Homelessness and the Housing Dilemma

It is the contradiction of our times: To have so much empty and available housing stock and a growing homeless population. Today was one of those days where Housing was the main topic on my agenda.

First, I am locked into a debate about the housing crisis in New Orleans. The government is proposing to demolish substandard project housing units, while people are sleeping under bridges. There is an active protest against it.

Second, I attended a strategy session on transitional housing program for ex-offenders.

We, in Tarrant County, Texas, are solution-oriented. We are a very large and active community, working on various committees, sub-committees, and projects. For the past two-and-a-half years, we have been laying the groundwork for reentry of previously incarcerated persons (PIPs). A large percentage of those will have transitional housing needs.

Today, I was a proud part of the formation of the Residential Reentry Association, a support network of transitional housing for PIPs. We are changing the name from “Group Homes” to “Transitional Housing”.

I believe this concept works if we measure the basic unit in terms of “bed space”, rather than housing units. This would better facilitate cost accounting and resource management. Case management of clients can be streamlined through an in-and-out logging system, registering hours of service, and which types of services.

We have successfully identified the types of services PIPs need. Therefore, the Tarrant County Reentry Council is subdivided in 10 workgroups. The newly formed Residential Reentry Association will be part of the Housing solution, and work to expand capacity in terms of bed-space and sponsorship.

We recognized that sometimes PIPs will fall into the ranks of the homeless, but usually after some time at failing to reintegrate into society (The almost-made-it bunch). For the sake of the Reentry Housing strategy, this is a different demographic. The City of Fort Worth has appointed a homeless czar assigned the Herculean task of picking the homeless off the ground.

There has been a recent wave of evictions- from apartments and homesteads. The shakeout has created more homelessness. We are finding substance abusers and alcoholics falling into the ranks of the homeless. And, we see a rise in petty crimes and drug arrests.

More and more, as I drive around the neighborhood I see people belongings sitting on the curb. Some evictees are desperate enough to break back in, and squat under the cover of darkness, or until evicted again. Later, these abandoned houses become homeless haunts and drug houses. Eventually, these units fall victim to arson or demolition (and not enough demolition, at that).

Here is where I find myself in dispute with the property owners in New Orleans who are protesting the demolition of HUD Housing projects.

Protest is no solution. It may call attention to the problem, but the leadership behind the protest must have a proposed solution to offer. Otherwise, Tarrant County, Texas recognizes the homeless crisis. Why should we protest while we are the ones working on the solution?

As part of a proposed solution to PIPs falling back into homelessness, the Residential Reentry Association will probably evolve into a Group Home Owners Association, where reentry PIPs will be the collective owners of the place where they call home. And, when they leave, they will be economically viable self-sufficient citizens.

I admit that we are in the early stages of development. But the county realized that, with 500 releases per month, they must stop the bleeding and prevent these people from returning to a life of crime.

We must remove barriers and stumbling blocks that hinder reentry- such as a lack of state-issued legal identity (which would help Hispanic-Americans especially being released from prison). PIPs should also be able to receive state certification and licensure in the vocational fields for which they trained.

Mental Health must come to recognize “Arrested Development” as a psychological barrier to reentry, but not to be confused with MHMR. The deprivations created by incarceration can be corrected by re-socialization skills training, such as time management, computer literacy, and soft skills, such as telephonic skills, social etiquettes, anger management, and ethical behavior.

Our advice to the people of New Orleans- Get a grip and take control. The concept of a Group Home Owners Association is not farfetched from a solution to New Orleans dilemma.