Friday, December 21, 2007

Dallas homeless need advocates that actually help homeless

By James K. Waghorne

Advocate: 1) one that pleads the cause of another; specifically, one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; 2) one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal; 3) one that supports or promotes the interests of another.

Bad, bad Santa… Some years back, a director for a service provider wrote an op-ed piece in the DMN asking people to stop giving money to those homeless living on the streets or to the poor panhandling to buy food because their rent took most or all their Social Security monies. Instead her suggestion was for people to send their monies to her non-profit.

Whenever any organization suggests that you take your money away from those you intend it to go to and instead send it to their agency, red flags should rise. How is your money then guaranteed to help those you have compassion for? Did anyone suggest that this new anti-panhandling program packaged as “Lend a Hand” would end homelessness for anyone? Will the monies go towards brick and mortar for a home to house a homeless person or pay for someone’s salary?

80% of the money donated towards helping the least fortunate does not make a difference in the people's lives we’re trying to help. That's over $50 million. It certainly never ceases to amaze me that during the time of holiday cheer, City Hall and others target the least among us with new fandangle ways to bring more hardship upon these. It also never ceases to amaze me that so-called advocacy groups are willing to sell out for a few pennies.

What does enable individuals experiencing homelessness isn’t a few bucks in change given to them by “Good Samaritans”; it’s the lack of housing and the lack of political will to put some real dollars towards saving human life. City of Dallas and Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, all I can say is Bah-humbug. As far as that service provider who asked our general public to send them the money instead of giving to those in need: Trinity Works folded about 1 year later.

This article was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.

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• Poverty > Homeless

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