Falling through the cracks

Most of us panic at the thought of losing our cellphones. Now take a deep breath and try to imagine losing all of your possessions not once, but several times each year. Not only your phone, but your identification, money, clothing and sleeping gear.

Recently, I have met many in Spokane who have to carry all of their possessions with them – for a variety of reasons including escape from abuse, tremendous loss, mental illness and bad luck. They sleep in places where theft might occur right under their heads, resulting in more trauma, hopelessness and loss of dignity. Some are loners with grit, determination and even generous spirits, others judged harshly when they spiral hopelessly towards drugs, alcohol and other self-harming behavior.

While we stare, point and judge, they fall out of control through layers of cracks in our system until there are no layers left. Sometimes we even move them from our streets to prisons … at the cost of around $50,000 of taxpayers’ money per person per year. What if we spent that same money on prevention, providing safe, secure, long-term shelters in a variety of forms, and focused on help and healing? What would our city look like then? Just saying …

Barbara Brock

Cheney