A Voice That Went Unheard at the ‘ Stewardship Council’
At Monday’s meeting of the Stewardship Council I ended up sitting next to John Kitchell. John is a retired Physicians Assistant who has been working with the Homeless for many years. After around the room introductions John, like the rest of the public, was ignored. Fortunately for us John had a list of ideas that resonated with myself and several other members of the public in attendance. Unfortunately due to the council’s exclusionary policies these suggestions might no be heard. I wanted to share some of his ideas with you.
Here Are A Few Possible Solutions To The Homeless Problem
Recommendations for correcting the growing problem of homelessness in this nation include the following:
*Increase the range and improve the access of services available to homeless and other indigent people.
*Increase the supply of adequate, low-income housing and decent shelters.
*Develop programs for homeless alcoholic persons, drug abusers, and those at high risk of health care problems.
*Create community facilities in which homeless people can safely convalesce from diseases or temporary exacerbations of chronic illnesses.
*Encourage volunteers, especially students and professionals in medicine, nursing, allied health, social work, law and dentistry, to provide services for homeless and indigent persons.
*Mitigate the larger problems of unemployment, lack of job training, lack of education, and lack of hope that perpetuate the problems of poverty and homelessness.
In addition, the American Psychiatric Association’s Task Force on the Homeless Mentally Ill has recommended the following:
*Graded and supervised community housing.
*Adequate, comprehensive, and accessible psychiatric and rehabilitative services with outreach services when necessary, and
*Accessible crisis services.