Homelessness is a Systemic Problem, not a Lifestyle Choice.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Recently, I found myself among a group of upper and middle level managers from an internationally known Fortune 500 Company. Somehow our conversation drifted away from business and the topic of homelessness came up.

I was utterly shocked, but ultimately not surprised to learn the men and women I found myself sitting with, in that plush and well-appointed board room, actually believed homelessness in the United States has nothing to do with society, and everything to do with the mistakes and failings of individuals.

They believed that homelessness, incarceration, addiction, poverty and a whole range of multi-pronged issues were not the result of failed systems but instead the logical and anticipated result of lifestyle choices taken by those simply lacking the mental and moral fortitude to know better.

As someone coming from a social work background, this was not the first time I found my view points at odds with those of my colleagues in the business world.

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[KT2000]

1. A failed society

that offers rationalizations for ignoring the decent of a society.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. So true.

I just read Evicted by Matthew Desmond. I cannot recommend it too highly. It follows a couple of landlords and five or so people who are desperately poor and get evicted. More than once.

Here's what I want to say. I've been poor. I've gone hungry. But I have never been in the situation these people are in, where 70% or more of their cash income goes to rent. I always went to school, because that was a basic assumption. But much more to the point we never had to worry if we'd have a place to sleep the next night.

This book makes a strong case for both how terrible conditions are at the economic bottom and how we might alleviate those conditions.

I do volunteer work at a homeless shelter in my city, so I see some of this. But this book made it clear to me that I only see a fraction.

The plight of the desperately poor continues to get worse. Our society is oblivious to their plight and is completely unwilling to make it better. That needs to change.

[ck4829]

3. K&R. Everyone knows that "Homelessness is a lifestyle choice" is right wing virtue signalling

[zipplewrath]

4. Many are close and don't know

There is an old expression, "there, but the grace of God, go I". When it comes to homelessness, this often is not true. Many people don't spend much time in their lives living close to being homeless. Between savings, family, access to credit, and other assets, people are a long way away from being homeless. Conversely though, there are people that live everyday about a month away from being homeless, and don't know it. They are more than just paycheck to paycheck. They are driving a car that is steadily getting worse, that they don't maintain, and could not afford to replace. They have no insurance of any kind so if their rented apartment is damaged or destroyed, they could find themselves without a place to live, and not alot of options. One sickness in which too much time at their part time work is missed, and they won't make the rent. A stolen car, a mugging too close to payday, a sick child, a sick partner, and more are enough to disrupt their fiscal routine enough to result in losses that within a couple of months, has them being evicted.

And it is all connected to an economic structure that is designed such that a significant portion of the population lives on the "economic edge" and doesn't know it.

[rampartc]

6. i've even used that phrase to myself

and to my "forever wife."

[rampartc]

5. a typical 1960s budget for housing would be 25% of a 1 person full time income

by my figuring a "living wage" in 2019 should be at least 4 times a typical rent of at least $1k per month. wages have not kept up with expenses.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Classic blame the victim mentality...

All my successes are either through my hard work and talent or a blessing from God.

All of their failures are their own fault.

It's the flip side of the whole "self actualization" bullshit, where the only thing that separates me from Bill Gates and all those millions is my poor life choices.