Homeless advocates should pursue their own efforts

There are plenty of reasons for homelessness, and therefore plenty of ways to address the issue.

Many of these people — and they are humans loved by God — have broken relationships in their past, and maybe even are suffering the consequences of bad decisions. But transition assistance they need.

Chico Friends On The Street (CFOTS) provides a fantastic service of connecting with people, making them feel heard, and letting them know they are not alone or ignored. CFOTS also makes the homeless problem worse by telling them that they are victims of “human rights violations,” and have a “right” to handouts of food, clothes, shelter, and plumbing that somebody else went to work to provide. How exactly is a homeless person empowered to change their circumstances if CFOTS constantly tells them they are victims? By convincing the homeless that they are powerless, CFOTS is an impediment to efforts transitioning homeless out of their circumstances.

I’m skeptical that providing free houses to the unsheltered will do anything more than attract more unsheltered. But I might be wrong, and I genuinely support the efforts of those who have a vision, and pursue it with their own time, effort, and money.

But I do not respect the self-righteous poster carriers who try to attract attention to themselves for moral superiority when accomplishing nothing to actually help the homeless.

If CFOTS wants another no-barrier soup kitchen in Chico, create it. Don’t criticize others who are doing their best to serve in their way.

— Barry Johnson, Chico