Homelessness, Poverty & Suffering are caused by Trauma, Childhood Abuse & Neglect, Lack of medical & mental health care, Income Inequality, Lack of Living Wage Jobs, Lack of Affordable Housing, Discrimination, and Ineffective Underfunded Social Services.
A police officer yesterday told me “It’s laziness and drugs that are the problem not lack of affordable housing.” And I was saddened to hear another person in power misunderstanding the root causes.
Humans of ALL socioeconomic classes Use Drugs & Alcohol to try to escape from their pain and suffering. When the Wealthy do so, no one complains much and they can go to fancy rehab centers and have doctors and counselors to help them. And they have shelter, food, basic needs met.
But when a Poor person who is Suffering Far Worse uses drugs and alcohol to escape their pain society judges them as it being their fault, and their homelessness and suffering as something they deserve and caused themselves.
Until We as a Society can see with Trauma-Informed Eyes & Compassion the True causes of homelessness and poverty – We will live with our neighbors in tents beside us acting out their traumas, pain, misery, desperation, rage, and grief. And That is All of Our Fault.
Words Dancing On The Wind 