Some problems lack a solution

I have low tolerance for anyone who raises a problem without any accompanying thought as to how the problem might be solved.

The easiest job in the world is that of critic. Consequently, I am reluctant to write this particular column and do so very humbly. I have some thoughts but no solutions to the issue I’m going to raise.

Here is the issue: Somehow, someone, by some means, needs to find and articulate the fine line that discerns between the legitimately homeless, the working poor, the mentally ill, the drug addicted, the irresponsible, the anti-social, the lazy and the criminal predator.

Typically, we lump them all under the umbrella of “homeless” and are plagued by guilt because of their existence in our affluent community.

The result of our shared guilt is a Pandora’s box of solutions from handing out toonies to the homeless we pass on the street, to buying lunches, to dropping off bottles and cans curbside, well-meaning people stumble all over each other trying to help “the poor.”

And we should. In fact, we should do more. One of the deepest values embraced by not only the Christian faith, but by most faiths and by those who claim no faith, is that we take care of the most vulnerable members of society.

The Bible is crystal clear on that point. The issue is not whether we should care for the poor, the issue is determining who they are and how best to help them. Lumping everyone mentioned above under one umbrella is self-defeating.

The same Bible that challenges us to show compassion for the vulnerable also says people need to accept personal responsibility and it underscores the value of hard work to contribute to society.

Most attempts to include those values when addressing Kelowna’s “homeless” situation have been labelled as meanspirited.

Somehow, there is a need to distinguish between those who legitimately cannot help themselves and those who need to be strongly encouraged to step up their own game. Unfortunately, that is not a simple distinction.

Many of the contributing factors to the problem have become entangled to the extent that most of our homeless are not homeless for any one reason.

To complicate the issue, we also need to factor into the equation the rights of neighbouring businesses, park users and in fact all taxpayers who are left to cope with the fallout from the problem.

Several years ago, author Barry Johnson wrote the book Polarity Management, in which he asserted that some complex problems do not have “solutions.” They are tensions or polarities that must be managed over long periods of time.

It seems to me Jesus of Nazareth was on that page when He said, “The poor you will always have with you.”

If that is true and the problem will never be fully solved, how can it be best managed?

I return to the hypothesis that there is no one solution. The assistance most helpful to the working poor is quite different from the approach that needs to be taken with the criminal predator.

We need to come alongside the mentally ill in a manner quite different than we would take with the lazy.

Perhaps the starting point is that each time someone uses the word “homeless,” we ask for a definition of who they mean.

Let’s empower the police to deal with the criminal element, Interior Health to develop plans for the mentally ill and churches and service clubs to come alongside the working poor.

Perhaps knowing the individuality of our clientele and targeting our help specifically to their need might enable us to make some headway on a situation that is badly scarring our community.

Once again I write this column with deep humility. I know there are no easy solutions. But maybe, just maybe, the additional dialogue sparked might lead someplace positive.

Tim Schroeder is a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church.