Sustainable Living Means Nothing If We Don’t Support Those In Need

Last week, I spent time again in sunny California. California is quickly becoming one of my favorite states. Lots of sunshine, warmer weather (although any place outside of Siberia is warmer than Indiana), scenic locations, all year outdoor activities from skiing to surfing, creativity and technological innovations everywhere, top colleges and universities, fresh fruits and vegetables, diversity of thought, etc. I could go on and on about the great state of California.

California Dreamin

The fact that I am a fan and advocate of sustainable living makes me appreciate California even more. I enjoyed walking and observing the cutting edge things that California is doing to “save the planet” – to change the world. Things that most states aren’t. From finding fresh ways to harvest and utilize the energy of the sun and air; to recycling and composting nearly every element to reduce our carbon footprint; to revitalizing local and urban farming; to building homes that operate without fossil fuels, California (not Chicago) is my kind of town (state).

Despite the man-sized crush that I have on California, honesty mandates that I share the one area of California I found particularly unattractive – the number of homeless people.

Home

Let me be perfectly clear, I’m not picking on California. I would move to California in a heartbeat. I’m not sure where I would live. I love the northern part of the state particularly the San Francisco, Berkeley, and Silicon Valley areas. And then there’s San Diego and Los Angeles. I mean come on – California’s just like me – what’s there not to love?

Adoration aside, I just found it both heart wrenching and puzzling that a state so creative, innovative and concerned with sustainable living – saving the earth – hasn’t found a way to protect those living without homes on the earth.

What’s the point of saving the earth, if we aren’t going save the people living on the earth?

Upon closer examination (which means after looking myself dead straight in the mirror), I realized that the issue of homelessness in California or anywhere else in America for that matter – hasn’t been solved because I am the problem.

Sorry, Blame It On Me

When I say, I’m the problem I don’t mean to suggest that I am personally responsible for putting anyone out on the street. My statement is an acknowledgment that the resolution to most societal issues begins with self-reflection. Eldridge Cleaver once said “If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.” Until now, I haven’t been working towards a solution for homelessness so I have to acknowledge that I am part of the problem.

When most people see the homeless, we just walk by as if THEY – the homeless – are invisible people. We wonder – as we deliberate helping – if we are being scammed by someone pretending to be homeless? We question before providing aid if giving handouts is insulting or even helpful? We recognize that we barely have enough to make it day-to-day ourselves so helping others seems impractical. Still others of us question the logic of helping at all – thinking if we can get a job and work every day so can they.

The aforementioned thoughts and feelings we have are both correct and incorrect. Such is the paradox of homelessness in a capitalistic society. There are those who deceive and prey on our kindness. It is true that many of us are barely able to make ends meet. And let us also not forget that American ingenuity confers upon us the flawed belief that we should all be able to “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps”.

There’s No Place Like Home

Finding a home is not a fairytale to be resolved by pulling yourself up by your bootstraps any more than it is about clicking ones heels together. Homelessness is real. It a shameless example of one of the worst illustrations of the human condition.

In truth, homelessness is a circumstance of neither having boots or straps to pull-up. Despite all thoughts and arguments to the contrary, homelessness is not a chosen lifestyle – at least not for the majority. If you doubt me, the next time you are out and you walk past the homeless, pay close attention. You will most likely witness – figuratively and many times literally – someone without boots or straps to pull themselves up.

At the same time, ask yourself if you would ever choose to live on the street, be ignored and despised by society, eat out of garbage containers, carry all your possessions in a shopping cart, consider bathing a luxury, stand on a street corner and so on if all you had to do was “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”?

Help!

I’m trusting that you would never willingly choose to be homeless. And as such, I’m also hoping that you would agree that we must ALL do our part to eradicate homelessness. I took a small step today when I became a member of the National Coalition for the Homeless. I can and will do more to improve the human condition. If you aren’t already a part of the homeless solution, I implore you to stop being part of the problem.

For the reluctant few who remain unmoved about the need for us to work together to prevent homelessness perhaps considering how close you or your child are to being homeless or taking a look at the profile of the homeless would change your mind:

• More than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year;
• 35% of the homeless population are families with children, which is the fastest growing homeless demographic;
• 23% are military veterans;
• 25% are children under 18 years;
• 30% are domestic violence survivors;
• There is a correlation between homelessness, health care and medical bills; majority of bankruptcies are medical related
• There is $4.50 per hour deficit between the wage ($18.79) needed for suitable housing and the average wage earned ($14.32);
• 15% live at or below the poverty rate; there are 46.2 million people living in poverty;
• Homeless pay 30% or more of their wages for housing;
• There are 1 million high school dropouts annually (5,000 per day), many who become homeless; and
• Illiteracy and lack of formal education in an economy where 59% of jobs require post-secondary education are major contributors to homelessness.

The facts suggest that the situation is bleak and doesn’t appear to be improving. Unfortunately, I don’t have many positives to share at the moment. However, I do know that if we can make the earth sustainable, we can eradicate homelessness. I do know sustainable living means nothing if we don’t support those in need. I’m certainly committed to reducing my carbon footprint. I am equally compelled to making certain my fellow citizens have a pair of boots with straps and a home to rest their feet. How about you?

Do you know anyone who has been homeless? What will you do to end homelessness?