An Extinction of a People

A rainy street in Philadelphia

More stories from Nathaniel Dahlgren

Running Start
May 24, 2022

It is all too often people are found without a home; no food or water to supply their needs, and no income to get them back on their feet. This state of destitute is of no benefit to anyone; not the government, the taxpayers, the tourists, or the victims themselves. In Washington state alone 22,923 people experience homelessness at any given time but coupled with the 13,000 unaccompanied minors without homes is by itself enough to show the dire need for a solution.

Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, for nearly two years now, politicians and local activists have had no firm grounding to address the issue of homelessness. Without surprise, this issue has become where all noble pursuits find themselves; a tool of political propaganda, no longer an objective sorrow, it is now a means to an end.

I am not a licensed professional nor any less ignorant than you, therefore, I will not state any form of solution towards an end to this plague, for I have no ground to which I stand that would be of any use to the people. However, that does not mean I will stand idly by while this plague engulfs our youth; the USICH have a multitude of ideas that they’re addressing but as all things should be, the people who reside in this nation must address this curse if we ever wish to end it. There is a plethora of solutions, not only to prevent homelessness but rehabilitate the homeless who are in need of housing. Housing is a major factor in the discussion of rehabilitation which stands to reason why there are so many ideas; to wit there is “supportive housing”, housing first program, rapid re-housing, and affordable housing which all cover the basic premise that is, ‘it is better to help than to forsake’.