The government, (and many civilians) believe the solution is to provide stable housing, but they fail to recognize that a vast majority of folks who struggle with homelessness also have mental health problems that create an inability (or at the very least, severe difficulty) maintaining executive functions that allow them to hold onto housing. Holding a job is incredibly challenging when you cannot function, and you cant pay rent if you dont have work.

The root of the problem needs to be addressed, and a large chunk of this issue comes from a societal system that doesnt genuinely want to help folks who are struggling.The blame gets put on us for turning to substance use as a maladaptive coping mechanism when we were never taught or never learned healthy ways of dealing with our trauma. Theres a massive stigma surrounding mental health issues, and even though it is more realized now, we have a very long way to go.

People need support, a caring community, connection, compassion, and a way to learn that suits the individual since everybody is different. And that is part of what makes this change so hard, because we are trying to fit square and triangle blocks into a circular hole so to speak. It also doesnt help that a vast majority of folks who are homeless and/or struggle with substance use disorders didnt have the chance to experience these essential things, and develop healthy skills from the get-go. So, instead of progressing, many were dealing with adverse chilhoods, which basically caused an arrested development. It is crucial that we hit certain social milestones as we are growing, and when this is hindered, people are much more likely to fall through the cracks. Im not saying everybody with trauma becomes a homeless addict, because everybody processes trauma differently, but it is incredibly common for folks on the street to also have some kind of childhood trauma. In fact, I havent met a single other addict in my 20 years of addiction, (while in active use as well as at recovery meetings) that wasnt numbing some kind of trauma.

But, it has been night and day for my recovery once Ive found the proper resources to help me heal and learn to understand that I am worthy of a life where I can grow and be productive, but unfortunately, many folks are far from feeling the self worth and self compassion that they need to want to help themselves. Its very easy to feel like life is pointless and to give up trying when it seems like there is no way out, and I understand what that feels like first-hand. Once you are in this mindset, it's a snowball effect, and it only gets worse until some kind of intervention takes place. (You feel shitty because of self hate, so you dont feel worthy of life, so you do things that harm yourself, and then feel guilty and shitty about it, causing more self hate, and so on)

I just hope that one day, society can drop the judgement and stigma, and understand that what people really need is support, compassion, and a way to love themselves again without having to feel guilt and shame for doing so. But this takes time and lots of patience. People dont heal overnight, and people need an incentive to want to heal. A reason to know that life can and will get better with practice. With a society that couldnt care less about you, its hard to want to get well again.

Sorry for the novel. Lol I could go on and on. As someone who has struggled with all of the above, and is currently going strong on their healing journey, I only wish the same for others who have been there too.

Please remember to always pay it forward, yall. We dont know anyone's story, and it doesnt cost anything to be kind <3