Poverty is everyone’s problem

We pass them almost every day. We pass them and then forget them, unless they approach us for some change. We don’t even remember them, moments later. These are the homeless and the disenfranchised citizens of our city. They are ones who do not share in the good life, as most of us do.
They are easy to dismiss and ignore. For many of us, they are just human clutter. We wish they would go away. Seldom do many of us give any continuous thought to who they, or how they came to be where they are now. Not our problem? Not our responsibility? Why not?
Too often, they are dismissed as the losers of society while we give little consideration of why? We, the fortunate, have had opportunities, talents and support. That is not always true for many who spend their days on the street.
There are many different roads that lead to this lifestyle. Certainly, there are drug and alcohol problems, mental illnesses and other paths. Often, those are symptoms, rather than reasons. Subjection to abuse throughout childhood; be it mental or physical, is one of the largest contributors. How would most of us fare if we had been forced to endure the same life path and treatment that many of these individuals did? Would we be the successful, prosperous, self sufficient people we are; or would we be them?
Their plight is not a significant political topic. They can be ignored easily, with a few free meals tossed in their direction and the occasional roof over their heads. As a society, we partially contain the problem, rather than taking a far more proactive approach. There are many agencies and groups who try very diligently to meet their needs, but a shortage of funding keeps many of these agencies understaffed and less effective than they could be. This, results in the provision of nothing more than the basics of life, which is less than most of us grew up with.
Continuing to let this situation grow and fester, doesn’t make any sense from either a social or an economic point of view. The current philosophy seems to be funding enough to patch and control the situation, while avoiding spending on research and potential solutions. It would be naive to think the problem of poverty and suffering will ever be completely solved, but there is potential to resolve many of the social problems, and a lot of the human suffering, in a positive manner. If successful solutions can be found to help some of these people regain their dignity and move on to a more positive life, we should be doing it. It just makes sense to help people support themselves. If people do not have the tools to move forward, it is up to us, as human beings, to reach out a hand and offer help. It is a waste of time and energy to sit back and criticize.
Currently, we seem to have a patch-work of studies, opinions and aid: each one trying to deal with the homeless. There does not seem to be any cohesive form. If there is, the public is unaware of it. There are good intentions and there is sincere energy being applied, but it seems to be more of a finger in the dam rather than a repair.
Regardless of where one sits on the political spectrum, one can, and should be encouraged to support solid co-ordinated efforts to develop an effective strategy to deal with the homeless. When they succeed; we all benefit.
We either value each and every human life or we become a society of uncaring savages. The problem is not “theirs”; it is “ours”, and the contribution of each of us is imperative.