Taking Advantage of the Human Resources On Our Doorstep

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Nashville, like many mid-sized cities in the US, grapples daily with how to end homelessness in our community.  But Nashville, unlike many mid-sized cities in the US, comes to the proverbial table with an over-abundance of potent human resources, not to mention a potential funding source(s) made up of many individuals who, as they embarked upon a public career, often struggled mightily - some even experienced homelessness themselves - before they made it big.

I'm told that at one time in Nashville's history - back in the mid 90s, I believe - Nashville was on the cutting edge of innovative, progressive, compassionate and sensible solutions and approaches to end homelessness.  The National Health Care for the Homeless Council's main office is here. So too is/was The Nashville Homeless Power Project, whether you loved or hated them (they are now essentially defunct and dead in the water).  We've got folks like Charlie Strobel (architect of the nationally recognized and implemented "Room in the Inn" program), Bill Friskics-Warren, Lindsey Glenn Krinks (and her homeless advocate-husband, Andrew),  Will Connelly, Joyce Lavery, Jeannie Alexander, Ingrid McIntyre, Mary Ross, Tasha French-Lemley, Don Beisswenger, and Brian Huskey, to name just a few who've been leaders here in Nashville, promoting and implementing whenever possible progressive approaches to ending homelessness today.  We've got national subject matter experts and leaders like Jimi Kelley, Will Connelly (again), yours truly, and John Lozier (ED of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council), who remain in the loop and connected to the latest and greatest research, evidence based practices, and promising practices and approaches happening all around the country.  And I guarantee we've got more folks I just haven't remembered off the top of my head who are every bit as committed and bring expertise to the table that is desperately needed.

We've got a variety of organizations and agencies from government to private sector to faith-based, that receive millions of dollars annually from multiple funding sources  that are directly tied to ending homelessness in Nashville.

By all measures, Nashville should be once again on the cutting edge of policies, programs and approaches to end homelessness permanently in our communities. 

Campsite at Nashville's old 'Tent City"

So why is it then, that also by damned near every measure, Nashville is so far behind so many other places that are making significant strides in reducing and ending homelessness in their communities?  Certainly we are doing some good things here, and the good peeps who labor daily in the homeless services arena are committed, dedicated, compassionate and without any doubt want to end the deadly scourge of homelessness in our community.  This post in NO WAY disparages or dismisses the incredible efforts every one of these folks puts forth every single day, often 7 days a week (homelessness doesn't get the weekend off).

This post also isn't going to point fingers, make accusations or disparage the efforts up to today.

At the last Metro Homelessness Commission meeting, which was for the first time in a very long time, heavily attended and had I believe the full complement of Commissioners present, the message was loud and clear from those we're charged with serving:

"Stop the talk and begin the action. NOW."

Recent changes in leadership of the Commission have positioned us to make a fresh start, and that start allows us to re-visit the ten year plan and laser-focus our efforts to the mandate in that plan:

OBTAIN HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

The first comments from our new Executive Director, Will Connelly, reinforce this mandate and Will's stated primary goal and objective over the remaining 2 and a half years of the plan's ten-year lifespan  is to put as many people into housing as "we the community" can achieve. 

So here's the bottom line - and the reason - for this post: we've got some great minds and some great resources at our disposal, right here in lil ol Nashville.  But many of them aren't at the table, and they desperately need to be. We cannot expect Will or the Commission, or the government, to solve homelessness in Nashville. 

We need folks from every area; the medical community, criminal justice, private landlords, social services, government, behavioral health, and most importantly, the peer community itself.  And those folks at the table MUST be those who can make the decisions for their organization. It does us no good at all to bring together folks who cannot lead, inspire and implement new policies, ideas and procedures for their organization.  Diversity and cultural responsiveness is a must for this group as well.

 For those leaders who will invariably lament that they "don't have the time" because they're so busy, I would only state here that you're so busy because you don't have the time to bring your expertise and your recommendations to this table.

 Finally, I am going to reiterate here that our commitment - or lack thereof - in bringing substantial numbers of peers to this table is going to make or break our efforts.  If we're not listening, actively soliciting, and acting upon some of the recommendations from those who're experiencing homelessness TODAY in our community, we're not going to be as successful as we could be, period.

We've got great, progressive, critical thinkers at our disposal. We've got a committed group of providers. We've got access to a national cadre of subject matter experts in every single area of issues that result in homelessness, as well as people who have led the innovative efforts to end homelessness, navigate the affordable housing construction and procurement maze. We've got a mayor who takes the issue of ending homelessness seriously enough to support the work of a commission he personally appoints members to. We've got new leadership on the commission.  We've got clear direction from HUD, SAMHSA and the VA on how to apply for and implement countless projects and approaches at ending homelessness.  And finally, we've got between 4,000 and 10,000 people suffering in ways we who are happily and comfortably housed can't even begin to imagine.

Let's do this, and do it right this time.

People's lives are depending on us.