Editor’s note: This is part three of a five-part series addressing homelessness.
In my last two columns, I’ve attempted to highlight the root challenge for those experiencing chronic homelessness . Much of our public discourse focuses on shelter and affordable housing. Housing is certainly an important ingredient in the continuum of care and, for many, housing stability is the key to recovery. But for our most vulnerable population, the state of “homelessness” is both an unfortunate symptom and an aggravator of other, “co-occurring” maladies — all of which are problematic, but few of which are typically at the root of the issue.
The root problem is debilitating trauma, frequently accompanied by one or more of four equally challenging problems: mental health disabilities, substance use disorder, habituation and criminal activity. This being the case, society will not rescue, let alone help recuperate, these individuals by building more physical shelter alone — they need qualified human support that is accompanied with the medical care, services infrastructure and accountability that will enable meaningful, lasting improvement.