BD Newsletter

By Brad Durham

REFLECTIONS

If we saw a dog walking on the street in downtown McMinnville, what would we do? If we saw a homeless person downtown who was exhausted from sleeping outside, what would we do? What if we saw people sleeping downtown, which they often do, what would we do?

Photo taken this summer in downtown McMinnville

Would we look at the dogs downtown and ignore them? Maybe, but if they were in the street, we probably would be concerned enough to do something. If I were to see my dog in the street downtown, I would pick her up and take her home. 

Would I take my dog back to obedience school when I catch her downtown? Okay, dog, you have to start all over and when you learn to obey my commands, you can come back inside the house. Or do I simply bring the dog inside, give her shelter from the elements, and work on a plan to keep the dog off the streets again?

I am not implying that helping people overcome homelessness is easy, but I believe we have to deal with the complexity of the issue. What are we going to do about it? Doesn’t every person deserve shelter, a home? We put criminals in jail with a roof over their heads, don’t we? Why don’t we put criminals in a fenced-in field with no roof, walls, or protection from the weather? Why do we give criminals shelter, meals, bathrooms and showers, but allow the homeless people to live unprotected in the elements?

We don’t let our dogs or animals roam into dangerous, life-threatening elements. Why do we rationalize doing nothing for the homeless in McMinnville?

This is what I often tell myself…It is not my job. I am too busy. I do not have enough resources. Our city does not have the resources, staff to help them. 

But we have the staff and resources to lock up the criminals…

I know that I struggle with all of these issues. I wonder how I can work and pay my own bills. I wonder if I am helping people in my family enough or at all. Am I taking proper care of myself? 

Who am I to advocate for policies for the homeless? What if they do not cooperate with me? I tell myself it’s too hard to help them. What is my moral obligation to people experiencing homelessness? 

For moral guidance, Jesus is my supreme authority. He told a story, “For I was hungry, and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me. Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “In truth, I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” (Matthew 25:42-45)

THE HOMELESS NEED HOMES

Personally, I believe we have to use our minds, hearts and souls to develop positive solutions for the homeless. First and foremost, we need to help the homeless secure permanent supportive housing.

We need to know today how many homeless people there are in McMinnville. How many people have we helped secure permanent supportive housing in McMinnville this year? Start quantifying the problem and developing short and long- term strategies.

There are basically three ways to help homeless people afford housing. (1) Secure apartments with rental subsidies tied to the unit. (2) Rental subsidies that help pay rent for the homeless person or family with private landlords. (3) The third way is to develop new affordable housing with low-income tax credits and other funding that is targeted to help the homeless.

We need to start with proper intake and record-keeping with every homeless person. Who is homeless and who is helping them in McMinnville are two things we should be aware of every day. We need to streamline our services to the homeless; make the services efficient and not duplicate them. 

Next, we need to tie together supportive services for the homeless that starts helping them on the street and follows them into housing. This will help homeless people in McMinnville secure and maintain permanent housing. 

First and foremost, the homeless need a friend who will not judge them and be present with them – with no agenda to fix them. We need educational services, job training, financial counseling, mental health counseling, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, etc. 

We also need someone dedicated to exclusively working on housing search for the homeless in McMinnville. We need to be pursuing funding for rental subsidies, and long-term development of new and affordable housing.

We need a navigational center where the homeless can temporarily stay as they connect with help to secure permanent housing.

The complex, seemingly impossible solutions become more basic and solvable as we wrestle with the philosophical issues on a practical level. Helping the homeless secure a home solves the problem. It becomes possible when we have public support and funding. 

PERSON SLEEPING DOWNTOWN. THE TENT IS NEXT TO THE DOWNTOWN SERVICE STATION ON SPARTA STREET.

When we see people living this way, what then must we do?

The more we help people who are living on our sidewalks, parking lots and in tents move into permanent supportive housing, the more we will help ourselves and everyone in McMinnville live a better life.