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I’ve been asked about the recent plan proposed by Governor Abercrombie concerning homeless people in need. Admittedly I only know the general plan and not the details. Particularly I know that as proposed ordinary citizens (as if un-homed aren’t ordinary) would voluntarily mobilize themselves in the capacity to report people they feel are in great need.

On the surface it represents a level of social responsibility that we could all benefit from. Being of service to the community and each other is a huge gift to provide. However, I see two parts of a challenge to how this actually plays out in the streets of Honolulu. One, will people remember that there is a lot of decision making behind many aspects of being un-homed or homeless? Two, will people be able to filter out their own sense of comfort in deciding who is in need? A third issue is will existing social services be able to streamline bureaucratic impediments and deal with things on human terms?

I’ve talked about some of my own personal issues as to what led to being un-homed. Many were not within my control, but some were. For example I could have gone across the island to stay with someone and added close to two hours of commuting time each day. In my opinion, at the time, I felt it more important to get into my own personal rhythm. I was still going to be camping out somewhere so the prospect of a cold shower down the street wasn’t all that bad of a trade off for having a semblance of control of my time. Also, as cash flow was an issue I decided to spend it on food and necessities rather than gas.

I’ve also talked about how much I notice people reacting to homeless circumstances through the lens of their own discomfort. Regardless of their perceived need some un-homed and homeless are quite at peace with their circumstances. So would being approached by a “team” offering services feel like being accosted? I’ve had people offer me advice that was both un-solicited and ill-advised. I can say that there were moments when I didn’t appreciate the assumptions being placed on top of my circumstances.

On the flip side I’ve met several younger people who attach no stigma to being homeless and even see it as a badge of courage that someone broke free from the system. Some of them are bright minds too, not just people lost in the shuffle. Though their perceptions may be young and un-formed there is an intense honesty to their personal searches for a place in the world. In some ways they are the inspiring ones who you root for some success.

Granted we can’t entirely blame the system, but in all honesty it is hard to see the humanity in the system. I know the humanity in the social workers since I know many. But their hands are often bound by the invisibility of the system requirements. We’ve all read about the homeless woman in Connecticut who faces 20 years in jail for registering her son in a better school district than the one where she is homeless. Hello!?!? Or recall me mentioning the man here who needed an oxygen prescription that the hospital wouldn’t provide because he had no home address to prove his existence. I ask: if you were marginalized in society would you automatically trust a system that deals in such inhuman measurements?

I can’t deny that the affordability of a life here is an important factor. Nor will I deny that social solutions are desperately needed. But the general point that I’ve always tried to make is that being un-homed is a human issue. In many ways it’s no different than the usual trials and tribulations that any human being faces. If you want to participate in helping you have to remember that decisions were made. And whether they were good decisions or not is immaterial to the fact that we all own the right to make bad decisions. So any trust you hope to build will have to come through human measurements and human interactions.

The Governor was quoted as saying that “there is no liberty in being homeless.” I disagree to the extent that I think people often mistake a lack of dignity for a lack of liberty. The former is something that we actually need help with, whereas the latter is something everyone, even un-homed, already possess. Be cautious not to mistake the two.

Previous posts in this series:

• Trying to Stay Clean
• Pity or Compassion
• Best Friends Forever… or For a While
• Going with the Flow
• Milestones
• Anger Paralysis
• Timing Is Everything
• It’s All Relative
• Riding Heartbreak
• The Courage Needed
• Bartering Along
• Getting Swept Away… Almost
• Neglect
• Small Measures of Success
• The Interior Life
• I Miss My Bed
• My Closet Has a Flat Tire
• Hopes and Dreams
• Homeless Are People, Too
• Full Monty or Not?
• Back Seat Office
• Staying Connected
• Those Small Indignities
• Putting Your Life in Storage
• One Step Forward, One Step Back
• Exciting New Career Opportunities
• End of the Day
• Solutions Wanted
• When to Hold On, Let Go?
• Location, location, location
• Range of Motion
• Food More Than Sustenance
• Figuring It All Out Someday
• Solitude
• The Good, The Bad
• From The Heart
• Does Anyone Really See Me?
• Keeping Perspective
• Showers at the Natatorium
• Achieving Homelessness