PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Years ago, I was taking part in a charity event on the North Shore — an easy 5K fundraising walk.

As we passed through the North Shore, an acquaintance at the organization pointed out a group of people who appeared to be living under a bridge. This person scoffed. “Why don’t they just get rid of them,” they asked.

I quickly changed the subject. Perhaps I missed an opportunity for a more meaningful dialogue, but I didn’t want to start an argument during a charity walk.

Had I responded, I might’ve asked: “What exactly do you mean?” I’ll give this person the benefit of the doubt and assume they understand that folks living under bridges likely do not have anywhere else to go. So, then: What do we mean when we demand that homeless encampments and tents should be dealt with?

Did my acquaintance mean that they should be arrested? If that’s the case, we become a society where merely not having money becomes a crime — a cruel and untenable policy. And it’s worth noting that housing an individual in jail is more expensive than housing them in … a house. Arresting people for being without a home, in addition to its cruelty, is financially foolish.

Did this person perhaps mean that unhoused individuals should be rounded up and taken somewhere else? It’s difficult to fathom where. Should they merely be dropped off outside the city limits? I’d imagine the neighboring municipality would have some questions. Should they be taken over the state line? Dumped in the river?

How, then, did this person imagine we can “just get rid of them,” exactly?

Last week, County Executive Sara Innamorato detailed the new 500 in 500 initiative, which aims to find 500 affordable housing units in the next 500 days. While homelessness is only marginally up in Allegheny County — a bit more than 1,000 individuals are currently homeless versus 900 or so last year, according to the Post-Gazette — the issue has become more visible in Downtown streets and a frequent subject of debate in both traditional and social media.

The 500 in 500 program would meaningfully reduce those numbers and hopefully provide a bridge to financial stability for people who have fallen on hard times. As the Post-Gazette also noted, the vast majority — 75 percent — of shelter beds in Allegheny County are being used by “low needs” individuals, those who are not chronically homeless or suffering from severe mental-health or addiction problems. These individuals are merely out of options and struggling financially; nearly half, in fact, have some source of income.

This is an important point, because it removes easy narratives about unhoused individuals. While some may remain on the streets for years, many have simply found themselves in difficult circumstances and struggling to make ends meet. That is not a crime and should not be treated as such.

What also struck me about the 500 in 500 program is its complexity. The intricate network of agencies, nonprofits and social service organizations required to maintain even a small number of beds or affordable housing units is vast and difficult to navigate. There are no quick fixes or sweeping changes possible; there is only incremental and difficult progress. (This was quickly demonstrated when immediate objections arose to some details of the 500 in 500 plan, though those complaints seem to have concerned communication breakdowns more than anything else.)

It takes real work and ample time to address housing issues, and the 500 in 500 initiative is one of the most clear proposals in recent memory. While hurdles will undoubtedly arise, it’s the kind of targeted effort that should provide a rallying point for a difficult issue.

And, most importantly: It’s an actual effort. Complaints like the one my acquaintance made long ago, frequently parroted by snarky social-media commenters (and certain radio hosts), turn a complicated issue into a tired complaint. Yes, we all know there are more tents visible Downtown than there once were. But you know what’s more useful than griping? Action. There are numerous organizations, from rescue missions to county-run programs, that work every day to address these problems.

Perhaps those unhappy with the current state of affairs could put their time, or even (perish the thought) their money, where their mouths so frequently are.