An initiative to build affordable housing for the homeless has started in Los Angeles, thanks to a group called RMG Housing. They are trying to build places for the Californian homeless population so they can have a roof over their heads and start getting back on their feet; most remarkably, they are doing this completely without funding from the government. The initiative is utilizing donations and investments in order to fund this relief project, and not a penny is coming from state or federal organizations. This feat is truly incredible, and though it might suggest that the government simply doesn’t care about the homeless, RMG Housing taking homeless relief into their own hands will allow assistance to come far faster than it likely ever would from the government.
Given the constant dueling between the Democrats and Republicans, both within California and in America at large, getting any bills for homeless relief passed through the Californian government would likely take ages. With the ongoing pandemic tossed in with bipartisan quarrels, any government foray into relief for homeless Californians would likely stay on the back burner for ages. The recall Newsom movement has only launched California into an even more volatile state of unrest.
The government likely would not be getting anywhere close to passing sustainable homeless relief for quite some time. In reality, the government deems it more important to try and muddle through this confusing pandemic and to argue across the aisle than focus on helping one of the groups most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Though it seems disheartening that the government likely won’t come to give their support to homeless initiatives being run by citizens, this shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a bad thing. Given the nature of government-funded projects, if the government were to offer some kind of homeless relief or build government housing for the homeless, partisan issues would likely bleed into the fray and delay funding or development. Even when Newsom offered emergency funding for the homeless, it wasn’t nearly enough to help get people off of the street.
Furthermore, given the tumultuous nature of politics and the frequent back-and-forth between parties and governors, one governor might start this relief project only for the next to stop it and redirect the funds elsewhere. The public, however, is not nearly so tumultuous. While workers on the project might come in and out, the goal and funding remain the same, which means nothing can stall the project: not a party change, nor a new governor or any sort of politics. Only people who want to help others will advance the project, even without the interference of a capricious government.
Additionally, the government not being behind this initiative will allow the RMG Housing project to be accomplished solely out of the good of people’s hearts, not because of a political agenda. It’s no secret that politicians lie and make promises they can’t keep. So for this building project to be run completely independent of the government means that this project is solely by people, to help people. It isn’t a politician’s promise to better the state so that he can be voted in again, nor is it a lie to gain the support of people who want to help the homeless. It is simply a push from kind hearts to help other people who need it, which is more valuable than any empty promise or government program.
In short, though it may seem disappointing that civilians have to be the ones to initiate change to better the lives of the homeless, their initiative is stronger, more fast-acting and more kind than it likely ever would have been if it were backed up by the government. The movement is a true testament to pure human kindness, something that no government financial support could emulate.
