Homelessness is a growing issue in San Diego and is rarelydiscussed in local news. However, this issue cannot be swept under arug or easily remedied, especially with the inadequate help andlittle media attention it currently receives. Probably the biggestcause for this issue getting so little attention is the lack of pitymost people feel toward homeless adults. It is easy to assume thesepeople wound up on the streets solely because of their own poordecisions or laziness. Hopefully, greater awareness will spur greateraction, and the problem of being homeless may eventually be defeated.
In a recent interview with Catherine Riddle, a case worker at oneof San Diego County's resource centers, Riddle said this lack ofadequate assistance is why she decided to go into her line of work.She further explained how easy it is for people to become homeless.In fact, many people are only one paycheck away from being homeless.Once someone has been evicted, it is next to impossible to findsomeone willing to rent to you. When one doesn't have an address anda regular place to sleep and shower, it becomes increasinglydifficult to find a new job, as well.
It is easy to lay blame on homeless people for their situations;however, the reasons for homelessness are myriad and usually haveless to do with a decision than with God dealing you a poor hand.Most of us are lucky enough to have a strong support system of familyand friends who would intervene and offer help if we slip into mentalillness or succumb to a drug problem, but not everyone is so lucky.
One of the most prevalent and saddest causes of homelessness isdomestic violence. According to San Diego's Regional Task Force onthe Homeless, approximately half of all homeless women are thought tobe domestic violence victims. In all of San Diego County, there are246 beds for domestic violence victims; sadly, that doesn't nearlymeet the demand. These abused people and their children need moresafety than regular shelters can offer. This leaves two otheroptions; either stay with the person who is abusing you and possiblyyour children, or sleep on the street when all the battered women'sshelters are full.
Another growing group of homeless people in this county is theelderly, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. The high cost ofliving in San Diego continues to drive low-income seniors out oftheir apartments. The Senior Community Centers report they witnessabout 10 new homeless seniors a week and the number of beds to placethem in has also been decreasing.
These numbers and cases mentioned might disturb you - andthey should. The problem may be much more widespread than you think.The Regional Task Force reports the San Diego region has 4,000 bedsavailable for the homeless in its community. However, there are 8,000urban homeless people and 7,000 rural homeless people in San DiegoCounty. Getting this many people back on their feet is difficult.Since there are only a handful of programs that assist people infinding jobs and re-entering society, this task is growing in scope.
The problem with homeless shelters as an answer to homelessness isthe lack of long-term solutions. While beds are needed, job placementis the much more pressing issue. There are many homeless people withcollege degrees, according to Riddle. While recent plans for a newshelter in Downtown San Diego are somewhat promising, I don't expectto see any new long-term solutions in San Diego.
Simply paying our taxes and turning a blind eye when heading intoa club in downtown and stepping over the bodies of homeless peoplebegging for change will not solve the problem. Taxes may be more thansome people want to give and turning a blind eye may be easy, butsomething needs to be done. I would rather see my tax dollars go tonew programs for homeless people that deal with job placement, drugabuse and mental illness than have a new stadium.
It is easy to forget about the homeless problem when we've got somuch else in our lives to worry about, but this issue will notdisappear with a few more shelter beds or laws preventing homelesspeople from sleeping in certain places. In a city such as San Diego,where there is so much wealth and excess, this should not be such apressing issue. There are places in the world with much morewidespread and effective ways of dealing with their homeless, and Ibelieve a part of growing into a bigger and better city is findingnew ways to solve this problem.
- Gaia Veenis is a journalism junior.
- This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.Anonymous letters will not be printed - include your fullname, major and year in school.
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