On any given day, if you walk down State Street just past State Street Brats, you will undoubtedly see several homeless people begging for money. And, as awful as it is to say, you will likely ignore them or lie about not having any cash.
In truth, the majority of people in Madison during the fall season are students. We have loans, we’re in debt and we can’t afford to give away the last of our hard earned grocery money to someone who is hanging out on a curb instead of searching for employment.
This isn’t to say I’m not sympathetic. Times are tough, people have lost jobs and they can’t always afford to make rent payments. But how can I give them my money without knowing where it’s going? I have seen beggars drinking away the money they were so kindly given and heard homeless people talking about abusing the generosity of their neighbors.
Not every homeless person is this way. In fact, most aren’t, but the possibility of something like this happening prevents me from giving to the less fortunate. This is why I whole-heartedly support the Dane County Board’s decision to create a homeless shelter in Madison to help the homeless find jobs and keep them off the streets.
The board voted Thursday night in favor of partnering with Porchlight, Inc. to create an interim shelter, which will open Nov. 1. The shelter will be centrally located near bus routes and businesses. It will provide services from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. including showers, computer and phone access and mailboxes for Madison’s homeless.
Each of these amenities are centered around seeking employment. Showers are completely necessary if you are going to an interview, and computers and phones are essential for contacting employers. Allowing homeless people access to these services will give them a better chance at finding a job, which is the first step to leaving homelessness in the past.
The board intends to spend money in the next county budget on a permanent day shelter, which will provide similar services if another source also contributes. As it is, the interim shelter will close next April, leaving the homeless on the streets once again.
But even while the interim shelter is open, what will homeless people do at night? Wisconsin has hard winters, and though a day shelter gives them the tools to find a job, it gives them nowhere to sleep in the meantime. With community support and donations from organizations, maybe the board will consider creating a full-time shelter for homeless people actively seeking employment.
I have heard time and time again that people choose their fate, that once you’ve made your bed you must lie in it. But homelessness feels different. There’s a reason we’re hearing so much about jobs and budgets in political campaigns. We don’t have money.
Work is hard to come by and money is tight. These homeless people didn’t choose to be lazy or dependent; many of them are actually ashamed or embarrassed of their situation. A shelter is necessary for them to better their life and support themselves. Without access to a phone or email, an employer can not call an applicant back for an interview. Without showers, people cannot possibly look professional when speaking with future employers—which is a primary part of getting a job.
It is obvious that a shelter is necessary, and the Dane County Board is doing the right thing by addressing the needs of its homeless citizens. Hopefully support from Madison residents will encourage a permanent shelter, and possibly even a night facility to keep the snowy winter months’ dangers at bay.
Kate is sophomore majoring in Spanish and English. Are you willing to support building a permanent homeless shelter for those less fortunate? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
