Today, people are facing homelessness at an all time high. A place like P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) is an organization that I first encountered as a member of a church when I was a small child. It was amazing to see so many young men and women homeless and needing shelter. The church was among one of many in the area that provided this service and my mother and other family members volunteered for the service. People were happy year round to receive food, shelter, clothes, ministry, showers, transition into housing and jobs, encounter people with love and support and without judgment. That is rare today.
Today, entire families are homeless. Pregnant women, working parents, infant and new born babies, toddlers, the elderly, veterans, baby boomers, mentally ill patients, physically ill patients and people from every racial, class or social group sleep on the streets of America, under bridges, in forest preserves, in cars, in parks, in alleys, in churches and in shelters. These people are from rural, urban and suburban America and too many of them are veterans, children, people living pay check to pay check and working class people. Can you imagine having employment and being homeless?
Many homeless people are employed. Some of them have lost their jobs due to company layoffs. Others are currently unemployed and do not have the resources to learn a new trade. I know many companies will lay off thousands and result in possibly millions being or becoming unemployed and homeless by the end of this year.
Whether you are employed or not, these days, you are finding it difficult to meet all of these obligations, when there is no increase in your income; nevertheless, the cost of everything else is rising, and suddenly you become unemployed. If you are unemployed, then you cannot pay your rent, your mortgage, your electric bill, your gas bill, your telephone bill (not cell phone - just a standard house phone), grocery bill, gas for your car, personal items for personal care of self and your home, water/sewage/garbage, property taxes, car insurance, home insurance, renter's insurance, health insurance, co-pays, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, specialty care if you have a chronic or debilitating disease such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, asthma, migraines, arthritis and several others, and school fees for public education that rise each year.
Everybody says that they want to help. However, how many organizations really want to assist? Thankfully, we have laws in some states, which allow homeless children to use the address of the shelter so that they may continue to attend classes, and this allows the parents to work and use the shelter as an address for employment. It is sad, but true in many cases that shelters have become transitional housing for entire families. I see it in my own state and I know it to be true all across this country.
What I have also recognized and what amazes me are the number of churches in my own community and the surrounding communities that could provide this service to so many local residents and nearby residents that have become homeless as individuals, single parents or entire families. I am not just talking about such unexplainable homelessness as that which occurred with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike, but those hard working individuals that have lost their homes, their jobs, their health, their hope, their motivation, and their encouragement for a brighter and financially secure future because of today's economic times.
People need help and many people have become so comfortable in their old lives, fearful of losing what they have, and unsure as to how their assistance will be able to sufficiently help those in need, that they are afraid to reach out and extend a helping hand to uplift their neighbor or one another.
I know there are a few people who may have contributed to their own homelessness. However, life is as unpredictable as the current state of our economy, the instability of our job market, the uncertainty of shelter, the inaccessibility to affordable groceries and health insurance, and the desire to complete our education or pursue opportunities to broaden our skills through training programs and advanced educational degrees.
Homelessness was a never among the many stories that my grandfather talked about to his grandchildren, when we were growing up as kids. We heard many great stories that made us laugh, that made us wish we could have grown up during his time, that made us proud, and that born us into a time of a progressing era of the American century. The opportunity for us to have more success, stability and access had been advanced throughout the lense of his eyes, the journey of his life and the heritage of our generation.
The movies did not address homelessness; instead, they gave us excitement with the turn of the century technology, sound effects, robotics, fairy tales, the prospect of having it all and making it better for the next generation, examples of leadership in film, print and oral works, athletic success, world amazement, respect and prosperity, and the enjoyment of entertainment in action, romance, mystery, crime stories, horror films, and science fiction. It was intriguing, breath taking, and entertaining. It was just what most people needed to take them away from reality, if only for a short time.
Nevertheless, some television programs showed the rich and famous, fighting and living well. Dynasty, Dallas, and Falcon Crest provided entertainment. I admit it. I liked these movies, films and television shows. But, I was also guided by shows that showed a diverse range of families that represented the lives and viewpoints of many families in American society such as All in the Family, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Matters, Growing Pains, Martin, The Jeffersons, Good Times, The Golden Girls, Gimme a Break, Saved by the Bell, A Different World, Cheers, Family Ties, Full House, and Different Strokes. There were a variety of families facing the same issues that many families faced each and every day, in different segments of society. These shows provided insight, growth and a vision for the possibilities of what the future could hold. They discussed, portrayed, advertised, and shed light on organizations and institutions that stood with and for the people in times of need.
Where are all the churches and organizations that use to be there for the people? Most of America needs help now, not just a few. I heard a report today that there are nearly $14 billion dollars worth of mortgages in foreclosure. I hope they are wrong about that number because that would be millions of American families facing homelessness. Can you imagine this? I can imagine this. There is an overload of people in need of food, jobs, health care, and shelter. We must work towards decreasing the number of people exposed to the elements. Homelessness is a crisis.
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I recently have found such a heart for veterans. And I can't agree more how many people take their service and their lives forgranted. Many people became homeless because no one helped pick them up when they fell. I'll be glad when the day comes when that won't be the case anymore. And one day it will come.
I agree on many aspects of what your saying and I love the fact that you are concerned with helping people less fortunate then yourself, but don't be so quick to judge against the American dream. One thing you really need to look at is what's going on with other countries around the world.
Realize one important thing, compare America's homeless with that of the homeless of people of Asia and Africa. You will find that the homeless of our nation are living in conditions far superior to that of other nations. One thing for sure, I have never seen someone in America starve to death, I'm sure many other countries wish that they could say the same.
I agree with you in many respects. America still has the best path to reaching that American dream. In comparison to Darfur, Kenya, Sudan and other poor African countries and many Asian countries, we have it much better. There is a war to fight against global poverty. I just believe we must start here first.