Five ways to end chronic Dallas homelessness

by James K. Waghorne

I learned so much about society and myself while I was homeless in my City, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world today and yet, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

There has been much said about this American tragedy and even much more said about what we as a people and Nation should do about it. Homelessness drains both the economy and the human spirit of any community. It has been proven that it is less expensive in dollars to solve homelessness but fact is that the term “homelessness” has been so dehumanized that neighborhoods would rather fight to keep 6,000 individuals, children, disabled, veterans, battered women and those who just need an opportunity to get out of what is the most life threatening environment in society, than to even allow just “50” people a chance to live with a roof over their head and the same dignity they themselves demand.

So what do we do? Is it our community moral choice to condemn others on the basis of their health and economic status? Do we continue to spend over 60 million dollars and lose another $50 million in City revenue to keep an average of 6,000 citizens homeless at any given day in Dallas? In other words, spend over $18,000 per year to keep one child, disabled individual, veteran or battered woman, homeless and over $52,000 to keep a family of 3 homeless per year. Common sense has always struggled against the viewpoint that the inhumane treatment of a few benefits the quality of life for the fortunate. I don’t see anything changing tomorrow or even in the next few years and further proof of that was the recent report in the Dallas Morning News on March 26. But there is an opportunity to start being more humane and to start saving dollars. As we were taught, “When you have lemons make lemonade.” So here are five suggestions that will not only save millions, be more humane, but also ensure the adopted ten-year City of Dallas and Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance plan to end chronic homelessness by 2014 will actually come to fruition.

A: Close the front door to “chronic homelessness” (Chronic Homeless – a disabled individual who has been homeless for 1 year or has had 4 episodes of homelessness in a 3-year period). The City and County of Dallas pass a resolution that any disabled individual who has been homeless for a period of four months would receive priority for a DHA voucher or other City/County program to receive housing before the six-month of homelessness.

It costs a minimum of double and takes twice the time to help someone after they have socially acclimated and adapted to the homeless culture. According to studies, this period of adjustment and acceptance is six months.

Not that I have the most recent figures, but this should average between 20 and 40 individuals per month. Without such a resolution failure is certain. If you don’t turn off the faucet the tub will never drain.

B: The Agencies and their Housing First plans will focus on those already defined as “chronic homeless.”

C: The last two years I have researched alternative short-term housing options. I looked into yurts, domes, tents and even sheds but American history has proven the most insightful. Out of the box and into the teepee. While I’m not overly impressed with tent cities or putting people into sheds, the modern day canvas teepee is extremely practical, safe (water, mildew, fire, wind resistance and four seasons), aesthetic to the eye when decorated and can deal with the current overflow or those who are resistant. The daily housing of 566 homeless people in jail is insanity. A $600 teepee can house four people comfortably and they are durable enough to last up to five years. Setting up a small community properly and targeting 200 individuals for such a program would save the City and County over $30 million.

D: There isn’t a single individual who shouldn’t be outraged at the lack of attention given to the Mental Illness epidemic in our Country since there isn’t a single individual who isn’t affected by it one way or another. Mental Illness is the number one cause for veteran homelessness and the number one killer of veterans after they return home. Mental Illness is the second leading cause of death among College Students and in a study done by Harvard over 50 million Americans have suffered an episode of Mental Illness. Any other kind of epidemic on this scale would become a priority for the CDC, State and Federal Government. Take just five minutes and contact the CDC today.

E: For too long we had bought into the idea that our self worth and destiny lied in what we could accumulate. Faith was placed on the “Crap Table” and the results of such brought about the Bernie Madoff’s and AIG’s of the world and always will. John F Kennedy once said: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

Very apropos for our times today, wouldn’t you say?

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