In society today there’s a tough balance between a hand-out and
hand-up. I see a lot of people struggling with various issues, such as
addiction, mental illness and homelessness. When you look at their daily lives, once they
have been in these situations for a while, you begin to understand why it is
difficult for them to get out.
Let’s start with addiction, once someone becomes addicted
their life becomes focused on one thing and that is finding the next bottle or drug
of choice. I've seen many people spend all day trying to find a way just to get
enough money to buy whatever their drug of choice is or a bottle. Some of them
have to put in some serious effort and it makes you wonder if they had to work
that hard just to get the money to buy the drug of choice, how hard would they
work if they had a job with hope and purpose and were not addicted.
Then you look at those who are struggling with mental
illness and the labels society puts on them and the medications they have
to take just to make it through one day. Some even get into trouble and have to
go through what they call “Mental Health Court” and are required to attend a
number of meetings each week. Some of the restrictions from the outside seem
very silly and I know they have to watch what they say to the judge or
counselor. I know that seems funny, they’re
struggling with mental illness and they have to be careful with what they say.
Sometimes I think the system is stacked against them.
By looking at the homeless, which could encompass addiction
and mental illness, or for some it could be they are just going against society
you see a different picture. Because of the generosity of those around them they
are able to survive. You see once you’re on the street for a while you develop
a system, you know where to get breakfast, you know where to get lunch and dinner
and when winter comes there is almost always a warm place to sleep.
The problem comes when you are socializing with those who
are suffering just as much if not worse than you are this lifestyle becomes
comfortable and normal. In some cases they begin to prefer it. I look around and see how much money we as
individuals give to the people standing on street corner with their hand out, with
their crudely written signs and the amount of money the government spends on so-called
“special programs” to save people
from themselves. But most of these “special programs” don’t include helping
them develop the skills to get back into society and learn to live what we
call a normal life.
They just make us feel better because we are not letting
them starve to death.
There are a few private programs such as Union Gospel
Mission, which provides an 18 month program that if you completed it you come
out with better social skills and having learned how to cope in society and how
to hold a job.
Most of our government programs just send out a check and
they think they are doing the right thing but I suggest that there is something
better and that is to provide people with hope and purpose. By sending them a
check you take away their hope and their purpose and they only live to get by
until the next check arrives.
Then there is the prison system, which do you realize cost
the taxpayer $35,000 on average to house a prisoner for one year. In New York
State it is $65,000 per year per person. (By the way 76% end up back in jail) What
if we took all of this money that we are spending on “special programs” and prison cells and use it to create a similar
model such as the Union Gospel Mission and many other private organizations have
created around the country. Maybe it
would be money better spent.