Paper
Adjacent Opportunities: Adrift
Published 2015 · R. Schultz
Emergence: Complexity and Organization
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Abstract
March 31, 2015 * ColumnIt's difficult to find anyone, no matter their politics, who is in favor of homelessness. And yet there are currently 610,000 homeless people in the United States, and 7.7 million Americans at risk of becoming homelessness due to economic factors. Of those 610,000, 65%, or nearly 400,000, are living in shelters or temporary housing. Despite these very unfortunate numbers, they do represent a 21% decline in homelessness since 2010. Only 79% to go.In Los Angeles, the numbers of those living on the streets range from 50,000 to 70,000. During last year's homeless count, LA decided to institute new protocols. Counters couldn't just record the number of those they identified, they also had to speak with them. But in true bureaucratic fashion, the questions they were given were often inappropriate and void of any real human connection to the issues these people were facing. For example in one such survey, the initial question asked had to do with sexual orientation.To many, homelessness is a nuisance and the homeless something less than human. "They're not like me. They're mostly crazy, or criminals, and definitely dangerous." What is not understood is that of the total homeless population, only 14% are characterized as "chronically" homeless. But then that 14% are often the most visible. But what of the other 525,000.One very positive development is the practice known as "housing first." By providing housing to the homeless, a whole slew of issues are resolved. Now, before the hue and cry goes out about cost and government giveaways. Before half the population who thinks homeless is not a good thing, but who still don't think taxpayer money should be spent on "those" people, there is an important and rather convincing point to be made. In a recent Fluffington Post article, it was noted that researchers repeatedly found that the process of housing first not only reduced homelessness it saved money. Flow? First, providing permanent housing, reduced the impact and costs placed on the criminal justice system when homelessness is treated punitively. And second, and of even greater importance it reduced hospital and medical costs.These researchers also found that 90% of the population that enters these programs stay in their housing and meet all the requirements. For the 525,000, not chronically homeless, but whose economics pushed them onto the street, having a real home and address was the crucial issue in helping them re-establish their lives.For those with greater needs, the effect of housing first is equally as significant, if not more. Flousing First comes with an agreement that the homeless must enter a variety of treatment programs. And surprisingly, here is where the cost savings come. This portion of the homeless population often incur a larger share of the costs on both the justice and medical systems. Flowever, when you give people the medications they need rather than allowing them to self-medicate, a great many of the problems caused by substance abuse and abnormal psychological behavior are reduced. There's less crime and fewer emergency room visits. Subsequently, the cost to society is far less than the punitve approach some think is the only way to deal with the issue.For all involved, the greatest payback comes in giving people back their lives. They are able to re-emerge from the shadows, and regain a sense of confidence and inclusion. This clear emergent phenomenon unfolds by providing the appropriate alternative to self-medication, a doctor's prescription and the agreement to follow the treatment.The issue is still finding the housing and convincing policy makers that this approach is far better than the more traditional and punitive methods. Enter Tina Hovesepian, a young architect living in Los Angeles. Tina saw the pain and suffering of the homeless, not just in the United States but in Asia as well, and came up with a design and a plan. …
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