Possible Solutions

There are differing schools of opinion regarding the effectiveness of various approaches to targeting the problem of homelessness. Certain services offer programmatic, comprehensive programs while others focus on specific needs such as drug and alcohol recovery programs; however, a third group believes both of these approaches are "an oversimplification and that there is not a singular approach to this complicated problem." Providers also voice a concern that the rise in drug and alcohol recovery programs has inadvertently taken the place of other programs such as the Literacy Council and Continuing Education.

There is a need for funding and support for agencies and for people in direct contact with homeless people. Several service providers reported differential treatment from Health Department personnel, claiming that homeless people would be turned away unless accompanied by a service provider with power. A greater source of funding for these agencies should be allocated to hiring more staff to alleviate the burden or stress on current existing staff. Funding should also provide adequate training for producing qualified, compassionate, and service-oriented staff.

"The future for the homeless ought to be dependent upon consumers and advocates, interfacing with providers to steer a policy of looking at what is being done and who is not accessing those services and why. Then they need to find out why anyone is being denied service...[by] ask[ing] the consumer what they need." The approach is coupled by a suggestion to have community members who have experience with the issues to be on boards, since executives are ultimately accountable to the boards. Part of the solution has to come from systemic changes involving consciousness raising and attitudinal changes on the homelessness issue at the community level. In the words of one provider, the non-homeless community must "start seeing homeless people as us rather than them." Another informant stated in agreement that "now we as human beings have become so complacent, so materialistic, too busy to grasp the ultimate dream of having a big house and a nice car…and all the good things, that we forget about each other…. We won't let anyone come into our house…we have been desensitized to our own people." The same informant then suggested the need for people to learn more about homelessness and that "you can't address a problem if you have no clue about it."

Community Networks and Involvement

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Perceived Causes of Homelessness