Julie Adkin 's “The View from the Front Desk: Addressing Homelessness and the Homeless in Dallas” explores upon the prevalent homelessness issue by studying one of the meanest cities; Dallas. She explores the misconceptions of homelessness and the homeless by expanding in depth about the reality of their situation. Adkin also discusses the reactions and actions taken by governmental agencies and nongovernmental agencies to alleviate the extremity of the persistent problem. Two important points she stresses is the lack of opportunities and resources the homeless have and the problem with the strategies used by national and local agencies to deal with the rampant homelessness issue. Clearly, the problem of homelessness is not adequately dealt
…show more content…
Dallas city leaders don’t perceive “homelessness as the problem; rather, they perceive the homeless as being the problem” (226). Their ignorance and restrictive mentality prevents any change, especially since they refuse to understand the full dynamics of the complex situation and their role in orchestrating it. Their “solutions” don’t involve the creation of shelters, more funding on social services, or even advocating for the development of affordable housing. Instead, they fixate on criminalizing them for engaging in certain behaviors to survive due to their incompetence. Evidently, this raises the question: “Why don’t political leaders create more shelters and programs to help the homeless instead of jailing them, when it is less expensive?” Essentially, all it does is further debilitate and restrict them of opportunities. Unsurprisingly, homelessness is created and sustained through their actions and connected to poverty and inefficient housing. Due to unskilled manufacturing jobs being offshored to third world countries, many people became unemployed and lost significant benefits. The unaffordability of housing, apparent in the huge gap between wages and fair market value rent due “to the stagnation of income at the minimum-wage level” causes homelessness. In addition, gentrification and urban renewal projects force residents out and since they’re usually not provided with an inexpensive housing option, they are forced to become homeless. Although the national and local government is capable of impeding the severity of homelessness, they choose to not implement adequate assistance and support. For instance, in 1994, city leaders flirted with the idea of a “homeless assistance center,” but only after Dallas was hosting the World Cup soccer matches. One suggested transporting all the homeless people to Fort Worth, even though it wouldn’t have
Dallas city leaders don’t perceive “homelessness as the problem; rather, they perceive the homeless as being the problem” (226). Their ignorance and restrictive mentality prevents any change, especially since they refuse to understand the full dynamics of the complex situation and their role in orchestrating it. Their “solutions” don’t involve the creation of shelters, more funding on social services, or even advocating for the development of affordable housing. Instead, they fixate on criminalizing them for engaging in certain behaviors to survive due to their incompetence. Evidently, this raises the question: “Why don’t political leaders create more shelters and programs to help the homeless instead of jailing them, when it is less expensive?” Essentially, all it does is further debilitate and restrict them of opportunities. Unsurprisingly, homelessness is created and sustained through their actions and connected to poverty and inefficient housing. Due to unskilled manufacturing jobs being offshored to third world countries, many people became unemployed and lost significant benefits. The unaffordability of housing, apparent in the huge gap between wages and fair market value rent due “to the stagnation of income at the minimum-wage level” causes homelessness. In addition, gentrification and urban renewal projects force residents out and since they’re usually not provided with an inexpensive housing option, they are forced to become homeless. Although the national and local government is capable of impeding the severity of homelessness, they choose to not implement adequate assistance and support. For instance, in 1994, city leaders flirted with the idea of a “homeless assistance center,” but only after Dallas was hosting the World Cup soccer matches. One suggested transporting all the homeless people to Fort Worth, even though it wouldn’t have