Bob Ballard
At his March 24 press conference, President Obama talked about the homeless epidemic in this country. He said that he is “heartbroken that any child in America is homeless” and that “the most important thing that I can do … is to make sure their parents have a job.” He also said “that change in attitudes that I want to see here in Washington and all across the country is a belief that it is not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads.”
Our mission is to shift public perceptions of homeless people, so we are glad that the President is interested in this as well. Although he seems to have some genuine compassion for people, President Obama is working within the confines of an economic machine that clearly doesn’t work. As he mentions, there were too many homeless people on our streets before the recent economic collapse. A job is a good thing, but will not provide any long term benefit to people.
There is no solution to homelessness inside the economic engine that we have had for the last 150 years. The system is not intended to serve human beings. Our consumer culture is designed to produce and consume goods and services as fast as possible and its beneficiaries are those that receive the profits. The rest of us exist simply to turn a cog in this economic engine, convinced by the relentless media machine that we will someday join the economic elite. Although it may been partly true in the past that many people shared in at least some the profits, it is no longer. Wealth distribution in this country is highly inequitable and will increase so long as we continue to hold on to a failed system.
The people who are homeless are the refuse, another waste product like the environmental damage that this system has produced. And homelessness is not the only damage to human beings. Increasing alcohol and drug abuse, psychological problems, deadly diseases and more are devastating human beings.
I don’t have the answer, but I know that a new paradigm for human beings is coming into the world. It is based on the inherent value of human beings and a rising global consciousness of who we truly are: powerful, eternal life force that is intimately connected with each other and all of life. The new paradigm has been written and talked about by many people, some of whom go back centuries.
When we finally see that no one can truly succeed unless we all succeed and that we are not defined by what we have but by who we are, many “problems” will cease to exist as the old pardigm fades into history. That day is coming, we are creating it and we are living into it. You are welcome to join us!
Hi Bob,
I agree with your assessment re the producer/consumer economic machine..it doesn’t work because it is simply not sustainable in the way it has been run–e.g. the goods produced are based on planned obsolescence–heads of corporations created a “throw-away” society on so many levels, that’s true–but there is a solution, and we only need look at the pioneers of old who literally walked west across our country (no cars, no trains), and then built by their own hands shelter to live in…and then creating towns to support their needs…e.g. first housing, THEN jobs…not the other way around.
So, you are right, Obama cannot offer jobs and expect a homeless person to succeed in it at least not until that person has a HOME BASE! My solution is to offer land grants, and provide “green” (e.g. eco-friendly) pre-fab houses, which can be paid for at a later date, when the person finds a job.
Alternately, there are hundreds of empty buildings and houses across the nation…the government can offer these as temporary housing, along with vouchers for utilities…then when people start going back to work, they can either stay and buy or rent, this temporary house, apartment, or space, or else move to a better place. But first things first…a place they can call home! How many employers will hire someone without a fixed address? Not many, if any! Keep up the good work, and keep me informed!
As my father (who wrote the book “Homes for the Homeless) used to say: Love, Joy, Action!
Best wishes,
Wendy
Bob, what a fantastic article you’ve written. And Wendy has a great suggestions: land grants/green homes/temporary quarters/utility vouchers.
I am excited to be working for the author of a new book entitled, “The Smartest Way to Save.” I think it may prevent some who are not yet homeless from ending up in that condition.
I know that the author contributes to many charities, including some that house homeless people. Those who wish to have extra funds to contribute towards helping others would do well to read the book.
I used to feel that having money was in some way immoral. But… now I realize I could do much more to help others if it didn’t require more than half my time and all my energy, just to earn enough to barely survive.
I’m too tired to expound on this topic, but… suffice it to say, I’m going to begin to save money so that I can do more. I don’t want to save more to keep– I want to help others to have what they need to survive… and to also help others. I don’t anticipate earning great wealth, but if that should happen, i will definitely use it to provide opportunities for the homeless– arts education, film school… and the opportunity to present plays, musicals, and to make films… those kinds of activities are enriching, even if they don’t make the artists wealthy.
My parents were poor, but talented. I always believed their music brought them far greater joy and satisfaction than a rich person’s money could bring them, particularly if they had no talent for anything as soul-satisfying as music, art, dance, theater, or writing.
Many homeless people are rich in talents. I want to join you in helping them to have outlets for the expression of not only their talent, but the stories of their lives– the struggles, the triumphs, the devastation, and the longings, both unmet and fulfilled. There is a treasure of unappreciated humanity among the poor.
Thank you for helping others to see it.
Hi Bob,
Great to see your face. I love the article. As we each continue to open ourselves to a new way of approaching life we will each benefit from our love and actions to all rather thay are rich or poor, housed or houseless. We each experience life in the truth of what we see. The trick is to look past what we see and look for the good and love in each and every situation, person and moment. What we see is not always what is real.
I so love the fact that your project has given a new face to what has been labled homeless. Blessings to you and your project.
Please sign to help make housing for all as more and more folks senior and disabled are homeless..
http://homelessness.change.org/actions/view/accessible_housing_for_all
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Housing Task Force has released the results of a new study that estimates that 1.2-1.4 million very low income non-elderly disabled households without children had worst case housing needs in 2005. This range is more than twice the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s estimate of 542,000 non-elderly disabled households published in HUD’s most recent worst case housing needs report to Congress, Affordable Housing Needs 2005 (May 2007) ………………. …………………… In addition to improving estimates of worst case needs among non-elderly households with disabilities without children, the study found that 0.9-1.0 million families with children with worst case needs in 2005 had non-elderly adults with disabilities in the household. Thus, overall, the study finds that almost half of the nation’s 4.7 million non-elderly households with worst case needs include adults with disabilities. The remaining 1.3 million worst case households have elderly heads or spouses. ………….. ……………………..