My plan to end homelessness
Before homelessness can be solved, people need to debate whether we really want to solve it. So far no one seems to know how to frame the debate. Here is an outline to find a path to ending homelessness.
The question that first must be answered is, do we want and accept a permanent underclass? If this is the case, then no amount of tax dollars will fix the problem. Therefore, we must decide that a permanent underclass is unacceptable. That requires developing and implementing a plan for full employment.
Full employment allows people self worth. When people have a sense of self worth, then social programs can be successful. What are the impediments to full employment?
A school system that accepts a huge dropout rate, automation and mechanization, available jobs going to immigrants, and a ruthless health-care system that puts money before health.
These things are easy fixes. However, the interest groups that support the above practices are wallowing in money that is used to maintain the status quo. Patches on a broken system and eloquent editorials will never solve the homelessness crisis because they do not address the root causes.
Steven Faukner, Fresno
This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 3:41 PM with the headline "My plan to end homelessness."