Homelessness: Crisis won’t be solved by dehumanization

Re: “Homelessness: Do-good plans create victims,” (TNT letter, 12/27).

When discussing the crisis of homelessness, I often find there to be two fundamental frameworks that creep into mainstream political discourse.

The first is a more compassionate approach which treats the homeless as human beings, providing services to prevent disease and attempting to provide at least a basic minimum of care to some of our most vulnerable communities.

The second is a framework which seeks to dehumanize the homeless, criminalize the wretched circumstances in which they find themselves and create a barbaric “every man for himself” society, devoid of compassion.

Unfortunately, the latter framework was reflected in the 12/27 letter. The arguments presented were short-sighted, simplistic and flat-out contradictory. The writer’s premises do not match his conclusions.

Solving homelessness will not be easy and there is no perfect policy. But one cannot simply arrest their way out of a crisis. I refuse to adopt a framework which aims to punish victims of circumstances.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Homelessness: Crisis won’t be solved by dehumanization."