Homelessness has come back on the public radar screen in a number of cities in a big way, and now is the time to stop the current treatment of homeless people.
In Philadelphia, public officials have started urging tourists not to give change to panhandlers. In New Orleans, all the benches in Jackson Square have been removed to keep people from sleeping on them. In San Francisco, a small welfare stipend to keep homeless people fed and clothed is on the chopping block in today’s election.
Even here in Eugene, a battle against homeless people is being waged. It’s illegal to camp in the city limits, and homeless protesters have been rallying in downtown for the city to address the problem. Some of these people have moved into the West University neighborhood seeking shelter.
We think society should be blamed for not doing enough, and society may have an answer. Some people are homeless because they need a job, while others may be without an address because of mental problems or drug addiction. Neither can be helped by being thrown into jail or being driven out of the city.
Instead, communities need to expand programs offering treatment or job retraining. We need more facilities, more outreach workers, more food and blankets and medicine. Habitat for Humanity, well known for building single-family homes for low-income families, should build apartment complexes in cities with homeless problems.
With something as ambitious as trying to reduce homelessness, the question always exists: How will it be funded? The solution we offer, as modest as it is, might be a way of making such a program fiscally solvent without raising most people’s taxes: We propose an excise on the ultra-rich.
If homelessness is so troublesome to big-city dwellers and so worrisome to those of us who believe in a social safety net, then communities should put pressure on those who have benefited the most from our society to help out.
We’re sure that a Ted Turner, or a Kenneth Lay, or, say, a Phil Knight can easily spare $30 million to fund a massive expansion of athletic facilities, er, homeless programs.