There are a lot of situations that are newsworthy. Close to home, homelessness, or as some prefer to identify it, houselessness. In most American cities a conspicuous community of those without a fixed address has accumulated. Some, the less unfortunate, still have a vehicle they can lock and feel somewhat safe in, but not secure. They may have to relocate daily or even more frequently.
Many tents are pitched on public property, and while they provide a modicum of privacy they are only as secure as their neighbors permit. A thin nylon tent is easily violated by anyone with a knife, or animal with claws. The tent at least makes a statement of ownership, “this eight-by-eight space is mine. Please do not violate it”, even though it’s on someone else’s land.
Many find shelter squatting in vacant buildings, perhaps protected from the weather, but uncertain about safety or whether they will be tolerated another day. Seldom are they secure for long. Some camp in remote areas, safe from some risks, but exposed to others. Not much crime in the middle of nowhere, but not much help, opportunity or socialization either.
Some are reduced to sleeping rough, anywhere they can, a doorway, under a bridge, in a culvert or wherever they are when they can’t go on. All of these people have issues with food, water and sanitation. The sanitation issue quickly becomes a public issue. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, like unrealistically expensive mandates in a building code. A McMansion or nothing mentality in the legislature. What happened to basic inexpensive starter homes? What happened to building row houses with party walls, duplexes, fourplexes or garden apartments. Homes that share land and utility connections to reduce cost and create a community? What about ohanas? Auxiliary housing units that can allow the less fortunate families to live amidst a middle-class neighborhood with middle class
role models and opportunities.
The issue is more noticeable in places where the weather is mild. In Rapid City South Dakota they like to say “Twenty below keeps out the riff-raff.” Maybe it just keeps them out of sight.
On a national scale the issue is extra-legal immigration. People moving across borders for an infinite number of reasons that range from ambition to mortal fear. Some immigrants cross several countries to get to one where they hope to feel secure, usually one that is English speaking. There seems to be a correlation between the English language and the concept that humans have rights and opportunity. Most of them want to work, but arbitrary rules keep them in limbo.Many are highly qualified, though maybe not yet in English. Others are available to fill entry level jobs so that current employees can be more productive. Remember immigrants become customers too. At current 2 million a year those immigrants could be the majority in just 180 years.
Suicides have increased like homelessness, for a variety of reasons, including being unlucky in love. Some of these have to do with an individual’s mental state and can only be dealt with case by case. There are a few who feel most free vagabonding, with few possessions and no responsibilities. The mass numbers however require a systemic approach. Addressing the causes of mass anxiety will reduce the number of victims.
What these problems have in common is an untenable situation that the victims are trying to escape. Fix the base situation and the symptom can be corrected. To stop emigration from third world countries we have to fix the countries, but regime change has failed. What’s needed is opportunity, make it possible for people to gain by working hard. One thing we do right is creating jobs, but that is too
concentrated in China. Why not Latin America and remote areas? Why not build railroads all the way from Point Barrow Alaska to Punta Arenas, Chile and Newfoundland, Canada so even remote America can be involved in the welfare of the greater American community. While we are at it, how about high-speed passenger rail connecting downtowns to affordable outer suburbs. Too ambitious?
So was the Panama Canal, the interstate highways and the space program.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a biweekly column for West Hawaii Today. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com