Christmas past. Christmas present. Failing the homeless, we see our future.

by Mary T. O’Sullivan, MSOL, with Nancy Thomas, publisher

(Publisher’s Note: Three years ago, Mary wrote this reflection on her trip to California. Sadly, the situation only grows worse and Rhode Island is on the cusp of an ever-quickening homelessness disaster. We reprint it here, today, due to its timeliness as officials take steps to address our local situation, with new leaders at the helm – and as a look into our Christmas future should we fail to change this path):

“Like you, I know people who drink, people who do drugs, and bosses who have tantrums and treat their subordinates like dirt. Were they to become homeless, some of them would surely also become ‘alcoholics,’ ‘addicts,’ or ‘mentally ill.” – Elliot Liebow

(2022) Walking through Los Angeles and Santa Monica last week, the homeless were everywhere. Sleeping in parks, bus, and train stations, gathering in loud groups, and staggering through the streets; homeless people became the landscape of the city. We quickly learned their routines: find a place to sleep during the day – commuter rail trains, buses, park benches, propped up against walls and pillars in public spaces, and assemble together in lighted areas at night.  Nowhere in these cities did we see a church or municipality offering food, shelter, or basic necessities to these people. There was no “Crossroads” or “Welcome House” to protect them from the streets.

The homeless mark the failure of the society which allows them to become the identity of the city. The year-round Southern California warm temperatures attract these people, who don’t have to seek or be provided shelter against forthcoming frigid temperatures looming six months a year, as in New England.

There’s a constant state of elections, or running-fors. Candidates all have platforms for ending homelessness in the city. But no one is talking about a long-term plan because voters want to see the homeless disappear from the streets immediately. So, vague promises about offering assistance with social workers and mental health professionals fill the airwaves and newspapers. Truthfully, around election time, the homeless were swept from the streets and their public gathering places to make way for voters to see that something is being done. Just like when the China delegation came to the city and we “disappeared” the homeless. To where, is still a well-guarded secret. The street denizens always will return to remind everyone that the crisis isn’t over.

What can be done? There is no clear answer but with so many major universities in the state, solutions can be arrived at. Could the state tap into the student population to design a future for the city’s homeless population? Most of the homeless are single individuals, with obvious drug, alcohol, and mental illnesses. Why not pose the problem to the smart people in colleges and universities who may get school credit for working out ideas? Engage the student population majoring in nursing, city planning, mental health, and public health to crack the code to ending homelessness in California cities.

We know it won’t be an overnight solution. But right now, the state of California gets an “F” for not even trying. We encountered homeless people of every stripe: young, old, male, female, drunk, high on drugs, and covered in blankets and sleeping in tents. A stoned-out woman approached me as I left a restaurant with my leftovers. I offered her my food. When she found out I had eggplant, she refused it saying, “Eggplant is a meat substitute.” Of course, one thing had nothing to do with the other, but she kept walking, rejecting my offering. It occurred to me she really wanted money, not food. Other California people carry packs of socks in their cars, so when a homeless person approaches at a stop light looking for money, they get socks instead. They are so taken aback; they say thank you for the socks and move on.

Politicians can’t be leaders unless they address society’s problems. Right now, lip service has been paid, with promises that this is the time we’ll fix this, but no permanent action is being taken. In Rhode Island, a few positive steps are being taken. The most successful also seem to be the small programs, not the giant Crossroads, but the faith-based, and certainly those outside of metropolitan Providence.

The failed “Echo Village” pallet shelter solution that would have housed over 40 individuals sits like an art installation calling out our incompetence. It is the saddest of hopes held out to the homeless. Today is the 3rd day of winter, and spring holds out our hope, eternal. For now it has become a big distraction. Non-flammable paint, fire suppression systems. Forget all that for this season of great discontent for those who look over at what their temporary winter home might have been. Their Christmas future, wrapped in chains. Move on to other solutions or we will surely be writing about the person or persons who did not make it in 2024.

But, it seems society waits for leaders to emerge to begin serving the people – homeless or not.

Publisher’s Note: In the RINewsToday’s regular series, “Homeless in RI:”, with over 60 columns, we note the first day of winter. And the countdown to that day. Well, it was December 21st, 2 days ago. And this week is Christmas. The tents are still there; though now they are being legally removed. However they came to be there, it is a tragedy we all own – and we all must fix. Those who call themselves the “homeless advocates” urge officials to “leave them there” – referring to those who live in tent encampments – until homes can be found. That may be some time. Solutions seem to end with plans for the next protest, or nasty words. Never accepting the challenge to do the hard work. Yes, neighbors matter, homeowners opinions matter, money matters. Shoving solutions where they aren’t wanted will not be successful. So, what’s the next step? Rhode Island has always stood as a test site for products – why not a test site for eliminating homelessness? (Why don’t we start January 1st, 2024? We’d like 2024 to be the year we no longer write “Homeless in RI”.)

So, this year we leave you with the first meeting of the state mandated Interagency Council on the Homeless in 8 years, chaired by the third director of the homeless department in charge in 2 years. Will 2025 be the year we write no more “Homeless in RI” articles? With the past as our judge of the future, we think not. God forgive us all.

“We live in a world where there is so much wealth. There shouldn’t be a homeless person. That’s crazy.” – Raheem De Vaughn

_____

TODAY there will be a vigil on the steps of the RI State House at 5pm. The vigil will remember those who have recently died while living unhoused – and to those who are currently unhoused. Religious leaders and others will speak.

___

Read all our Homeless in RI columns, here: https://rinewstoday.com/?s=homeless+in+ri

Read all Mary’s columns on business and leadership,here: https://rinewstoday.com/mary-t-osullivan-msol-pcc-shrm-scp/

Mary T. O’Sullivan, Master of Science, Organizational Leadership, International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach, Society of Human Resource Management, “Senior Certified Professional. Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Career Coaching, University of Texas at Dallas.

Member, Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Honor Society.

Advanced Studies in Education from Montclair University, SUNY Oswego and Syracuse University.

Mary is also a certified Six Sigma Specialist, Contract Specialist, IPT Leader and holds a Certificate in Essentials of Human Resource Management from SHRM.

Home