They come and they go, and they come again

Chronic homelessness is one of the more common descriptions given the majority of residents in metropolitan communities experiencing homelessness. While new entrants to the scene are tackled as quickly as possibly feasable, it's the repetitive user of service providers that seems to tax both local services as well as increase negative stereotyping of the homeless in general.

The man on the corner seen for years. The single woman with multiple children in tow, the number increasing every other year. The young adult couch surfers having exhausted their network's contacts and standing in line after absent for three years in meal lines.

My own city has literally thousands of people who are at least considered 'Cyclic', and majority of those considered 'chronic'. Either exhausting time limits consecutively at one shelter to another or failure to thrive in placed transitional housing, these are the sections of the homeless community which are tracked the least yet cause the most duplication of services as well as strain to hearts hoping their efforts pay off 'this time'.

Housing is becoming less of an issue day by day in many communities throughout the United States. Granted, we've got a long way to go but we're in a better situation than we were a decade ago. The real issue is mental health screening as well as services necessary for people to thrive. But then, you can only lead a horse to water...you can't force them to drink.

The simplest way would be to ultimately criminalize homelessness, at a certain point and degree...using mental health services as the fix. Sounds extreme, but when you consider the problem of many chronically homeless you have to address the root.

Drugs and alcohol or even inappropriate behavior aren't the root causes, and in most cases it's not values. It's perspective of the person, desire, drive, and other matters inside the mind of someone actually homeless.

We talk of Baker Acting people for their own good. We talk of people placed in observation for 3 to 10 days for proper diagnosis and treatment started, when people aren't able to make the decision to help themselves. The same litmus tests should be used towards people experiencing multiple cycles of homelessness...services have failed where in many cases they have...what can be done to help improve the quality of life for someone unable to make the choice to do so initially?

Harsh, extreme, but practical at the same time...and not said lightly. I myself have experienced homelessness through different decades, as a single and head of a family. The one thing that helped me break the cycle of homelessness?

Acquiring mental health services. Without having begun learning how to address my own inappropriate behavior, I would have been back on the street or couch surfing at this time. Without them, people meander until falling again through the cracks. Singles, couples, and women with children.

Communities can sit back and watch any homeless family at a service provider such as a shelter. Chances are if they sat in that same spot, they'd see the majority of those family members return as a single unit again within two years. Rather than "3 strikes your out!", we should be looking at "3 strikes and you're IN!".

In for mandatory observation and treatment plans of mental health service providers.

You know I'm right. You're just afraid to admit it publicly.

If you read and enjoyed this entry and have care for the needs of others in your community experiencing homelessness, rather than a handout this season consider purchasing one single gift of choice...wrapping it...and simply hand it to someone you see in the streets or nearby shelters. MBT shoes are something to look at, since any single or a homeless family can definitely put them to good use.

Best, and happy holidays to you and yours.