I was recently made aware of a plan to construct a 71 unit “supportive housing community” across from the Border Patrol station on Buena Vista Drive. Upon further investigation of the particulars, I think our community should have cause for concern.

This project is partially funded by Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington which is part of Catholic Charities, USA. This non-governmental organization (NGO) receives tens of millions of dollars in Federal and U.N. awards to manage illegal immigrant transportation north of our southern border and resettlement activity in the U.S. interior. This money comes through the back door out of the taxpayers’ pockets as we are also one of the chief donors to the United Nations (U.N.) Is there any language in the Haven House charter that excludes the housing of illegals? We already have a large population of homeless without bringing in more.

Speaking of the homeless, let’s look at some of the causes of the increase in this population.

First and foremost, would have to be the genius decision of our elected officials who decided to shutter the state mental institutions and dump the inmates onto the street where they are a danger to themselves and others. In our own community, we have the N.W. Alliance Evaluation and Treatment Center (E&T). This facility brings in clients from all around the state – by expensive ambulance, no less – where they are housed and cared for. Fourteen days later, after “evaluation and treatment”, they are shown the door with nothing more than the clothes on their back and a bottle of pills. What percentage continue to take their medicine? Who knows? Why are we not putting them on a bus back to where they came from? I suspect that many of them end up on our streets helping to change our area from what was one the nicest places in the state to reside into a crime ridden city full of substance abusers, mentally deranged individuals, and panhandlers. These folks will definitely be signing up for the “forever housing” promised by the operators of this project.

My next question is:

Why are they spending 25 million dollars of essentially the taxpayers money to build 71 housing units?

That works out to more than $350,000 per unit. This is absurd! If you really are trying to house an under-served population, why not build dormitory style housing for say 50k per dwelling unit. Their website also states that onsite services will provide counseling, healthcare, access to healthy food, childcare in the form of headstart, ECEAP and after school programs, in addition to free or subsidized housing. With all these freebies, is there any motivation to ever get off the public dole? Is there any required time frame to become a productive member of society? One of the stated benefits of such a facility is that employers who could not find workers because housing costs were too high, are now suddenly going to benefit from a larger labor pool. Unlikely when there is no need to go to work because everything is already provided. In his book “Toxic Charity” (a very worthwhile read if you want to learn how to REALLY help people) author Robert Lupton says

Give once and you elicit appreciation. Give twice and you create anticipation. Give three times and you create expectation. Give four times and it becomes entitlement. Give five times and you establish dependency.

The Union Gospel Mission (UGM) has a strict policy of abstinence from harmful substances supported by constant testing. This is in stark contrast to Catholic Charities policies. They state that ILLEGAL substances are not allowed INSIDE the building. Pot and alcohol are LEGAL substances, so I guess they can take Fentanyl outside and then go inside to finish the party with the legal stuff? Their policies also provide for “mercy and overlooking slip-ups.” This is well illustrated in Spokane where just a few blocks from UGM are dozens, if not hundreds of street people panhandling and doing drugs outside the Catholic Charity facility, creating a blight on the neighborhood. You do not see this near UGM’s facility. Catholic Charities claim that all residents will sign a “good neighbor pledge” that is essentially agreeing to not practice some of the behaviors that may have been responsible for them becoming homeless in the first place.

The sad fact of the matter is that these “demons” are much more powerful than a piece of paper, no matter how well intentioned the individual may be in agreeing to the terms of the lease. Catholic Charities also state that “if there is any criminal behavior by residents, we support law enforcement engagement.” This should help fill up the new 40 million dollar jail faster as well as add to our tax burden!

This project appears to be just another ill thought out plan to solve a social crisis by throwing money at it in the name of social justice. Does anyone remember the six or more affordable housing units that were razed to build another government boondoggle, the multimillion dollar NEW HEALTH clinic on main street? Could this not have been located somewhere that did not require the destruction of perfectly good affordable housing? Common sense appears to be a diminishing resource in these times. It would be good to bring more of it into play as these types of projects, in an attempt to ameliorate housing issues, are considered. Public scrutiny allows an issue to be viewed from all angles by ALL of the parties affected before the genie is allowed out of the bottle.