Since homelessness is a complex problem with various roots and contributing factors, one cannot fight or prevent it with only one social program or governmental initiative. The government should address each group of homelessness causes to solve the problem. However, certain strategies may have a great effect if they are aimed at the major issue – unaffordable housing. It comprises such factors as lack of affordable accommodation and people’s inability to find a well-paid job for paying the rent. Thus, the following initiatives are suggested to deal with these two issues.
Firstly, the most logical solution to fight homelessness is creating more affordable houses for the homeless. In fact, it is not a new initiative, and several temporary modular homes are already built and have accommodated hundreds of homeless people (Howell, 2019). As Howell (2019) reports, the tenants include both the people coming “directly from the street” or shelters and those who “were at risk of becoming homeless” (para. 9-10). Therefore, it seems to be a good measure to support vulnerable social groups and prevent them from becoming homeless.
Unfortunately, this measure’s implementation has not demonstrated any dramatic change in homelessness within a year. According to Chan (2020), the homeless population is still growing, primarily due to migration. Thus, the government should take it into account and either launch some other initiatives to decrease the migration or increase the scale of the modular housing project to provide more people with affordable accommodation.
What one should remember is that modular houses, despite all their benefits, are a temporary solution. It does not address the main source of the problem – the financial struggles of homeless people and their inability to pay the rent. What homeless people need is to find a well-paid job to provide for themselves. However, it might not be easy due to various factors, including lack of qualifications.
Therefore, the second solution to the homeless problem is providing more opportunities to get an education and higher qualifications for the homeless people. However, there are a lot of aspects the government and social activists should take into account. Homeless Hub warns that implementing “education, training and employment (ETE) programs” for homeless people differs from doing so for the housed population (para. 2). First of all, the homeless face such problems as “lack of a permanent address,” struggles to “maintain proper hygiene or nutrition in a shelter” (Homeless Hub, para. 2). Their state may be even more severe if they suffer from mental issues or harmful addictions (Homeless Hub, para. 2). Moreover, according to the data obtained by Homeless Hub, homeless people generally have a lower level of education than the general public (para.3). In brief, all these factors should be considered while developing the ETE programs.
Nevertheless, despite all the issues mentioned above, the ETE programs are implementable and helpful. They provide homeless people both with theoretical education and practical skill-based and job-oriented training, which allow them to find a job. Moreover, unlike general educational courses, they take into account all the difficulties the homeless people face and help them adapt. Thus, it seems to be another effective solution to the homeless problem.
In conclusion, the issue of homelessness hit a critical point in Vancouver, and it should be urgently addressed. The two suggested solutions may help deal with the main issue leading to homelessness – unaffordable housing – by providing people with more accommodation and educational opportunities. These initiatives cannot solve the problem of homelessness completely as it is influenced by many additional factors, such as mental health issues, discrimination, domestic violence, and drug addiction. However, it may be a considerable step towards bettering the situation.
References
Chan, K. (2020). Opinion: Vancouver is Canada’s dumping ground for the homeless, and this needs to stop. Daily Hive. Web.
Homeless Hub. (n.d.). Education, Training and Employment. Web.
Howell, M. (2019). Is modular housing the solution to end Vancouver’s homelessness crisis?Vancouver is Awesome. Web.