In this edition, Colleen Sinsky shines a light on an element of homelessness few people outside of the field truly understand. That being homeless often means being alone, in the most extreme sense under the most extreme conditions. It becomes tangible for Sinsky when, as a retention worker for the nonprofit JOIN, she becomes filed as the “emergency contact,” often above a blank “next of kin” line on apartment applications for people trying to get off the streets.
It’s heartbreaking, she says, and it illustrates how isolated, physically and emotionally, people in poverty can become. Of course it’s no surprise that depression is common among people experiencing poverty and homelessness. It is a reality of the streets, and it often never goes away even after a person gets into housing. “This real and compassionate level of authentic human connection,” she writes, “is as necessary as housing.”
The popular news has been dominated recently with the suicide of Robin Williams, who battled depression and addiction much of his life. Comedian Jackie Kashian met Williams on several occasions, and spoke in this edition of his positive influence on comedians — and on people in general — “leading by the example of courtesy and support.”
Williams was also a powerful advocate for ending homelessness, and for dispelling stereotypes that perpetuate isolation, and yes, leading by the example of courtesy and support.
It’s been nearly 25 years since William testified before a Senate panel in support of the Homelessness Prevention and Community Revitalization Act of 1990. He testified to the conditions at the time, to the fastest growing population among the homeless being families with young children, as well as to the nonsense from former president Ronald Reagan that the only people who are homeless are those who have chosen to be so.
In his own words and speaking on behalf of fellow comedian Billy Crystal, Williams urged for long-term solutions that involved creating more affordable housing and a better understanding of the dynamics that drive people from their homes onto the streets.
With his passing, we lost a great advocate for people experiencing homelessness, in a sadly familiar way.
The struggle for dignity and stability continues for people who are homeless, and small triumphs occur every day, thanks to those human connections, and the courtesy and support of workers and residents in this city. While most of us will never be in a position to be an emergency contact, as Sinsky writes about, we all have it within ourselves to be a part of that support, to recognize nonsense and stereotypes when we see them, and to better understand that homelessness is about more than not having a home.
Street Roots editorial published on August 15, 2014.
