One way for the City of Seattle to care for the homeless community would be to establish a “Homeless Rehab Center.” This would be a court-mandated program where clients could earn privileges through treatment/rehab program compliance such as bus tokens for interviews and appointments, free cell phones, job interview outfits, rain gear, interim pre-housing privileges, a free mailbox and keys to public restroom, showers and laundry facilities.
The programs and facilities would be run by recovered clients themselve [and] qualified correctional facility volunteers or people on probation, as well as faith-based volunteers and social service interns. Through participation and social support in a non-correctional environment, residents would learn about ways to break the cycle of homelessness, substance abuse and mental health relapse, including becoming familiar with medical care options, job-training programs and housing opportunities.
Qualified recovered clients could assist in a volunteer-operated, non-hospital mental health triage and social support center.
Women could be offered self-defense training and children could be placed in a residential facility similar to Covenant House. People who qualify could also be given assistance with applying for social security benefits.
Program clients could also be given an opportunity to further learn job skills and social skills by taking part in pre-employment activities that benefit the community like picking up abandoned shopping carts, power-washing sidewalks and picking up litter.
These low-cost opportunities would offer hope to Seattle’s homeless residents and qualified correctional facility volunteers and could also be supported with crumbs from the table of proposed multi-billion dollar transportation projects or economically risky new stadiums. They would also be good for the city.
If city officials don’t find sustainable, compassionate ways to help the homeless, this might create bad karma and they might wind up waiting for mats in the rain themselves for shelter in unused sports stadiums or unfinished tunnels, alongside others who hoard wealth.
Harold Bartko Jr. | Burien