Maine’s latest attempt to explain and possibly solve the problem of homelessness is a thoughtful, dense and thorough look at how to improve the complex interplay of various state agencies, local shelters and nonprofits that serve the homeless population. But the new state report leaves out an important constituency: The large majority of Mainers, living comfortably in their homes, who are disconnected from the problem these officials are trying to solve and who ultimately decide whether lawmakers, and therefore state government, make the issue a priority or go right on ignoring it.

The agencies’ report gets directly at the problem of why, 15 or more years after Maine recognized it was not adequately helping its homeless population, a report on how Maine is not adequately helping its homeless population is still necessary. “Currently,” it observes, “our system is comprised of a series of loosely related and disjointed government agency, nonprofit and planning body efforts. These initiatives often represent a narrow band of constituents, are isolated from other strategies, and may not have endorsement from policy makers.” This is important not only because it is dead-on accurate but because it comes from within, from the officials in Human Services, Behavioral and Developmental Services and Maine State Housing.

To change this long-existing pattern, to connect these disjointed groups – in the words of the report, to make homelessness “owned by a broad base of constituents” – may well take the extensive “organizational structure that promotes a higher level of interagency cooperation and participation,” as the report observes. But it also requires a push from without, a sense from the public that it is willing to seriously address, for instance, improved access to treatment for mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction, which contribute heavily to homelessness. To attract public empathy, the public first must know about these problems and it largely does not.

The way to get moving on homelessness, says the report, is to put the Governor’s Subcabinet on Homelessness in charge of integrating state agencies and hold quarterly meetings. Perhaps. The way to get the public involved is to get not committees and agencies but people – shelter workers or the formerly homeless – to as many Kiwanis, chamber of commerce and eggs ‘n issues breakfasts as possible. Public support means not only that progress will be greeted with praise instead of yawns but that progress will be expected and, if the speakers are really effective, demanded.

Strong public support keeps policymakers focused and greatly improves the chances that, 15 years from now, state officials will be meeting about an issue other than their inadequate response to homelessness.