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Homeless in America
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50 percent of the homeless community are families with children
On a cold January morning of this year, 1,258 adults and children were counted as being homeless in Omaha and Council Bluffs.(results from the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless’ Annual Consumer Satisfaction Survey)
Providers, consumers, government entities, funders, and advocates in the community agree that homelessness is an unacceptable symptom of poverty.
Years ago the homeless problem was reserved for mostly alcoholics, drug addicts, and those with mental problems. Although they have remained part of the homeless community, these people make up only about only 10 percent of the total homeless community. Sadly this 10 percent also uses 50 percent of the resources available to the homeless.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, every year 600.000 families with 1.36 million children experience homelessness in the United States, making up nearly 50 percent of the entire homeless population.(http://www.endhomelessness.org)
These homeless families are mothers, fathers, grandparents, teens, and young children. The average age of a homeless child is 6 1/2 years old!
The threat of homelessness is a constant reality to most of the poor families in our community who struggle to meet their rent or mortgage payments. Some have to make the heart wrenching decision of
paying high utility bills or feeding their family. With the economy the way it is, more and more people are facing the prospect of becoming homeless.
So what can I do about it?
Joseph Stalin was reported to once say, "If one person dies it's a tragedy. If millions die it is a statistic." Unfortunately, his statement has been proven to be true. We tend to be so wrapped up in our own world of taking care of our own needs, (work, paying bills, our children's soccer games, etc) that we feel we have no time for anything else.
The Jewish Talmud makes a statement that completely refutes what Stalin said. "Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world." [Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 4:8 (37a)]
The homeless problem is not a homeless shelter problem any more than the gang violence problem in some cities is a police problem. It is a community problem. And the only way to solve the homeless problem is by the community getting involved. The homeless are not simply statistics on a piece of paper. They are people. People with feelings and dreams. Most don't want a hand out as they want a hand up. Just a chance to pursue happiness and fulfillment.
My wife and I have, on several occasions, taken homeless people into our own home.And for a while we had to endure inconvenience and at times conflict because we have a modest sized home and not a large income. But the rewards we received by helping someone less fortunate than ourselves far outweighed the small inconvenience we had in our lives.
I realize that there are some who just don't have the ability or patience or courage to have a stranger move into your home. I understand that. But there are a myriad of things you can do in your own community to help the homeless.
1. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter and get to know some of the people there.
2. Join a homeless advocacy group in your community.
3. Hand out sack lunches to the homeless.
4. Donate money as well as other items needed to organizations that help the homeless.
5. Hire a homeless person to do odd jobs or help them with a job search.
If you do nothing else, be kind. The next time you see a homeless person on the street, don’t just look away Most of the despair of being homeless comes from being treated like you don’t exist. If you see the same person on the street corner every day, find out their name and talk to them.. It might save their life.
When my children were small we started a tradition that my wife and I just recently started to follow again. Every year around Christmas time the kids and I would wrap up a bunch of hats and gloves that I purchased from a local store at a discounted price due to the amount of items I bought. We then would take them downtown and hand them out to the homeless. Some of them we had to convince that there were no strings attached to the gift. (Some homeless people are just as suspicious as you and me)
We later met a man who had obviously been digging through a dumpster behind a local donut shop as he held up a plastic bag full of old donuts. After we gave him his gift he hastily tore at the wrapping paper and excitedly put on the hat and gloves. I asked him when was the last time he ate, and he proudly held up his bag of treasured donuts. So I asked him when was the last time he had a real meal. After scratching his head he said, "Two.. maybe three days." I looked across the street from where we were standing and saw a Burger King restaurant. "Let's get you some junk food." I exclaimed. And me and my two kids walked our new friend to Burger King. He continued to protest that he only wanted a cup of coffee but we bought him a cheeseburger, fries, and a small cup of coffee while he waited for us at a booth. While our friend was eating I noticed that tears were falling from his eyes. When I asked him what was wrong he replied, "No one has ever treated me this good before in my life." I don't remember that man's name and I never saw him again. But it cost cost me a couple of dollars and a few minutes of my time to make that man's year.
That's how easy it is to help someone. If we just look beyond ourselves we can make a real difference in the life of a mother, father, or child.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:00 PM The Cross Training Center located at 4505 S 76th Circle in Omaha will be hosting the 2nd Annual Benefit Concert for the Homeless. This will be a fund raising event to raise public awareness about the homeless problem in Omaha. Representatives from local homeless shelters will be available to answer questions and accept donations. Several local bands will perform and refreshments and holiday treats will be available.
For more information contact accidentalproffit@rocketmail.com
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