County homeless bill, a bill with no heart

Council Member Tasha Kama introduced a bill that would ban giving goods or money to homeless people in county-owned areas without simultaneously providing “wrap-around services” by recognized providers. The legislation aims to address critical levels of chronic homelessness by nudging unsheltered people into social services to receive assessments, compassionate assistance, and referral services.

I’m afraid I have to disagree with this proposal. Who is to say that these people would want to live another way? That means taking away their rights to live the way they choose.

There might also be people that do not qualify for any of these services. What about those people? When I was receiving chemo treatment and was let go of my job, I was on the verge of becoming homeless. Unemployment didn’t cover my cost of living, and I hadn’t been in the country long enough as a legal immigrant to receive any other financial aid. Thanks to the compassion of friends, I was able to stay in my little rental unit and had food. A bill like this might mean that people who don’t qualify for services might go without food or other things they need to survive.

Taking away the right to human kindness is not the solution here. It is good to help the homeless population, but it needs to be done without taking away their human rights or the right of the good Samaritan’s who are trying to help this population.

Jacky Mulder Makawao