All Nashvillians are affected by homelessness and have the ability to create change | Opinion
Homelessness is a topic that has drawn considerable new attention and conversation across Nashville in recent months, but, for people experiencing homelessness, the challenges of living outdoors or in other forms of unstable housing are not new.
Every day, they must consider how they will eat, how to remain safe, or where they can access health care. Sadly, many die on the streets. On average, the life expectancy for people experiencing homelessness is 20-30 years shorter than that of individuals with stable housing, and for every age category the mortality rate is at least twice as high for our homeless neighbors.
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On December 21 of each year communities nationwide observe Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.
Commemorations take place at other times throughout the month, including Nashville’s own ceremony which was held on Saturday, December 18 2021. Regardless of the day, remembering our neighbors, reading their names, and sharing their stories reminds us that every person matters and that all of us can play a part in ending homelessness.
As chief executive officer of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, based here in Nashville, I am privileged to work with organizations and individuals here in our community while also partnering with others around the country who are dedicated to improving care and ending homelessness.
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I had the honor in 2021 to serve on the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all; for people experiencing homelessness, it has compounded many already-existing social and health issues, and several of the Task Force’s recommendations for an effective and equitable response to the pandemic addressed the needs of our unhoused neighbors.
As one of the richest countries on earth, we have it within our means to end homelessness – an epidemic that is a public health and humanitarian crisis – by ensuring that all our neighbors have safe, stable housing. Nashville has taken significant steps toward reducing homelessness and, hopefully, the number of people who die while unhoused.
In 2021, with COVID relief funding, we succeeded in placing more than 1,700 people into housing. Housing IS health care, and a critical step toward ensuring that no more lives are lost due to homelessness.
At Nashville’s Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day observance, we came from many organizations and faith traditions, yet were united by common concern, grief, and commitment to serve our neighbors without homes, and with a resolve to end homelessness in our city, our nation, and throughout the world. Please join in that commitment.
Bobby Watts is chief executive officer for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashvillians all have the ability to create positive change for those experiencing homelessness
