HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS PROBLEM?
The following excerpt is from the self help
psychology book, Be Your Own Therapist.
Psychologically, homelessness provides many of us with a
constant unwanted reminder that our childhood homes were often a
place of pain and emptiness instead of comfort and love. Many of
us grew up, in truth, psychologically homeless despite the
physically-comfortable buildings in which we might have resided.
When we finally are ready to face and let go that old childhood
pain (of being psychologically homeless), then we will be more
effective in solving the homeless problem we see "out there"
today.
|
Because women and men favor different sides of the brain, it is not desirable that equal numbers of each sex be in most job categories. Equal opportunity, however, is HIGHLY desirable. |
One popular view has it that the homeless problem is caused by
a lack of jobs. I don't agree. I think that it is our fears that
make us so ineffective in dealing with the homeless, our fears
that we might wind up homeless too if we lose our jobs. It is a
major role of government to ease fears of citizens. So far,
governmental bodies, private agencies and the citizenry have
been squabbling ineffectively without making any changes that
would remove citizens' fears of homelessness. Such inaction
keeps our fears alive and the homeless problem unsolved.
The homeless problem is aided and abetted by those of us with
apartments or homes. The inhumanity of not providing shelter for
our citizens is obvious. Why do we put up with it? It is
essential that this shelter provides three things: warmth,
dryness and safety. Yet we are squabbling over down-the-road
items such as whether drugs/ alcohol, joblessness, or failed
families are the root cause. The root cause is not relevant for
people who presently are cold, wet and in danger of being
mugged. We must provide the opportunity for shelter first.
Solutions are not that difficult, but they involve allowing
housing in NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) locations, and small
rooms that don't meet minimum size requirements of local
building codes.
Our society traditionally had shacks on the edge of town. With
our building codes we have eliminated most of these shacks and
placed their occupants on the streets. We cannot afford to solve
all their problems or to provide spacious housing. Two-way
construction is one solution, providing the homeless with small
rooms that could be converted back and forth between use as
housing and use as storage during times of less homelessness.
Many homeless people rent storage spaces today. We can afford to
provide small, warm, dry, and safe housing for every person who
wants it. If we did, this would enable perhaps 40% of today's
homeless to solve their other problems themselves at no further
cost to society. It is up to us to tell the homeless advocates,
our NIMBY neighbors, the building code legislators, and the
idealists who want each homeless person in a spacious apartment,
"Quit bickering and solve the problem effectively, humanely.
Start doing it now."
The possibility of homelessness is leading many of us to
(1)unhappy compromises of integrity concerning work, (2)lying
and cheating behavior and (3)a wealth of fear. All three of
these contribute strongly to the climate of violence, not just
out there in the streets but in our homes as we teach our
children to be fearful and unethical.
Next Excerpt 
| As regards conscience, God has done an uneven and careless piece of work..... Sigmund Freud
|
More Excerpts This Chapter
VIOLENCE: HOW DO I CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADDED VIOLENCE?
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE UNHAPPY
OUR VALUES & SPIRITUAL BELIEFS HELP CAUSE THE VIOLENCE
THE NUMBING PROCESS
HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS PROBLEM?
VERBAL BASHING CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE VIOLENCE
HOW INGRAINED IS THE VIOLENCE?
This Chapter's Quiz
Book Table of Contents
Psychology of Sex Education - Psychological Sexual Health Care
Self Help Free Read - Book Online
HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS PROBLEM? © 1995-1999