Published: May 05, 2008 02:24 pm         

STUMPTALK: A conversation about the homeless

Political concern about homelessness waxes and wanes as politicians choose at one time to exploit the issue while at other times to ignore it. It reminds me of a conversation I once had with a BMW-driving friend of mine who lived in a modest 4,000-square-foot house in a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC.

“You know, Phil, we have a lot of problems in this country,” she said.

“What do you mean ‘we’?” I said. “I have it pretty good.”

“Yes, but that’s you. What about the homeless?”

“They should get jobs or else return to the institutions that enlightened people like you threw them out of.”

“You’re not taking this very seriously,” she said as she fingered her Rolex.

“OK, I’ll be serious. How many rooms are there in your house?”

“I’m not sure. More than a few.”

“And there’s just you, Charlie, and little Justin, right?”

“Right.”

“So tomorrow, you and Charlie go down and pick up a few homeless people and bring them to your house. You have plenty of room. Invite all your friends over and persuade them to do the same thing. Then they can do the same with their friends. Pretty soon all the homeless will have a place to sleep and you won’t have to feel guilty anymore.”

“You must be joking.”

“I’ve never been more serious.”

“But I can’t take care of the homeless. I have no credentials or experience. They need counseling, psychiatric help, job training….”

“But their immediate need is a place to sleep and eat. You and Charlie make enough to provide that easily. So do your wealthy friends.”

“You don’t understand, Phil. That’s not the way things are done. We could do that, sure, but it wouldn’t get to the underlying causes, the psychological problems, or the lack of vocational training.”

“Then what should be done?”

“We need a comprehensive program for the homeless. We need professionals — psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses, psychological counselors, job counselors, coordinators, security personnel, carpenters, plumbers and teachers. We need a Department of Homeless Affairs with a secretary and full agency staff.”

“Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more effective if people like you who are really concerned gathered up the homeless and gave them food and shelter?”

“That’s ridiculous. It’s a problem for the whole society. I can’t understand why you don’t see that. Don’t you care about the homeless?”

“Not as much as you do, I guess.”

Stumptalk is published weekly in the Crossville Chronicle. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. Phil Billington serves as coordinator of this column. He may be reached at 484-2766.