A Conversation About Homelessness was held at Washington State University

Transcription

1 Conversation about Homelessness Washington State University Vancouver April 11, 2017

2 A Conversation About Homelessness was held at Washington State University Vancouver, in Vancouver, WA, on April 11th, 2017, by Washington State University Vancouver and the Thomas S. Foley Institute s Initiative for Public Deliberation. This forum aimed to gather information about the community s perception of homelessness, some of the root causes, and what actions could be taken to help alleviate the growing situation. There were an average of five participants per table that were led by a trained facilitator. Conversations at each table were captured by audio and written notes, and comments were later transcribed without attribution to ensure anonymity. Throughout the discussion the facilitator sought to find areas of commonality and disagreement among the group. Following is a summary of the main themes, some unique findings, and concluding thoughts. The forums began by asking participants to define homelessness. There were several definitions given, including individuals/families without a safe place to live, living on the street, couch surfing, not having stable or consistent housing, not having a place to sleep, and/or not having permanent night time residences. While there are a variety of opinions for what can be considered homelessness, there is no universal definition. The general consensus of the group was that homelessness is defined as someone who lacks a fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence. The means as to how to identify people in these circumstances was also discussed. Some participants suggested that one could determine whether a person was homeless or not by their appearance; whether they are carrying most of their belongings, by their hygiene, and if they wear the same clothes for several days in a row. Other participants argued that it is not appropriate to judge them and make false assumptions on whether or not a person is homeless. It was agreed that it is not the responsibility of an average person to identify these individuals because there are trained outreach teams that are meant to aid those in chronic homelessness.

3 As stated above, homelessness is difficult to define, and identifying the root causes can be even more challenging. Several potential causes were discussed, such as changes in the economy and lack of affordable housing. All participants agreed that the cost of housing plays a leading role in this issue. The lack of affordable housing due to the private market looking to make a profit from their investment is a problem because it leaves many individuals unable to afford adequate housing. Others added on that the lack of a living wage plays a large role and contributes to the lack of affordable housing. One participant said, In this economy, with a sudden raise of rent, it can be difficult to make ends meet and another reiterated that not having a livable wage can make it difficult having to live paycheck to paycheck. Other underlying causes included domestic violence survivors having nowhere to go when they leave the abusive household. One participant was very passionate about the role of domestic violence in the issue and said, What we know is that for women and children, the leading cause of homelessness is domestic violence. Trauma in general plays a critical role in the cause of homelessness and could lead to other issues if untreated. Drug or substance abuse was discussed, as well as helping those who suffer from addiction receive the medical attention they need. A person experiencing homelessness may potentially have untreated mental health issues and thus may not have the mental capacity to search for services in the community or to get help and are unable to support themselves. The lack of access to services was brought up, and one participant said, towns around Vancouver are so small compared to Portland... there are not many resources nearby and people have to travel whether it be for work, shelters, or services. All participants expressed varying ideas about what causes homelessness, but all also seemed to agree that all the causes discussed contributed to the problem.

4 After defining homelessness and considering some potential causes of homelessness, participants then discussed some of the challenges and several barriers in addressing homelessness. One of the biggest issues discussed was that agencies are stretched thin and don t have enough funding or resources to adequately provide their services to those who need it. Access to community resources can be difficult and, oftentimes, people are unaware of which programs they qualify for or where they can go for assistance. Participants also claimed that many people have a not-in-my-backyard mentality, and believe that providing more services will attract more people experiencing homelessness. This reinforces the negative stigma associated with being homeless, as well as the idea that homelessness is a choice. A lack of access to mental health care was emphasized, as well as the lack of preventative measures protecting people from experiencing homelessness in the first place. Lack of affordable housing was reiterated as a challenge in addressing homelessness. The lack of affordable housing, and the requirements you must meet for housing creates barriers perpetuating the cycle of homelessness. Some participants noted that there is not one right solutions, as homelessness is a very complex problem and all individuals in that situation need different accommodations. Several methods to address these challenges were discussed. Some suggested policy changes, such as tax breaks to those who own land and are willing to set up tent housing for those experiencing homelessness. Other policy suggestions included utilizing unused land for temporary housing, protection against discrimination of those using social security or other similar programs, as well as protection for renters and tenants, such as landlords notifying them ahead of time before rent is raised. There was a large emphasis on tenant rights, including protection from discrimination by landlords, and unreasonable application fees. In order to address these concerns, participants suggested contacting elected officials and representatives,

5 hoping that if they were to talk to their elected officials, change can be enacted. They noted, however, that this is a multi-faceted issue, and requires the work of elected officials, community members, non-profits, and individuals to comes together in order to address the problem. The first step, according to a number of participants, would be educating people and changing the narrative on what it s like to experience homelessness. Individual community members need to be aware of homelessness as an issue, and they should be engaged and work to emphasize and understand why people are experiencing homelessness. There is a need to build awareness and spread it throughout the community, illustrating that homelessness is a real issue and it affects the lives of individuals and families, and people you would never expect. While there were several things that need to be address, participants believed that there are programs within the community that are working to provide services to those experiencing homelessness. During the extreme cold and snow, there were warming shelters provided by nonprofits and some churches. One participant said that Clark County has partnered with local schools to provide services through the schools, making it easier for people than traveling to an unfamiliar building to talk with unfamiliar people. There are also school liaisons helping students who are couch surfing by providing school supplies and food. The Housing Resource Center works well as a central clearinghouse for assessment and helping people see if services are available for them, while there may not be many services available a person is able to learn that from the start instead of having to visit multiple locations. The passing of Proposition 1 was discussed as an example of progress being made. Where do we go from here? One person suggested that we must engage with the public, build awareness for the issue and push for political change. Another participant suggest hosting a large event, bringing people together to temporarily experience what it s like to be homeless.

6 This event would educate participants on what the daily life of a homeless person is like. Another person called for an effort to change the role of the media, instead of portraying people experiencing homelessness negatively, they should present a message of their humanity and the need for help. The consensus of the groups reiterated that society needed to focus more on preventative rather than reactive measures. The discussion taking place was robust and informative. Participants discussed what homelessness was, some causes leading a person to experience homelessness, how these challenges can be addressed, what is currently working in the local community, and how we move forward. There is no one right solution to addressing homelessness, but the consensus of the groups is that it s a multi-faceted issue, requiring efforts from all sides, local government, community members and nonprofits, to do their part to try and help those who need it most.