The Liaison

“Multi-lateral Approach work towards same goal”

Nari Corley-Wheeler

Under the banner of human rights nations have fallen short in upholding fair rights upon their own citizens. New human rights issues have cropped up in the last century. Issues of homelessness ravaging our streets since the closing of mental hospitals and shelters, poverty in our neighboring district, and immigrants unable to speak English all of which touch closer to home than we may realize. Human rights now constitute a larger definition than centuries ago.

Accommodating a population whom live in worlds where the ground is always shifting is a complicated matter.

Luckily, some of us have our coat tails caught on something – our social conscience. Nurses, politicians and college students are the new wave of hands willing to lend support for the homeless. Each group has an advantage in their own field and in combination this multi-lateral approach where health, money from the state, and donations can reduce the homeless population and aid in improving the quality of their lives along the way.

Through Health Care for the Homeless Network, Aloha Inn, and Dorothy Day House are temporary residencies in which the homeless can receive medical treatment and assessment.

The King County Coalition for the Homeless is constantly networking with providers of transitional housing, medical care, and schools. Although there are numerous shelters and health facilities, there are presently not enough.

To begin reducing homelessness, Bill Block has managed lobbying money from the state capitol to start up what is called the “Ten Year Plan” where homelessness will be substantially reduced and monitored yearly. Ideally, the Ten Year Plan will be able to provide a single spot for which housing, education and health care facilities would be readily available.

Since 2005, King County has taken one winter day from the year to do an official “One Night Count” where volunteers from different districts in Seattle search for the homeless in the middle of the night. Last years count totaled around 2000 people sleeping on stoops, in cars, or squatting. Year 2007 saw a reduction of nearly 300 people.

Students from the University of Washington are also getting involved with the Ten Year Plan in their own ways. Participating in the One Night Count and organizing food and clothing drives, the student organization Huskies for Helping the Homeless are actively participating in the Ten Year Plan – if not even directly.

Additional assistance from the nurses, politicians and students demonstrates considerable concern for the sake of the homeless population. Working indirectly of each other, each group aims at a different project in order to stunt the numbers of homeless people, or improve the lives of those living in transitional housing, or even run donations all over campus to put some warm clothes on some cold feet. With help from all angles, maybe the lives of the homeless can improve substantially once they move into their subsidized home.