Homeless in Indianapolis

[Marty posch]

There was an article in today's Indianapolis Star about how the homeless number has risen dramatically here in town. That is without counting people who are just switching from friends to friends house. This is only counting people that are on the street / in shelters. The posts after the article were annoying, they were all blaming, no solutions on how to help. People just pointing the finger at government without raising a finger themselves. I am not saying that there arent things, huge things that need to be done in government to help this problem. Good lord there are many. I am just curious what each of us as individuals could do, or what needs to be formed, to help this problem. Again, I am not looking to SOLVE homelessness, I am just wanting to use the creative minds of Smaller Indiana to look into this problem. Dont look at SOLVING it, look at making a dent in it. If you do something to get one homeless person off the street and get them on their feet you have changed a life.

The article is http://www.indystar.com/article/20090618/LOCAL18/906180429/Dozens+m...

[Tim Piazza]

Sorry, Chris. It's not perfectly valid. You do not know whether or not I have a personal experience with homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, or prison. Just because I don't wear my heart on my sleeve, it doesn't mean I do not have one.

I do have to take umbrage at your characterization of my wife and her profession. She is a beautiful and empathetic woman who puts her self in harms way to help people. I fear for her safety while being humbled by the compassion she has for the people she encounters. Fortunately, she is not alone. There are many good, caring people who also work in a field that doesn't pay well, but rewards people by knowing that they're at least fighting for a noble cause. I would be remiss if I allowed your characterization to stand unchallenged. My fears are warranted. One of her "clients" recently crushed the skull of a sleeping man over a bicycle. I had been hearing about this guy for months, and her concern that he was a danger. He was one of those people I spoke of who went from prison to living on the streets among the homeless.

You see, we're at odds here. You claim authority on the subject based on your own experience. I do not claim authority, but the issue of homelessness is discussed every single day in my home. To me, it's like someone claiming they know more about Christianity than I do because they've been attending my spouse's church.

[Johnnie Firari]

Just thinking outside of the box a little. It may sound crazy but what if individuals who took it upon themselves to house a homeless person or family received tax credits/deductions just as if this person(s) was a dependent. Of course there would have to be a verification process for the Govt, time limits, and many other factors I am sure put in to place. Individuals would assume full risk of theft, accidents etc.. (maybe there could be some sort of protection insurance for people to buy) This could motivate people to step up to the plate more and would elevate some of the cost associated with homelessness. Run the system similar to a foster home model but with no compensation. Individuals would have full right to house who they wanted and those being housed would need to understand the rules of the house. This would at least pull some of those good people in a bad situation off the street.

I have taken in two different families in the past to help them get back on their feet. I did not receive compensation of any sort however my home expenses did go up with the extra use of water, electric, food and other little things I purchased for them. Granted the two families were grateful for the help and I would never think of asking for compensation because it was a personal choice I made. However if I received a tax deduction for this maybe it would allow me the financial ability to do it more often. I would warn anyone who does this that you have to be careful who you take in and have a clear time line/goals for them. As I am sure most everyone knows, it is tough sharing your living space with others.

What do you think? Is this a reasonable solution or a model that can be worked further?

[Johnnie Firari]

Thanks for the feedback.

To clarify. The whole purpose of this type of program, would be to allow some sort of reimbursement for those who choose to support someone who would otherwise be homeless. I know if someone supported anyone under the age of 18, they could claim them as a dependent on their taxes. Well say there is a married couple with a kid and someone decided to house them for a year and support them while they regained the ability to support themselves. Why not allow this person the ability to claim the homeless family on their taxes. After all if that person did not help the homeless family they may be reliant upon support from the State and or Govt. tax dollars. Not to mention it would give the homeless family some stability and put them in an environment where they see more positive than negative. I am a big believer in most people become a product of their environment.

I would say if everyone did it(housed a homeless family) for the tax credit/deduction then it would take homeless people off of the street. This would help the situation.

Again thanks for the valuable input.

[Chris Eppards]

Quite a heated debate seems to have emerged here! I've worked with the homeless teens in the past, and a whole host of issues that lead to homeslessness are unique for each person. The one thing that was painfully obvious was the lack of services and resources for the homeless.

There are some great organizations around who have comprehensive services, such as HVAF, but in that case you must be a Homeless Veteran to enter their programs. On the other end of the spectrum, there are a few organizations which profess to provide services but offer very little in terms of actual assistance.

In one instance, I took a homeless teen to one such group and was very disappointed. It amounted to some guy sitting behind a desk, collecting all his information and having him sign off on being there to satisfy his reporting requirements. After all the red tape, he proceeded to beat this kid down for 15 minutes what he was doing wrong, handed him a brochure and telling him good luck. Meanwhile, he sit smuggly behind his desk, collecting a salary that was probably paid for by a large grant to assist the homeless and he did the bare minimum to satify the requirements to maintain their funding.

The worst case was when two kids who just turned 18 while in foster care and "aged out" of the system. They and were dropped off in front of Wheeler Mission on a cold morning in late November, their few belongings in trash bags, no cash, family or resources. This one was courtesy of the State and really disgusted me. Fortunately, one of them managed to get in touch and we found some housing for them from a few generous benefactors in the community.

Beyond a handful of great organizations and people who lend their support, the biggest problem in homelessness is the general public, who seem to have a "it's not my problem, let the government take care of it" attitude from what I have experienced.

[Emily Hervey]

Hi Marty, I just saw this post. CHIP is the organization that does the Count Report. Thank you for bringing much needed attention to the homeless issue.

[Andy Fraizer]

The agencies on the frontlines of serving the homeless in Indiana are members of the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED), http://www.iaced.org. IACED is the statewide coordinator for a project known as Homeward Bound. Any Hoosier can participate in Homeward Bound by walking, organizing a team, or connecting with the more than 100 participating agencies. You will find information about Homeward Bound at http://homewardboundindiana.org.

Homeward Bound: Indiana’s 5K Walk Series to Provide Housing and Fight Homelessness: Homeward Bound is a walk series which occurs in eleven regions throughout the state of Indiana. The walks support more than 100 homeless and affordable housing service providers and hosts thousands of walkers. Homeward Bound is an opportunity to raise consciousness and mitigate the effects of homelessness. Individuals and teams come together from hundreds of companies and community organizations to raise money that agencies might not otherwise receive.

Since 2003, Homeward Bound has raised more than $2.8 million for these affordable housing and homeless service providers. In 2008, Homeward Bound raised nearly $425,000.To date the 2009 campaign has raised nearly $300,000. Aside from raising money, Homeward Bound raises awareness about the community benefits of ending homelessness and providing affordable housing.

By way of background, IACED is a statewide membership association of nearly 300 members. IACED was founded in 1986 to serve and represent community-based development organizations working on behalf of disadvantaged and low income populations in Indiana. IACED believes in a society where all persons, regardless of economic status, are able to successfully enter and participate in the economic mainstream. All Indiana residents should have the option to live and work in an environment of economic and social justice. IACED wants Indiana communities, urban and rural, to value and ensure sustainable development that benefits all income levels.

IACED’s mission statement:

IACED, whose members are dedicated to improving lives through community economic development, works to strengthen both the industry and local organizations through capacity building, advocating for effective public policy, forming beneficial partnerships among members, and delivering quality professional development services.

Participatns in this disucssion may also be interested in this discussion of homelessness on IACED's LinkedIn Group, visit http://tinyurl.com/nb48el.

[Patricia Johnstone]

Homeless is a huge problem that need to be addressed federally and locally. Most of us are less than 1 paycheck away from becoming homeless. I think the best thing that any of us can to is to empathize and support local food drives and food banks. We can donate our old clothes and volunteer to help those less fortunate than ourselves. The saddest thing is that if we all put up a few dollars every month we could actually END homelessness. I think we need to reorganize ALL of our priorities...."out of the malls and into the streets!"

[Chris Eppards]

I'm not quite as skeptical as you, Chris, but I do agree that there is no simple solution. Homelessness is a complex issue and very widespread. Each person and circumstance that lead to homelessness is unique, so there is no catch-all solution.

In all of human history, no one society has yet to totally END homelessness because there will always be those who truly choose to be homeless...they may not like it, but some of these folks willfully and consciously choose to live in that manner.

An example was Joe, a homeless guy I met in Tucson. He always had "some hustle to put some coin in his pocket", which I think consisted of gambling and other activities that I didn't know about and probably didn't want to know about. Regardless, he said that preferred to live out in the bush rather than being tied down. He even once admitted to having over $600 in his pocket and would still go dumpster-diving for his dinner.

[Marty posch]

I realize that there are people out there like "joe"..im not looking to end homelessness by any stretch of the imagination, nor to get in the way of people like joe that like that life. I am talking about things that each of us can do to help those that NEED help and WANT help. I know there are systems out there, but i think it needs to be re-energized and looked at differently. Not all of it by any stretch. There are some good organizatoins out there. But i think that it is great for people to give to those places..donate food..donate clothing whatever, but i am looking at something bigger picture to help these people not just survive on the street, but take those people that want to be off the street off it.

[Tino Marquez Jr.]

I’ve only had brief experience around homeless people during a film shoot for a short film I was producing about a homeless person (not released). Anyway, it was a very negative experience unfortunately. The ones that kept pestering us were doing so during their lunch time, they stayed outside with us because they didn’t want to go into get their free meals because to do so meant they would have to listen to a sermon while they ate. I don’t know why but I always found that odd. Then others were griping about how they were either kicked out or on the verge of being kicked out for having alcohol inside. Why on earth would I want to bust my ass to help others who refuse to help themselves?

I’m not saying they’re all like this by any stretch, I would hope this was just a small minority that we witnessed. Instead of the government, local, federal or otherwise being involved in any possible solution, I would be more interested in donating or contributing to an effort that actually , bona fide helped those who were trying to help themselves.

It would be interesting though to know the statistics of how many homeless people are ex child molesters or some other criminal type that have served time. IT is probably near impossible for them to ever get established again. And while the bleeding hearts wine and moan that I’m not doing my share to help these people, they don’t want to give them jobs or let them live in their neighborhoods, etc.

Just don’t force me to pay for any more programs. I earned and want to keep my few extra dollars and spend it as I see fit, and donate where I choose. And I've been known to give a dollar or five to a homeless person who made me smile. Forcing people to volunteer or turn over portions of their paychecks for mor social programs doesn't make people feel good. At least it doesn't make me feel good.

[Duke Snyder]

This issue is by no means what I term a "circle argument" where participating views are unceasingly vented with no clear decisions attainable. My entrance is by way of intending a favorable reply on a distant issue for Tim Piazza and for an hour I have instead digested and given thought upon views expressed thus far regarding homelessness.
What say I? Views expressed here thus far, though oftentimes appearing divergent, hold a very common thread...it is a widespread web weaved from a variety of components which, IMHO, few of us truly comprehend let alone understand. I believe opinions already stated in this discourse support that contention.
I also fail to provide you THE answer. Yet, as Marty Posch says, "try to make a dent it."
Nearing 30 years in AA I have at three different periods resided in a halfway house aiding and observing men who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness due in large part to aforementioned reasons, (no money, job or family etc.) I agree that while most are "down on their luck" a good many simply are not ready for or do not want sobriety and working to attain some degree of serenity. Like Tito, I won't work my ass off trying to help someone unwilling to help themselves...with my time or my money. Seasoned AA successes have learned to "stick with the winners," change your playgrounds and your playmates. and stay out of bars if you sincerely realize that alcohol has caused you problems. So, talking weight loss, physical exercise , drug addiction or alcoholism or homelessness..."nothing changes until something changes."
As foreign to to many people's value system as it may be there will always be those among us who CHOOSE alcohol over sobriety and homelessness over being a homeowner or even a renter.
I have walked the mile in the shoes of the guy just having lost a good salaried position and after a hospitralizatrion found the township trustees and similar avenues closed to me in the prime working years of my life and having been an independent contractor or selfemployed jobless benefits were not to be had. False pride forestalls many in these circumstances by a refusal to ask family or friends for help.
Assimilating earlier posted ideas has me agreeing to not wanting more tax monies simply tossed into the evergrowing deadend pot of gold for curing social ills in America. What someone down and out really needs are friends to listen and help guide their journey back to genuine living.
Amen to the idea of a tax deduction for sponsorship of a homeless individual or family. Within SI we read daily of members oviously willing, even wanting, to assist those in need when they are asked. Government is never the best answer...God is. My Bible instructs me to render unto God that which is His and to render also that part which is Caesar's yet I am also told I am to be a steward of that which He provides.
Like most I am a hands on type of person ready to serve my God and mankind. Having housed others needing some help without any taxbreak I would do so again and think advancing such a proposal across the land could gain surprising acceptance.
Meantime, hands off of my money Washington; I'd rather do it myself!

[Kirk Booher]

Wow, some serous posts here. Indiana has some of the most affordable housing in the country, so that is a good thing for those who truly want a home / apt and are willing and able to be responsible. Some people are homeless for reasons of their choice and own doing. Some are homeless due to circumstance out of their control. Our country does more than most and we are broke. So more Governement isnt an answer. I think groups like Habitat for Humanity, churches, missions, friends, relatives, etc all have a role for those who want to help themselves. For those who dont or cant help themselves, I have no clue. I am glad there are people who do. May God help them.