It strikes me as strange that there is no place today in a country that was developed by mountain men, fur trappers, and pioneers for a homeless person to throw up a tent or a lean-to to get out of the rain, cold, and snow. The homeless today may be the same people who, in the past, opened up this country for the rest of us. Veterans who bivouacked in foreign lands fighting in our wars may not be able to bivouac in their own land. Where today can a family living in a car find a place to park their “wagon” for a night?
The Dec. 21 story reported “Mayor: More tent cities for Seattle.” I think the mayor of Seattle has it right. Mayor Ed Murray proposes legislation to make “a limited number of unused, vacant lots … available for encampments.” Wouldn’t it be better for people on the street to have some shelter than no shelter at all? A tent may not be the best shelter but it would be better than none.
Ultimately, we need a long-term solution. But, until we have permanent housing available for everyone, if we ever do, we need a temporary solution that works for the homeless today.
When I was growing up, I thought the stories by Charles Dickens were about another time and place, but now I’m not so sure. Seeing people sleep on the street makes me wonder if we really have progressed at all as a society in the last 150 years?
