In the past week, class turned away from readings, media, and discussion and focused on meeting the experts. We met members of the community that serve as the front-line for programs that target the homeless and those who run these organizations. In meeting these people, the narrative that I was drawing from the class changed dramatically. Up to this point, our conversations focused on the ways systems force people to homelessness and keep them there. Many of the homeless people we studied were examples of individuals that were just like us; only they had fallen on hard times and were now homeless. Then, experts brought us stories of how, often, the homeless were refusing services offered to them. There was a rough average of 70+ contacts before someone accepted services. For me, this change in narrative reemphasized the question, why are we helping people who don’t want it?

I don’t think this is a question that should be ignored, whether through willful ignorance or otherwise. If we are going to alleviate the plight of the homeless, we must address the valid – or at least seemingly valid – questions that many conservatives and others hold. To begin to explore this question, I want to understand why the homeless are apprehensive to accept services. Is denial of services rooted in reason and/or mental health issues? If so, then we have yet another systemic problem: it’s our cross to bear, not solely theirs.

Addressing the main question, why are we helping people who don’t want it, is important for another reason. This line of thinking is used to discredit the factual, sensible argument that it is cheaper to help these people than to pay for policing and hospitalization of them. A plethora of articles tell us to “stop wasting money on the homeless”, encouraging people to vote against measures that would in truth save the taxpayers money. Bleeding hearts aside, it’s just good business to help the homeless.

Throughout my education, I have tried to lend focus and credence to the opinions and perspectives that seem to get lost in the liberal arts. At the very least, opinions that get lost here. I feel it’s important to focus on these individuals because they matter. Their opinions sway the way we, as a nation, address issues big and small. Often there is validity in their concerns. To ignore them is to ignore their rightful place in this country and to possibly sacrifice the success of your own goals. I try to apply this same thinking to the issues and politics of homelessness. Without recognizing and addressing the concerns of others, we risk the success and sustainability of any effort made to help the homeless.