Homelessness in the Neighborhood
If you live in Southwood, you’re literally just blocks away from people experiencing homelessness on street corners, local stores, and under the freeways. Depending on your lens, it’s heartbreaking, infuriating or, for many, a mix of both and more. It’s hard to witness a crisis, which is exactly what homelessness has become, when you feel unable to change it or find yourself astounded at the millions local government spends annually while the crisis only grows worse.
Why is this happening?
First, it’s vital to understand homelessness and not fall prey to the many myths that define it. Here are three of the biggests:
The unhoused are from somewhere else. Data consistently shows, the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness in a given area are either from the community in which they became unhoused or had been living there for multple years before losing housing.
Addiction and mental health are the primary reasons people are unhoused. Yet, many experiencing homelessness grapple with neither. What’s more addiction and mental health are not predictors of homelessness. How many people have you known with one or the other or both who’ve never experienced homelessness?
Homelessness is a choice; people don’t want to work. A sizeable number of people experiencing homelessness actually work. Depending on the community, anywhere between 21% - 45% of people are employed either PT or FT. The problem is that their wages don’t keep pace with their needs. They often make the choice between going to the doctor, putting food on the table and paying rent or a mortgage.
Ultimately, the biggest predictor of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing.
In Austin, specifically,
…homelessness issues are in some ways caused by what they are caused by in many cities: gentrification, systemic racism, lack of access to medical & mental healthcare, the breakdown of family, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing, lack of a social safety net, domestic violence, the foster care system, re-entry from incarceration and more. In addition, Austin's particular challenges have been historic racial divides, quickly-booming population growth, a separation of humanitarian aid from housing programs, a lack of shelters, location of shelters to business district & university and more. Additionally, the disconnected efforts of public & private entities, especially faith-based entities has created much duplication and the lack of a cohesive or efficient approach as a community. The political reality of living in a very left-leaning city in a very right-leaning state means political solutions are often problematic.
What can you do?
Volunteer with an organization in our backyard that are making a real difference: Sunrise Navigation or The Other Ones Foundation.
Keep bottled water on hand. With temps rising, dehydration is a real problem. When giving money to panhandlers isn’t an option for whatever reason, water will make a big difference.
Bust the myths. When someone you know shares information that’s wrong, invite them to dig deeper.