Homelessness.... The New Epidemic ?

There is no denying that the world we live in has changed since the pandemic. Perhaps it will never return to what it once was. If there was something to learn, is if we are not careful, there can always be more epidemics on the horizon. Is homelessness a new epidemic on the rise?

Imagine a world where simple necessities are lacking. Step into the shoes of another person who doesn't have food over their head, clean water, proper hygiene, or food on the table. You may think this seems like a third-world scenario, thousands of miles away. Except I would encourage you to take a look around. In America, there were an estimated 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in January 2020 before the pandemic. Despite California ranking as one of the top five largest economies worldwide, it is home to 27% of the national homeless population, a reported 161,548 people. During the same period in Oregon, there were an estimated 14,655 people and rising. Unfortunately, this reality is impacting more than just its victims.

Take into account your day-to-day routine, consider the number of times you witness homelessness? How many pitched tents do you notice? How many people do you avoid making eye contact with when stopped at a light and they desperately stand in front of you holding a cardboard sign? Are you vigilant of the problem or have you gone numb and accepted it as being normal? 

The truth of the matter is that this monster has left a devastating impact on our community and continues to roam for more victims. As a society, we have done little to curve its appetite. The very physical and physiological consequences of homelessness can be foreign to the rest of us. However, it is not foreign to be human and step into the shoes of another. The final question is: how can we do that? 

It all starts with being united and how we view homelessness as a society. The messaging cannot become a political football that pins one side vs. another and promotes more division. Instead, it must be an active priority for all citizens as a civic duty to one another. Finally, homelessness is the result of previous obstacles that led the individual to these circumstances. So we move backward, highlighting barriers that can be dismantled or providing greater resources to combat them. Each state can have a unique remedy that together will act towards healing the country. After all, a new radiant horizon is possible when we are united. 

Post by: Susan Maftey

National Alliance To End Homelessness: https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-2021/