The barber of Broad Street

I call this guy the Barber of Broad Street, giving free haircuts to the homeless on the center island, conveniently  just across from the Wawa that is a magnet for homeless people.

He asks for no proof that anyone who wants a cut is actually homeless. 

Philadelphia has relatively low homelessness, about 1,000+,   compared with 22,000 in L.A. and 76,000 in New York. A universal truth is the majority of them have addiction or mental issues. This is why attacking the problem is so difficult. 

But not impossible.

From where I sit, anyone who is able and willing to work, but who can’t find work, deserves help. That help can come in the form of financial support, retraining, education — even shelter and a “make work” job (like street cleaning, tree-trimming, fixing public structures) until a “real” job becomes available.

If the person is impaired by drugs, alcohol or mental problems, they should be offered a choice: treatment or incarceration (assuming their issue, such as drug use, is a violation of law). 

Some people may fall between the cracks. No solution is perfect.

The choice of treatment is expensive, but allowing them to live on the streets has costs, too. It destroys communities, and results in untreated problems that eventually lead to expensive medical treatments.

There will be some people, no matter the inducements, who will turn their backs and walk away. 

Just like some people will not accept a free haircut.