One Million New Foreclosures This Year Equals How Many Homeless?

The AP recently reported that by some estimates, more than one million American homes will be foreclosed on this year. From those one million households, how many people will become homeless? Who knows. Statistically at least half.

If a person loses her home because she's lost her job and can't make the payments, chances are she's not going to have the money for the security deposit and first and last month's rent that will enable her to move into an apartment. If she doesn't have family or friends nearby who are willing to take her (and her children, if she has any) in, she'll move into her car, a shelter or the streets. Maybe a church would pay for a short stay at a hotel. She'd become part of the poverty problem and not part of the poverty solution.

Those who weather foreclosure fairly well and move into an apartment still face the prospect of becoming homeless after a month, or two, or three, if they can't find jobs before they burn through their savings or retirement money. Not everyone is able or willing to buy an RV and move into an RV park either. Options become fewer and farther between

So what are local, state and federal governments doing? They're criminalizing people for being unemployed due to the government's failure to bring the national budget under control and to sustain an economy. More and more cities are banning sitting on sidewalks and panhandling on the side of the road. Earlier this year, Miami even considered fining good Samaritans who give food to the homeless.

Even though government officials don't have any ideas, I do. What if, instead of criminalizing the foreclosed and jobless homeless they were given grace periods and allowed to stay in their homes for one year, having to pay only their utility bills? The cost is less than housing them in a shelter and the bank gets to keep a family in the home that is committed to its upkeep and thus not worry about an empty property that will lose value,

Or, what if you can show you are homeless, unemployed or marginally employed and want to start a business? Why can't the government issue a three-year business license for $30 that waives the taxes, certain regulations (not related to health and safety) and other costs of a small start-up business with fewer than four employees (the size of the average family)? Institute heavy fines and jail time for those corporations, individuals and people trying to bypass the usual start-up fees or take advantage of the plan in some way. Necessity is the mother of invention. Who knows what people will create if you make it easier for them to start a business without all the red tape.

What if you allow buskers, bottled water salesmen, lawn care workers and other day laborers to start a small business for $10 a year rather than panhandle? Chances are more people will find creative ways to provide a legitimate service if they aren't taxed, fined or jailed for selling vegetables from their garden or displaying their crafts in designated "flea markets." In many communities there's a ban on having more than two yard sales a year. Why not increase it to one a month?

Instead of protecting big business and bailing out corporations, why not give those one million+ families a shot at retaining their homes? Not only will it be cheaper than a bailout for the banks — who have to maintain and protect empty homes — it will take the burden off of homeless services as well. Being unemployed and living in your own home, without power, beats living on the street. Most families can find, borrow or otherwise come up with money for utilities and food. If they can stay in their own homes — even if they have to rent out rooms to pay the food and utilities — it's a much more humane option for them and the banks. Think of it as a reverse mortgage for the unemployed.

Think solutions. It's time the government "Of the people, by the people and for the people" really was about the people.

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