Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - The homeless are almost invisible

The homeless are almost invisible

Feb 14, 2007 - 03:57:48 CST

They’re the invisible population of Bismarck-Mandan.

They’re homeless, and many of them are kids.

They don’t often fit into the stereotypical picture of vagrants loitering in a park or camping under a bridge. That could be fatal behavior in North Dakota in the winter.

But they’re around. There are school-age children and young people who do not have a permanent, fixed nighttime address, short-term or long. They may be in transit, moving from place to place, including shelters, staying with relatives or through one program or another being staked to a motel room for a while.

First, we have to admit the truth, that there are homeless among us. The degree of denial — or blissful ignorance — on the part of the comfortable majority in the community here is an impediment to delivering assistance to those who lack a feeling of belonging, who lack normalcy and perhaps even lack safety from not having a real residence.

Solutions to all the problems involved do not present themselves easily. It’s not only a matter of people’s housing; there often are addictions involved, abusive situations, forced unemployment or a pattern of bad choices. Those in social services, other agencies and aid organizations have to deal with a myriad of circumstances going beyond placing a person or a family in housing.

Homelessness is a cluster of thorny problems.

One of the matters to be dealt with is whether homeless children are in school.

Fortunately, there are people working for school districts who care — more than it just being their job — about kids who are homeless, kids who cope with a lack of the stability that most children, thankfully, are able to take for granted.

In the Bismarck School District, homeless students are being helped and being kept track of in an effort to do everything possible to make sure they’re in school. Add the number of them to their not-in-school younger or older siblings with whom the district program consequently had contact so far in the school year, and it’s 365 — 365 individual young people.

It shouldn’t have escaped anyone’s notice that it’s been a bit cold lately for spending the night in a van. People are compelled to reach out for help.

To name the entities that work to help the homeless locally would be to risk leaving one out. Some of them hardly stir a breeze when they’re quietly going about their work of compassion.

One thing is for sure: Not a one of the local volunteer organizations makes a pile of money by jumping onto the backs of the homeless. More often it’s a thankless effort, beset with frustrations and occasionally with heartbreak.

Likewise, those whose jobs bring them into contact with the homeless — social workers, school district employees and certainly police officers — don’t normally get the affirmation they deserve. It goes below the radar screen when a cop ascertains that a mother and young children are in a parked car because they have nowhere else to go — and the officer makes a call, and a chain of events leads to the homeless folks getting lodging.

It may not give them a permanent address, but at least they’re safe from hypothermia. To be homeless anywhere is no walk in the park. Here, it can be grim.

News > Opinion

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Comments

camille noll wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:21 AM:

" To the lady that stated, 'come on now, get a job,I have a job. Be careful what you say. I had a wonderful job for 15 years, until 911. It's been a stuggle ever since, but I managed until july 2007. My husband was laid off,and then was in the hospital for 2 weeks. Next, I was bit by a brown recluse spider, and I was in the hospital for a week. We have no insurance . We lost everything, except each other and we have been homeless going on 8 months. Living in the streets is no picnic But we have faith, as long as we keep doing the right thing. Not everybody are drug addicts or alcolholics. Some are victims of circumstance.
"

Homeless Invisible wrote on Feb 14, 2007 2:28 PM:

" Homeless are not the only ones invisible to Republicans. They can't see poor children, uninsured are invisible, and the poor in genral. They can clearly see lobbyist, oil compainies, and wealthy donors. "

MR wrote on Feb 14, 2007 1:35 PM:

" To "Disabled Homeless Uncared For": OK I see your point, but there is also county housing authorities that will help much more than the city. There is help; but most times, it is not sought. Obviously, if a police officer finds a mom and kids sleeping in a carand he was able to make one phone call to get her shelter, I'll bet that that same shelter that took them in would have helped that mom out had she gone there for help herself. I do have to say I belive that every individual has what it takes to take care of themselves, whether it is working for it or going on welfare. No one should literally HAVE to sleep in thier car anymore at this day and age with all the programs that are out there. "

Disabled Vietnam Veteran wrote on Feb 14, 2007 11:22 AM:

" I was a homeless Vietnam Vet at one time in my life. At that time there were very little, if any, support groups that could address such a problem. Yes, there will probably be a multitude of homeless, disabled Iraqi War Veterans roaming the streets of the the good old U.S.A. When they return from across the sea. This time, let's watch out for them, take care of them, and give them shelter. Our Congress needs to wake up and provide the necessary financial support for the returning homeless Veterans. "

Oh come on wrote on Feb 14, 2007 11:02 AM:

" Don't be silly! There are too many golf courses to build, parks to open and hiking trails and walking trails to take care of first. After all, must have recreation and pleasure before the necessities. Besides there is the Salvation Army and Ruth Meiers, surely they can take care of the homeless who are homeless becuase they refuse to help themselves! It ain't my responsiblity, I have a job and a place to live. They can do that too. (being sarcastic). perhaps the surplus budget could be applied to these unfortuante people. I would rather see that happen then another recreational facility or some other useless thing done with it. yes, we are our brother's keeper. "

End Homelessness forever wrote on Feb 14, 2007 10:03 AM:

" Homelessness in the United States could be ended forever with the 2.5 trillion we are projected to spend in Iraq. The interest alone would solve the problem. At lot of the returning soldiers that have lost limbs, and suffered other injuries in this war will be our future homeless. How many Vietnam vets are suffering still from substandard care, housing, and income. Now, we are in the process of creating a whole new crop of people thrown on the streets because our arrogant president attacked the wrong country. "

Disabled Homeless Uncared For wrote on Feb 14, 2007 9:50 AM:

" Homeless and disabled need housing but The federal government will help $200 grants but the apartments must be lower than $300 single than $400 couple including untilities. Bismarck property taxes are so high few apartments are available. The city gives around $60,000 Arts $70,000 housing in their budget. Governor has $200,000 in state budget for homeless. "

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