In 2019, there were 8102 homeless people in San Diego county, as per the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. In 2020, this number was reduced to 7638. As of now, as many as 901 people live on the sidewalks or streets. Permanent supportive housing is a cost-effective combination of inexpensive housing related to supportive services. It enables people to live more productive and stable lives. New housing solutions for Family Homeless Shelters in San Diego, CA, like multifamily property management and maintenance services, support homeless families while giving them work-related training and employment. The solutions enable poverty-ridden students to sustain themselves and their families by giving them the requisite employment training.
What Makes the Cycle of Homelessness Vicious?
The cycle of homelessness is quite tough to escape. The cycle goes through three stages, namely, victimhood, handouts, and dependency. When people fall into difficult circumstances and become homeless, it’s significantly challenging for them to get back on their feet. It’s because a majority of aid programs have multiple roadblocks. When hardships get addressed via handouts, it causes dependency, which results in victimhood.
When people don’t have anywhere to go, they try to find places where they can meet their fundamental necessities. However, most public assistance programs give insufficient responses to the problem of homelessness. The support programs impart short-lived relief that doesn’t take long to run out. Handouts provide a brief sense of relief, but it’s not difficult to turn dependent upon.
Once individuals get embroiled in this cycle, it’s virtually impossible to escape it. The vicious circle of victimhood, handout, and pain continues without stopping. Escape seems practically futile to those experiencing it. This chronic homelessness needs to be addressed. Otherwise, it will persist for several future generations.
How to Break This Cycle?
This vicious cycle is undoubtedly challenging to break. However, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible to do so. It requires a significant change. A good starting point is minimizing obstacles to education and delivering a stable environment and supportive housing.
Giving opportunities and resources to enable homeless people to become financially independent is also very significant. Below are some methods you can employ at the ground level to tackle this problem.
- Donate bedding, clothes, and food. Shelters always have a requirement for new and used clothes that are in good condition. They especially need personal hygiene items.
- Endeavor to raise funds. Today, with so many crowdfunding options, it has become easier to gather support for a cause. For fundraising, you can make use of in-person communal events like school campaigns.
- Be an advocate for affordable and more social housing.
- Connect with your local government about housing and homelessness.
How a Non-profit Organization Helps in Countering the Cycle of Homelessness
A non-profit organization works with community partners to provide Family Homeless Shelters in San Diego, CA, that enhance the neighborhoods, give work experience to students, and forge a revenue stream. They also grow and sell locally grown produce in an advanced Aquaponics farm that offers training and employment relevant to work. It’s a good way to free people stuck in the circle of homelessness and dependency. Such a model treats these people with dignity and respect and intent to empower them. It is done through coaching, employment, education, accountability, and community. Thus, the process helps eradicate the root causes of homelessness and changes the trajectory of people’s lives and the lives of their offspring.
