Is Ending Homelessness a Commons?

Why is ending homelessness in our community an example of a commons?

There are many agencies, institutions and government departments in the Concord, NH community working on some facet of the prevention, service and resolution of homelessness.

The diagram shows numerous purpose-driven groups working hard on one or more parts of the system–social services, public safety, mental health, housing, financing–you get the picture. It’s complex.

It’s complex and it is actually a system, with inputs, outcomes and flows between and among the different players. We might call in the Concord NH Housing (In)Stability System–the system that causes and responds to homelessness in our area. This system has real life impact for persons at risk of or experiencing homelessness and the myriad workers, volunteers and citizens who contribute in one way or another to the system.