Blinders on homelessness

Nadine Woodward is exploiting the homeless issue. She preys on voters’ fears as she declares the “vast majority” of homeless people to be substance abusers — contrary to the data that say otherwise.

The root causes of homelessness are complex. Nationally, 16% of the homeless suffer drug abuse versus 12% in Spokane’s recent snapshot census. Not exactly a vast majority — and some of them are victims of Big Pharma pushing opioids.

The true vast majority of homeless folks (about 84%) are people whose lives blew up on them. They are homeless because of untreated mental illness, domestic violence, disability, job loss, or only enough income to buy food but not rent an apartment. Housing is simply unaffordable. Health care is nonexistent. And with black skin, you are three times more likely to be afflicted with homelessness.

Woodward ignores this complexity because it doesn’t sell as well as the menace of rampant drug addiction and increased crime. Her picture is a dishonest exaggeration.

A view of homelessness this shortsighted will not solve the problem. It is morally blind to the other root causes. Let’s hope that Spokane voters show broader understanding and compassion — and do not buy the fraudulent quick-fix blinders Nadine is selling.

Steve McNutt

Spokane