Conservative’s view: Fresno Mission will best help the homeless, not government aid

The quintessential question of American political discussion is the role of government in our lives. Gallup conducts a survey every year to assess Americans’ feelings about how much government is doing — too much or not enough. This year’s survey, conducted between Sept. 1-17, saw 52% of Americans say government is doing too much.

The biggest shift was among Independents who went from 38% saying government was doing too much in 2020 to 57% in 2021. It is clear a majority of Americans and an increasing number of Independents, a key demographic Democrats need come election time, are not in favor of endlessly expanding government. In fact, President Biden’s $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” plan is getting whittled down by the day — by members of his own party. As anyone who has lived in this country long enough knows, government usually causes more problems than it solves.

Why do I bring that up in a column intended to focus locally? Well, I believe we have a pair of local issues that show the limitations of government to fix our problems.

First is the foster youth situation in the Fresno County Department of Social Services. Bloated government bureaucracy has led to a who-knew-what-when (and then did nothing) fiasco that ended up with some of the most troubled foster youth sleeping on floors and conference tables at Child Protective Services’ offices in rooms where they could not even turn the lights out. Even worse is the revolving door there where kids can just come and go as they please to engage in drugs, crime, prostitution and come back when they feel like it.

Is replacing a member of the bureaucracy or the Board of Supervisors (as a Bee editorial suggested) likely to fix the defective structure that has failed these kids? How about throwing some more government money at it? While the situation can and certainly needs to be improved, it highlights the shortcomings of government programs and solutions.

On the flip side is the Fresno Mission’s City Center. The nine-acre campus will offer housing, services, and necessities (including a charter school, grocery store, and church). Its mission to serve the homeless and vulnerable populations is desperately needed as Fresno has thousands who face housing and life challenges. What is so impressive about this project is that it is entirely funded by private sources to the tune of $30 million.

Government sees homelessness as the problem and a government-subsidized roof as the solution. The Fresno Mission and its programs recognize that homelessness is not the problem, but the result of a problem. They identify individuals’ actual needs and offer specific, tailored, wrap-around services. This is where government, and by extension the entire community, benefits by allowing a private entity to provide a comprehensive solution.

It is no coincidence that the most important part of that successful strategy is that it is based on personal relationships and a “faith-driven process.” As Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig put it, the work at the Fresno Mission “is sustained by God through … donations and generous giving.”

Those of us who believe government is doing too much recognize the tangible results and track record of success an entity like the Fresno Mission has and welcomes it to take the lead on issues that trouble our city and community.

Private solutions will free up precious tax dollars for things government should be in the business of fixing — broken streets, sidewalks, and streetlights. It has no ability to fix broken hearts and lives.