Myths about Homelessness

Homeless Action Week, October 12th to October 19th, is intended to highlight the homelessness situation in our province. There are vigils planned across B.C. Some groups are fasting, some are holding political rallies, others are having resource fairs, and agencies that can are increasing their food and clothing distributions. I applaud all of these initiatives. But, I don’t think we need a special week to bring homelessness to the attention of anyone, it is pretty obvious that there are too many people who do not have homes. There is just cause, however, to educate the public and our leaders as to the reasons behind homelessness in our communities. We need this week to focus on breaking some of the myths that prevent community members and leaders from really caring about this issue, and making the problem of homelessness a priority to solve rather than just another cause of the day. There are a lot of myths out there about homeless people. Here are seven, one to represent every day of Homeless Action Week.
Myth number one; People choose to be homeless. I hear this opinion frequently, and sadly, from politicians, those who have the power and mandate to make a difference. To say someone chooses to sleep outside and experience all the indignities that go with that type of existence, to suggest that those who couch surf prefer this type of transient lifestyle, to determine that those who put up with beatings and abuse in exchange for shelter must not mind it or they would leave, shows that we are nowhere near solving the issue when we still do not understand why it exists and worse, we blame the homeless for their plight. It is always easier to blame the victim when that victim is bothering you for a handout, when that victim smells and looks bad, when that victim has loud arguments with imaginary companions, when that victim goes back to the abuse but continues to ask for assistance, when the victim continually uses the resources of cash and manpower strapped social service agencies but does not improve his or her living situation. It is easy to blame the victim when they cannot get or hold down a job, cannot find an apartment like the rest of us seem to be able to, when the victim cannot stay clean and sober. Many people look down their noses and say they choose to do that. They choose to have mental illness, learning disabilities, childhood trauma, childhood poverty, broken homes, health problems, sudden job loss, or for their rent go up beyond what their income is. I hope my sarcasm is well noted. These are not choices people make. For those who are so damaged by trauma, mental health and addiction issues, for those taken out of institutions with no proper supports, for those who have made bad or stupid choices, we must remember that they were not capable of making informed choices in the first place. It is like blaming a two year old for touching a hot stove. Addicts do not choose to become addicts. Often the drugs are the only safe place they have from their long history of personal pain, some of which is so horrofic we cannot even begin to comprehend. Until we change the circumstances around them, the addictions will remain their one fix they can rely on.

Myth number two; Homeless people do not seek assistance and services and would simply prefer to be on the street. The data proves that when people are approached in a respectful and kind manner and with available and appropriate resources, they are eager to accept help towards self-sufficiency. National outreach professionals agree that it takes multiple contacts to build trust towards accepting assistance. Most people living on the street have little or no history of trusting or safe relationships. Parents have abandoned them. Caregivers have abused them. Partners have beaten them. Bullies have humiliated them. Schools have failed them. Employers have rejected them. Fellow homeless have stolen from them. Drug sellers have offered them a scourge of mind altering substances. Government has taken away their social safety net. Many have had no experience being housed permanently and with no access to training and supports, all they know is the street. It is not their preference, but it is their comfort zone.

Myth number three; Homeless people are lazy and just do not want to work and are looking for a free ride. They do not care about their future. One in five homeless people are employed. Many homeless people are among the working poor, and a relatively small percentage of them receive government assistance. Welfare rates and minimum wages do not even meet the poverty line. There are no incentives for people on income assistance to work, and the costs of employment often make it impossible to keep that employment. How can someone get a job when they don’t have a home? How can one think about their future when they are too busy thinking about where their next meal is coming from, and where they are going to sleep in order to stay warm and dry?
Myth number four; It is easy to be poor and homeless. For those not having a warm place to live during the winter and missing days worth of meals, life is not easy. For those telling their kids the family is camping because they don’t want the kids to know their permanent home is a tent, life is not easy. For those who pull their teeth out with pliers to deal with pain they cannot pay a dentist to fix, life is not easy. It is highly unlikely that there are any homeless people who actually enjoy it or choose is consciously and with a clear mind.
Myth number five; Homeless people are mostly single men. In reality, families constitute a large and growing percentage of the homeless population. A recent study found that families comprise 38% of the urban homeless population. Other research has found that homeless families comprise the majority of homeless people in rural areas. Most don’t realize this because homeless families stay hidden.
Myth number six; Homeless people are dangerous and they break the law. In general, the homeless are among the least threatening group in our society and are more likely to be victims of crime. Although they are more likely to commit non-violent and non-destructive crimes, they are less likely to commit crimes against person or property.

Myth number seven; Charitable groups will take care of the homeless. The growth of homelessness has far exceeded the capacity of charitable groups, many of whom struggle just to keep an address and employees on payroll. It cannot be left up to non profit societies and churches to apply band-aids to this public wound. Homelessness is a societal problem that requires a partnership between charities and the government, and the key to make this happen is active public support.
For those who have homes and resources, there is a social and moral responsibility to ensure the well-being of other community members who lack these essentials. When one suffers, we all suffer. Poverty tends to roll uphill and none of us are untouchable. More and more people are realizing this in 2008. In fact, at some point in their lives, one out of fifteen readers of this column will find themselves homeless, either living on the streets, in a shelter, or sleeping on a friend's floor. Many of us live one paycheck away from eviction, and many more barely cover our living expenses even with the money we earn in forty and fifty hours on the job each week. So don’t be too quick to judge those who are currently less fortunate than you are right now. Don’t let the myths define your reality.