Downtrodden Dignity
Downtrodden Dignity
Downtrodden, weary, desperation on your face
Nowhere to go, no one to listen, lacking a place
As I walk alone in California, beach beauty and mountains abound
Yet, I see you, bare feet, rags, no food around
Easy for me to walk by, places to go, people to see
Your issues self-imposed, not a problem for me
Yet, my soul says something else, an inner voice making a dent
Jesus said love the unlovable, is this what he meant?
What soul lies beneath the dirt and filth, not visible to anyone even yourself
A beautiful being, hidden in sorrow, but for a twist or turn, could it be me tomorrow?
I ask myself in this land of plenty, how can I ignore my brother and sister
A youth with such hope and promise, only now to live in squander and malice
Shall I not know your dignity as God knows mine
Shall we not move to help make your soul fine
- By Smoke Wallin
I wrote this short poem this morning as I watched our new DigntiyMoves.org introductory video. I feel it captures the spirit and intent of what this amazing group of individuals is doing to solve the unsheltered homeless crises. And solve it we will.
Here is the video: DignityMoves Intro Video - March 2023
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." - John 15:12
The state of homelessness in America remains a significant social issue that affects a considerable number of individuals and families across the country. While homelessness has been a persistent problem in the US for decades, recent trends indicate that the situation has worsened over the last few years during Covid.
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there were an estimated 580,466 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2020. This represents an increase of 2.2% from the previous year, and the trend has been upwards since 2017. Moreover, the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness has also increased by 7.2% over the same period. Since then, it has only gotten worse.
Causes of Homelessness:
Homelessness is a complex issue with many contributing factors. Some of the primary causes of homelessness in America include a lack of affordable housing, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. There often are multiple factors impacting each individual.
To combat homelessness, there are various efforts and initiatives being undertaken by the government, non-profit organizations, and private entities. These include providing emergency shelters, supportive housing, and services such as mental health and addiction treatment. However, despite these efforts, the current homelessness crisis in America remains a pressing issue that requires more attention and resources.
"Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure." - Rumi
This is what led us to create DignityMoves, first as a YPO task force in 2020, then as an official 501C3 Not-For-Profit in 2021. I wrote this in September 2020:
My Why… A Journey of Discovery and Commitment to DignityMoves.Org
Since then, we have made tremendous progress and are well poised to address the issue at scale. I’ll discuss this in a bit but first, I’ll frame some of the key issues with addressing it.
Possible Solutions to Homelessness:
Reducing homelessness requires a multifaceted approach that includes a combination of short-term and long-term strategies. Some of the strategies being deployed for reducing homelessness include:
Affordable Housing: Providing affordable housing to those experiencing homelessness is one of the most effective strategies for reducing homelessness. Governments can invest in building more affordable housing units or providing rental subsidies to low-income individuals and families.
Support Services: Providing support services such as mental health care, addiction treatment, and job training can help people experiencing homelessness overcome the underlying causes of their situation and move towards long-term stability.
Prevention: Investing in prevention programs such as eviction prevention, rent assistance, and homelessness prevention can help families and individuals avoid becoming homeless in the first place.
Coordinated Entry Systems: Coordinated entry systems can help streamline access to services and support for people experiencing homelessness. By having a centralized system for assessment and referral, people can access the right services more quickly.
Housing First: The Housing First approach prioritizes providing permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness as quickly as possible, with support services provided as needed. This approach has been proven effective in reducing homelessness, especially for people with complex needs such as mental illness or substance abuse.
Collaborative Partnerships: Building collaborative partnerships between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private entities can help ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently in addressing homelessness.
"He who gives charity to the poor shall not be in need." - Proverbs 28:27
DignityMoves is About Getting Homeless Off The Streets Quickly And Efficiently:
All of these are important, but at DignityMoves, we decided the single biggest thing not being adequately addressed that we could make a real impact on was the Housing first, but with a twist. The ideal of providing permanent housing is inarguable. However, with the fact that many government programs spend as much as $500,000 to $1 million per unit to house the homeless and take years to develop these permanent solutions highlights the need for more cost-effective and efficient approaches to addressing homelessness through a whole different way of thinking. Dignity Moves' ability to put units out in as little as 4 months and for as little as $50,000 represents a game changing alternative to these more costly and time-consuming approaches.
Getting homeless individuals off the streets quickly is indeed critically important because the longer a person experiences homelessness, the more physical, mental, and emotional damage they likely suffer. The lack of a stable and secure living environment can expose individuals to various physical dangers, including exposure to extreme weather conditions, violence, and illness. Being homeless can also result in malnutrition, chronic illnesses, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Furthermore, the emotional and psychological toll of homelessness can be significant. People experiencing homelessness may feel isolated, depressed, anxious, and hopeless. They may also experience a loss of identity and dignity, which can have long-term effects on their mental health and well-being. The longer a person remains homeless, the more entrenched these problems can become, making it more challenging to address the underlying causes of homelessness and find a pathway to stable housing. PTSD is the norm not the exception.
By contrast, getting homeless individuals off the streets quickly and providing them with a stable and secure living environment can help mitigate these negative effects. It can enable individuals to focus on their physical and emotional well-being, access healthcare, and other support services needed to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Having a stable living environment can also provide individuals with a sense of security and dignity, which can have positive long-term effects on their mental health and well-being.
The fact that DignityMoves does this quickly and has a 10:1 improvement over most prior homeless solutions in terms of utilizing resources and impacting unsheltered homeless lives directly is significant.
DignityMoves partners with social service agencies and organizations wherever possible working collaboratively to address homelessness so as to utilize best practices and not reinvent the wheel on support services that exist and are effective. This collaborative approach results in more efficient use of resources and a more comprehensive approach to addressing the underlying causes of homelessness.
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Apolitical and Effective: Focus on Results:
The fact that DignityMoves is apolitical is significant because it allows the organization to focus solely on the needs of people experiencing homelessness without being influenced by political affiliations or agendas. By prioritizing the goal of getting human beings off the streets and into a safe place to give them a chance, Dignity Moves can work with anyone who shares this goal, regardless of political leanings or affiliations.
Homelessness is a human issue that affects people from all walks of life and political backgrounds. Therefore, it is essential to address it through a non-partisan lens, working collaboratively with anyone who shares the goal of helping people experiencing homelessness achieve long-term stability and well-being.
By taking an apolitical stance, DignityMoves builds partnerships and collaborations with a range of stakeholders, including social service agencies, shelters, and other community organizations. This approach helps ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently in addressing homelessness and that all stakeholders are working together towards a common goal. Going forward, it is critical for thoughtful and evidence-based apolitical policymaking, and the need to balance progressive ideals with practical solutions that benefit all members of society. When you are in the business of saving souls, God does not ask who you donated to or what position you take on a myriad of political issues. The homeless certainly don’t care, and neither should we.
"Let noble thoughts come to us from every side." - Rigveda 1.89.1
Next Steps to Solving Homelessness:
What DignityMoves has been able to accomplish in Santa Barbara in a very short time bear noting. Since opening last July, out of around 35, 15 of the residents have moved to stable housing, that’s nearly half of the residents — opening the cabins to new residents.
The mini-village offering up a different kind of solution to homelessness
This dynamic is being repeated over and over in our communities. Because of the early success, Santa Barbara County has now committed to solving unsheltered homelessness in the county and partnered to build as many as 550 units over the coming months and years. This sets the example for every community wishing to not only help but to solve the issue.
Santa Barbara County and DignityMoves Announce DignityNow Campaign - A Comprehensive Plan to Solve the County’s Interim Housing Needs
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" - 1 John 3:17
We are about to move forward on a significant capital campaign to spur rapid deployment of the DignityMoves best practices in multiple communities throughout CA, the US and Canada. We are in or beginning discussions with community leaders across CA, Portland, Seattle, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, and British Columbia, Please let me know if you’d like to be involved in any way as we build a coalition of the willing and able to save as many lives as we can, and not let a single soul be left abandoned. I’ll have more to share on this exciting initiative soon. Thank you!
"If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your own path." - Buddha