I think it is true that an event can trigger a downward slide, but I don't think that one event is ever the whole story. History is made of lots of little events and situations. There is rarely just one cause for anything.
With this man, the real trigger seems to have been depression.
The landlord may well have evicted him for drug taking but we don't know the whole story, maybe the drug taking was the last straw. None of it has to necessarily be based on racism, although in the US it is not out of the question that that could be an element for some people.
I've heard of quite a lot of people here becoming homeless after marriage breakdowns. Often women and children suddenly left with very little.
But the question that goes through my mind is what is their support system like? friends, extended family etc. Usually you would think family would bend over backwards to help a member in trouble, but if they are struggling themselves or renting, they may not be able to.
Other factors in homelessness can be violent home backgrounds, drug or alcohol addiction, mental health issues, unemployment and sometimes a combination of those things. I don't think there's an easy fix. But there definitely should be more support for those with mental health issues etc
I'll give you an example of something here that I don't think was properly handled. I know of a man in his 20's, aboriginal descent, who was born I think with foetal alcohol syndrome and has some problems mentally processing some things. He is not good with things like time management, organisation. trouble with alcohol & drugs. Was at a rehab place here in Vic where the residents were kept busy, able to do eg wood work. He liked it there but was expelled because he missed some of the compulsory social worker sessions. Now, for someone with his problems, wouldn't you think it was predictable he would need extra help to make sure he was keeping to his schedule?
But their 'solution' was he had to move out, so he ended up in a different rehab centre and has to re-apply for the original and serve a waiting period before he can enter again. the current rehab place, he does not like much and talked about leaving. Their advice was he was free to leave if he wanted and should find himself a boarding house.
A friend of mine said he could stay at their place to sort himself out while awaiting return to 1st rehab centre but-she was told this could not be done (this was during covid lockdown here in Vic) as he was not a member of her household and she would be in breach of the law. This was info from covid hotline.
Now, wouldn't a place with family be better than turning a person like this onto the streets, to sink or swim?
PS He decided (after much persuading by family) to stay with the half way house and is still there.
But if that is the best that our system can dish up, it's not impressive.
