KC has an unacceptable chronic homelessness problem. Thank those lending a hand | Opinion

Homelessness is a significant issue throughout the world. We all hope and pray for unhoused people to find a stable place to live and to get over any issue they are having. This is hopeful — it shows that people care about this issue and people without homes, but I want to hit on our community leaders who help them throughout Kansas City.

Has anyone considered how these community leaders feel or their mental health? These people go day after day dealing with multiple difficult situations for a variety of people. Do we take the time to consider how these community leaders get through their life helping both unhoused families and their own families? Dealing with another family is difficult in general, but some of us jump to conclusions and think that these community leaders who are helping these people are supposed to help: “It’s their job.” “They signed up for this.” “If they don’t want to do it anymore, why don’t they just quit?” These are all common replies, because we as a whole do not want to help them ourselves.

We have to see that the leaders who are contributing to the community are vital to our society. They’re doing this because they want to help. Just hoping for change wasn’t enough for them, so they made the extra effort to build nonprofits, mental health centers and wellness centers. Wanting to take an extra step in life to help multiple other people and families takes a strong, well rounded, kind person, someone with strong mental health to get through all of these adversities.

Through my school, I’ve participated in a civics education initiative with American Public Square, and during one of the sessions, I talked to many committed community leaders. One, Jill Smith, stood out to me. She is a leader at an outdoor soup kitchen that helps cater food for unhoused people. When she was talking to my group, she kept a smile on her face and seemed really happy to talk about helping those without homes. But when I found out that she had previously been unhoused herself, I became curious. I kept thinking, “How does she keep her mental health together throughout everything she does, when she has been through it herself? Does it bring back memories? Does she have mental health problems?” I didn’t get to ask her, but I imagine her answer would have been she does it because she loves the work, and doesn’t want to see other people in that position.

I feel something needs to be done about that to take stress off these community leaders and to relieve their mental health. That’s where the government can comes into play: Our elected officials need to start building places where unhoused people can live stably and safely. If we do that, we can take more stress off our community leaders.

Of course, these generous individuals will continue to help because they want to contribute, but the government providing more stable housing could help reduce stress and enable individuals to focus on their well-being as well as community engagement. As of right now, the Kansas City metropolitan area has the highest percentage of people experiencing chronic homelessness in the country. That is outrageous. These community leaders who try to build many different services to help lower that percentage deserve props and love.

So, if you ever have any opportunity to have a conversation with any of these of amazing, compassionate people, thank them — not for helping you, but for being strong and helping our community.