Assets That Need to Be Invested In, Not Problems That Need to Be Solved

Monday morning I was listening to KERA, and I heard this great interview Stella Chavez conducted with incoming superintendent of the Fort Worth ISD, Kent Paredes Scribner: http://keranews.org/post/fort-worths-incoming-superintendent-says-kids-need-stability-relevant-instruction. Towards the end of the interview he said something simple but profound, “We need to treat our children not as problems that need to be solved, but assets that need to be invested in.” It struck me that this statement and the idea behind it are tremendously relevant to homelessness, poverty and many of the challenges we deal with today. Here are just a few examples:

Kent Paredes Scribner

(Courtesy of the Fort Worth ISD)

Are persons with a criminal background, problems to be solved? If so, than it makes sense to erect as many barriers as possible to keep the “problem” away from us. If, however, they are assets that need to be invested in, than HB1510, which makes it much easier for these folks to obtain housing, makes a lot of sense.

Are tent cities problems that need to be solved? If so, it makes sense to forcibly evict all of the persons staying there. Who cares if this does not solve their homelessness, and just means they set up camp somewhere else? If, however, they are assets that need to be invested in, than it makes sense to get to know them as individuals, build rapport and trust with them, and connect them to housing.

Are persons experiencing homelessness problems that need to be solved? If so, we view them all as the same, and the focus needs to be getting them off the street, and then “readying” them for housing through traditional lengthy and costly programs. If, however, they are assets that need to be invested in, we need to treat them as individuals, and the focus needs to be on empowering each person with necessary and cost effective tools that fit their situation. In other words, instead of asking, does this person fit our program, we ask, what solutions best match the needs of this person or household, and will end their homelessness quickly and permanently?

The thing is there is nothing new here, after all. It all goes back to the Golden Rule. Do YOU want to be treated as a problem that needs to be solved, or an asset that needs to be invested in? Treat other persons, regardless of their circumstances, background, life choices or luck, the same.