THE PROBLEM WITH HOUSING AND DIGNITY

Did you know that only ¼ of our entire nation population have decent shelter? The rest of the rate is living on urban slums, makeshift homes, and government owned lands. End of the day, they get demolished, deprived of a home, exiled to an unknown relocation site without the necessary means of living like water and electricity.

I have observed that slum residences almost always lack a decent toilet, a private room, or a clean kitchen. I honestly feel that dignity is robbed from them because of their situation.

Take the case of Ate Monica, a woman around her thirties. Amazingly at the size of their makeshift home which is approximately less than 20sqm [probably the size of your garage], the members of her household is the same number as her age, 30. We question their dignity in the light of not having a private area to change clothes, to pee, to poop, and to have sex. We question their dignity because only three of them have a job, a sense of responsibility in their case. We look at them as if they are also deprived of hope and respect.

HERE COMES THE PROBLEMATIC PART

But a home is still a home. No matter how small. Who are we to judge that dignity is lost without a home? Nothing is lost if we never had it in the first place. What if I’m born without a hand, without sight, without voice? Will I ever feel that I’m deprived of something? If I never had it in the first place.

It backfired to us that maybe people without a decent shelter never really cared about having one. Sure, it might occur to them to aspire. But that doesn’t mean that it makes them a lesser person. Dignity is a God-given gift, inalienable to any person.

Is it a reason then, that without a home, you lose your dignity?