Like the meaning of ‘affordable’ housing, the meaning of ‘homelessness’ is frequently parsed or twisted by special interests (or by the ignorant) who wish to push one agenda or another without doing their homework.
A typical example is a recent opinion piece from Victoria, British Columbia, where the author seeks to define homelessness as addicts and mental health out-patients. The apparent purpose of this definition? A convenience to avoid dealing with ‘affordable’ housing as anything but workforce housing for the middle class. Try: To A Business High Priest At The Alter Of Affordable Housing: A Little Research, PLEASE!
Affordablehousingaction.org is primarily an affordable housing blog, but our interest in people who are homeless most certainly extends to the offhand dismissal of homelessness as an insignificant housing problem.
We believe that the return to housing health by many nations rests upon building a great deal more social/public rent housing for populations of low-income individuals and families who are already homeless, as well as for a far greater number of households at the low end of the income scale that are seriously cost-burdened by their housing and at risk of becoming homeless.
To counter characterizations of people who are homeless urban camper/crazies who can be safely left to their wet sleeping bags, we think it’s worthwhile to focus from time to time on the measurable homeless problems of a particular district. And it’s useful to face up to some of the hurdles facing those who are paying far too much for their housing and at risk of homelessness.
In this article, it’s the State of Delaware’s turn. Read more in delaware online: The Truth About Homelessness In Delaware
