Recent headlines announced a “transient man” who was arrested in Port Townsend (“Transient charged in Port Townsend homeless camp attack,” PDN, Aug. 5).
By branding him as a “transient” — the Other — we no longer had to accept responsibility as a community.
And that’s the point.
He’s not just some “transient” passing through and making trouble.
He’s lived here for years but was unable to obtain housing or appropriate support services locally. He has rented from me in the past.
So, he is homeless.
Homeless as in the 355 men, women and children who were counted in the 2015 homeless census (Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Affordable Housing Action Group, November 2016).
Homeless as in the 100 students in our local schools.
Homeless as in the 23 veterans or the 90 families who have valid housing vouchers, but can find no apartments locally.
Homeless as in the many people in our jails who have untreated mental health, chemical dependency and alcohol addiction issues with virtually no medical or housing support services to help them regain their lives and stability.
Homeless as in the families who live in RVs parked in the grocery store parking lot who are afraid to access social services because they may lose their kids for “neglect.”
Homeless as in the people who mow our lawns and clean our houses but lack immigration documents.
“Transient” implies that the problem is from the outside and just passing through — not our concern.
But we have a housing crisis, right here.
The most effective response has been “housing first,” affordable workforce housing, supported housing for those with addiction and mental health problems, as well as subsidized housing for families, the elderly and the disabled.
Let’s stop pretending that these problems are the fault of “transients.”
They are ours.
Barbara E. Morey,
Port Townsend