MY TRUTH

I'm buying my happiness for Valentine's Day 👌

Ever since the market crash in 2008, the United States and other countries have suffered from an unacceptable number of homeless people. With such bad stigmas about homeless, that they are all druggies/mentally disturbed/lazy, there has been little relief effort to help the homeless population. The truth is, many homeless are not mentally ill or drug addicts. The truth is, most homeless people are good and rational and just got screwed over by the recession. The truth is, many homeless are veterans who came back from the war and were unable to find work or get the assistance they needed. Many people don't want to help the homeless because they question their motivation and competence, because "if they didn't want to be homeless they should just get a job," right? Well that is wrong. Try getting a job when you have no permanent address, no phone number to contact, only a couple outfits with no accessible washing machine, and little access to a shower or hygiene instruments. My solution to this is: Halfway house style homeless shelters Halfway houses are traditionally to help ex-cons transition back into society. They are there to help these people get a job and get back on their feet. I believe by providing this type of assistance to the homeless population, we can quickly decrease the number of people suffering on the streets. Simply, a halfway house would provide them with a temporary address; a place for them to shower, brush their teeth, wash their clothes, and look presentable enough to begin going on job interviews. Once they acquire a job, they have several months to continue living there and earning a paycheck with someone helping them with their finances. Homeless people don't want to be homeless, but it is our job as able citizens to help them get off the streets.

Santa Barbra, California