction Company wasn't hiring.

Now I know for certain there are homeless who can dig a ditch. I know there are some who can hammer a nail. I know that there are those in need of a job who are trained bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, etc… I know these things because I talk with them on a daily basis. One more thing I know. Regardless of how a person voted on Proposition 14 and regardless if a person even did vote. An overwhelming majority of our citizens would like to see homeless individuals in our community get a job and become self-sufficient.

So the big question is why did this Construction Company put the "screws" not only to our homeless but also to every citizen in Dallas by not hiring homeless individuals?

Do they not understand that the millions in profits they are going to make are because of the homeless and the citizens of Dallas? Is it about prejudice? Is it about greed?

Did the Citizens of Dallas and the homeless in our community; just get railroaded again by City Hall and greedy Developers?

Whatever the answers are to these questions, it was a sad day three weeks ago as I watched homeless individuals pile into a pick-up truck to go hang flyers on peoples doorknobs for $40 that day, when just down the street, a great opportunity to help the very people this Center was intended for, is instead giving all of us a reason not to trust the local government or any bond money Proposition for projects in the future.

James K. Waghorne is the president of the Dallas Homeless Neighborhood Association

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