Why Utah Set Me Off
I want housing for the homeless to be designed by men and women who have been homeless. I want us to ask: where would be most convenient for you? What do you want in terms of size? What community space do you want? Do you want a front porch? I want us to care enough to design space useful to people instead of putting folks in available apartments because the apartments need tenants.
I want a Plan to End Homelessness that a normal person can read and make heads or tails of.
I want us to stop putting quotation marks around “experts” when we turn to men and women who’ve experienced homelessness for advice on how “we” can best “serve” them.
I want us to require developers to put dollars toward public housing whenever tax breaks are given by the city.
I want our “mixed income” communities to actually be “mixed income,” not faux “affordable housing” for $600 a month that folks coming off the streets cannot afford.
I want us to have options available to men and women living on the streets, regardless of income, so that not only people with “checks” have the “privilege” of being housed.
I want us to quit thinking our goal is to make “the homeless” productive members of society and to start thinking our duty is to structure housing in a way that lets people live the lives they need to live.
I want us to quit worrying about giving things away “for free” and start caring about people.
I want us to realize that people are still “homeless” if they are jailed.
I want us to quit talking about “low neighborhood impact” from housing for the homeless, as if homelessness were something to be afraid of.
I do not want to have to look at Utah—Utah!—and envy their action to end homelessness.
homeless, homelessness, housing, public housing, the homeless, utah and homelessness
Joe Hawes
Amen! You and Elaine sound equally strong of late. I am glad I know you both
Ellen Morris Prewitt
If I have any strength to say what I think it is due to my community.
Marisa
YES YES YES YES YES!!! Also, YES! Thank you for ALL of this, each dagger-sharp truth, and the passion that fuels it. Yes.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Marisa. I never know whether what I think has any validity or not.
Marisa
You are valid. Always.
tjmcfee
Reblogged this on brainsections and commented:
I’m wondering what it is that Utah is doing? Please explain.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you so much for reblogging. I replied on your blog (I hope you got it) giving more info on what Utah is doing with the link to its website. My latest post, prompted by your questions and others like it, also explains more about what Utah chose to do. LMK if you have any other questions. I appreciate your reading, commenting, and sharing.