The Red Tape Behind Public Services
Today I wanted to bring awareness to the obstacles that someone experiencing homelessness has to face to access public services.
Housing Barriers
The Daily News reported that from October 2021 through December 2021, 8.544 households in New York City were offered apartments by a landlord through the city vouchers, but only 1,402, less than 17% of them, moved into a new place. The barriers were cited as minor errors on housing applications, such as not using the abbreviation for street, and once an application is rejected, it has to be resubmitted with a new case worker. This process makes it nearly impossible for people to be placed in permanent housing.
Medical Barriers
People experiencing homelessness often face several obstacles when receiving medical care. These obstacles included a lack of transportation and no identification. Once someone is in a medical care facility, other psychological factors, such as embarrassment over their appearance and self-consciousness about filling out forms, come into play. The most significant barrier to preventative or long-term care is the cost; many individuals go without or use emergency services as their primary care provider.
Employment Barriers
Many barriers exist for someone experiencing homelessness to find and maintain employment. People in this situation often have difficulties getting ready for work, such as not having a place to eat, sleep, bathe, or get dressed or having consistent transportation to a job. Studies also show that they must combat negative stereotypes held by employers, such as doubts about their motivation for work or notions about their appearance or habits.
This week I wanted to highlight these barriers to encourage people to have more empathy for people stuck in poverty. The solutions to these issues are not simple, but I believe engaging with a heart of understanding and compassion goes a long way. That's why at City Relief we strive to minimize and overcome those barriers through our compassionate care and connections to critical resources.
Thank you for your faithfulness,
Josiah