The distribution of opportunity

Do you believe every homeless person wants to be homeless? I wonder how many homeless people are in that situation due to a mental health issue, substance misuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, divorce, loss of income and/or inability to pay a bill? In short, I believe many have fallen on hard times. Let’s create sustainable solutions with outcomes that are measurable and provide a real hand up out of homelessness.

I believe the question actually is not, “What is wrong with you," but "what happened to you?”

Yet that latter question takes time and effort. Also, I believe data is important but, it only goes so far. The National Homeless Count Day is going to be at the end of January. That is only a one-day count. We have to take a deeper dive into the real lives of our homeless population and what brought them to homelessness. Those personal testimonies will be the meat on the bones of data.

I believe shelters save lives and feed hungry homeless people. And the streets and homeless camps, in my mind, are a set up for maladjusted behaviors and even a dead end. However, in the last three articles regarding homelessness, I have read the word “jobs” only once. And not even a mention of job readiness, skill building or job training. Work is important to one’s self-esteem and self-worth. And work is a major contributor to a healthy and vibrant state.

I propose a system of case management interviews to obtain the reality of events that lead one into homelessness. But it continues with a “No Wrong Door” support system to get that person to the right place, for the right reason, to the right resources and an exit to lift one out of homelessness. That lift needs to be a scaffolding of firm footholds to make that climb one step at a time to stay out of homelessness.

Before any system of care can be delivered, the resources (behavioral health, job training, GEDs and/or other education opportunities) have to be there for a hand-off. And, just as important, besides having resources, there has to be capacity. If not, we should not waste anyone’s time. It would just be so frustrating showing up and not having the distribution of opportunity. We can not afford to turn someone away and then have them go back on the streets or in camps.

This system of care or support could happen if all the resource partners step up to the table and become collaborating partners, with the no-wrong-door policy going both and all directions. I believe all partners play an important part in the continuum of care.

Unfortunately, our homeless population could even grow more. This means we need an entry door and an exit door to jobs, education and health. The system of care needs to be seamless with warm hands and resources to ensure success. That success is defined as a sustainable, productive lifestyle and improving the quality of one’s life. We can all agree we want everyone to be safe, healthy and well, which helps to create a prosperous Alaska.

This system is not a “handout,” only helping for the moment, but a “hand up,’” reaching a higher, vertical level. And, I strongly believe, before anyone begins this process of case management with “in-reach” into homeless camps, those case managers would preferably be former homeless people. At least provide those in-reach case managers with training and hearing from former homeless individuals.

Former homeless individuals know you ask before approaching and intruding on a homeless person or in their tent in a homeless camp. If we treat homeless people with respect, as they deserve, we will gain their trust and they will realize we truly want to help.

I wonder how many homeless people want to be heard and how many would want a hand up out of homelessness to become productive, contributing members of society?

Michael P. Carson serves as vice president and Recovery Specialist at MyHouse in Wasilla. He is the chairman of the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force.

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