Governments provide a necessary assistance to the indigent, paid for by taxes. Philanthropic, not-for-profit organizations accept donations to care for the indigent. Other local organizations might rely on individual volunteers to provide boxes of food, blankets, clothing and transportation, for the indigent.
These services have a common element, which, over the years, have become the ‘de rigueur’ treatment – they provide a temporary service to those in need.
The Main Players:
*United Way, Denver founded 1887 2009 revenue $26,064,301.
*Denver Rescue Mission founded 1892 2009 revenue $23,698,239.
*Food Bank of the Rockies founded 1978 2009 revenue $42,718,426.
Our three local organizations – with mixed annual revenues of over $92 million, and 273 combined years’ experience – were founded to help the indigent, and yet 155 homeless people died in metropolitan Denver last year! The root cause, the solution to which would free those in need from being beholden to these organizations, would allow the indigent to take responsibility for their own needs, and remove their stigma of helplessness.
The infrastructure already exists to feed people. Think of your favorite restaurant or fast food establishment. Why rent a building, furnish it with food preparation equipment, hire chefs and servers, and cook the food, if its only purpose is to feed the indigent? Does this sound reasonable to you?
The infrastructure already exists to provide people with food. Think of your favorite super market or local grocery store. Why gather (by purchase or donations) these items, then give it away, if its only purpose is to give food to the indigent? Does this sound reasonable to you?
The infrastructure already exists to house people. Think of your favorite YMCA or motel. Why build an edifice, furnish it with dressers and beds, and hire a manager and maids, if its only purpose is to house the indigent? Does this sound reasonable to you?
The infrastructure already exists to clothe people. Think of your favorite clothing or thrift store. Why gather (by purchase or donations) these items, then give it away, if its only purpose is to give clothes to the indigent? Does this sound reasonable to you?
To relate these aspects, think of your life, how you are able to feed, house and clothe yourself. The only real difference between you and the indigent is they lack access to funds.
Do you realize, when you give, you are donating your money to a third party, who then has to emulate the current infrastructure, in order to freely give the service away, in order for the needy to be fed, housed and clothed. Does this sound reasonable to you?
Why not, instead of giving those donations to third parties to provide the service (which itself creates a defeatist, subservient attitude), allow the indigent direct access to your donations, with which they could independently feed, house and clothe themselves?
Procedures currently exist to provide funds to those in need. Any modifications needed to implement this new thinking would be quick, effective, and cost-controlled. Were those $92 Million annual revenues be ‘donated’ to this cause, rest assured there would be no hunger today, no sleeping on the streets tonight, nor tomorrow, nor the day after.
Wes Price lives in Lakewood. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
