The news that a homeless man and his would-be rescuer lost their lives in a tragic accident on the highway left us all dumbstruck at how desperate the homeless often become and how selfless others can be in their efforts to help the needy.
Those who help the homeless in Philadelphia see such desperation and selflessness daily. And we'll see more as the situation worsens, as the numbers of homeless rise, their average age drops, their addictions and mental illness increase, and resources shrink.
The Bethesda Project has worked on solutions for almost 30 years, and we know all too well that the issue is complex. Yet even while longtime providers of services to the homeless are divided as to the best approach, it is clear that we must thoughtfully and strategically craft solutions to the specific needs of the groups that make up the homeless population: women with children, the mentally ill, substance abusers, economic casualties, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronically homeless, the episodically homeless, and young people aging out of the foster-care system.
One thing is clear: All our efforts will be little more than stopgap if we do not quickly increase the supply of affordable housing.
However, there are many positive signs.
Our experience shows that the best approach involves accepting city and the federal government funding to operate our programs while working diligently to involve ordinary citizens in helping us solve the problem. Each year, we welcome the aid of thousands of volunteers and benefactors from all over the region. These extraordinary men, women, youths and children provide their talent, time and treasure in the service of our mission, and their compassion and effort make a huge difference in the lives of the women and men we serve.
