Where does The Bridge lead to?

by James K. Waghorne

Compassion is a highly admirable trait. It can move political mountains and ease the suffering of both peoples and animals. But having compassion and good attentions is not enough when dealing in humanitarian deeds. If fact it could cause harm to those whom you so desire to help; almost as bad as apathy does.

The reason humanitarian works is so challenging and even devastating to many; it is the reality that some will perish and you can't save everybody. And trying to do so risks the well-being of others who can be saved.

The Bridge (Homeless Resource Center) is now going into its fifth month and many have read the stories about how it has been facing the very same struggles as the old resource center. Overcrowding, violence and safety issues. Some of the top issues it was promised to solve. Promised to the public and more importantly to our homeless. A safe and secure place where our homeless can receive top notched services is one of the many advertisements we all heard. I know many citizens in our great city that voted and chose to sacrifice are disappointed that it has not yet worked out way and in the manner it was presented. Yes, there are some success stories as there were from the old Resource Center, but The Bridge was suppose to be different; frankly it is aesthetically beautiful and a facility we all can be proud of, but sleeping on the sidewalk or grass surrounded by beauty is just as homeless and suffering as sleeping under a bridge. It is also counter productive towards recovering from the effects of long term homelessness.

The issues today that are most apparent at The Bridge are just a residual effect of the real problem. The Bridge was built to serve 400 people at 100% efficiency. This means 400 people would not only have beds to sleep on but most importantly receive the type of services, which would hasten them back into recovery and out of homelessness. Working with the "chronic homeless" is a challenge and it takes a lot of individual time and attention to succeed. It is the Mental Health issues, addictions or other illnesses which need to be addressed, but also the homeless culture for which they have become acclimated and adopted. For those jammed pack inside to the point of being almost warehoused, that homeless culture lives on. One only needs to get a copy of the police reports and see the violence and it is a shame to minimize those who have become the victims by glossing over these incidents in the name of presenting a false appearance to the general public and to our Politicians. Numbers can be presented in any manner and as the old saying goes, "Figures can make anything look like a Pageant Queen" but when this happens; reality leaves the faces of suffering behind.

The Bridge was also supposed to be operated by those with expertise and experience so our homeless would not have to suffer through someone's learning curve. Certainly it is practical business sense to have people in charge who have at least operated a 24-hour facility or those who have actually helped one or maybe more "chronic homeless" into housing. This isn't the case. That isn't to say that those in charge don't have a good heart, but as I stated in the beginning, compassion and good attentions can be just as harmful as helpful.

The homeless and our community deserve to have The Bridge, which they were promised. It should serve 400 individuals in a 100% efficient and safe manner, acting as filter to move people out of homelessness.

Feeding and services should not be denied to anyone but it should not be a hang out for everyone unless they have a caseworker and meet with him/her once per week and are also staying at the facility. Easily identified with wristbands.

A portable building needs to be placed in the parking lot to handle overflow and just as importantly, assist those with Mental Illness and who are formerly homeless but come there for services. Mixing formerly homeless with those who are not in recovery or are just getting into recovery is harmful. The homeless lifestyle can be just as addictive as alcohol and formerly homeless do not need to be around their old "playground" as we say.

Does this mean some will not be able to sleep there? Yes. It also means 400 individuals are getting the best care and are being moved through the system as oppose to 600 individuals getting frustrated becoming more hopeless and trying to survive in an homeless culture and unsafe environment.

The Dallas Housing Authority also needs to come through with the promised vouchers. Certainly what we did for 12,000 of our neighbors from Louisiana we can do for 500 disabled Dallas Citizens.

Lastly, someone needs to have the courage to be honest with our City and County leaders as well as the general public. Working with this population cannot be done seeing only with Rose Colored Glasses. The road to end homelessness starts at The Bridge and today it seems that the bridge is still out and under construction. Detour ahead.

James is the president of the Dallas Homeless Neighborhood Association

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