 |
|
"Opportunities are seldom labeled."
| OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING... |
|
|
| ...are you going to keep sleeping, or answer the door? |
"It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it."
--- A.W. Tozer
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving. --- Colossians 3:23,24
|
 |
|
INTRODUCTION
They are in every city in America. Some are almost stereotypes---down-and-out men huddling on park benches or rummaging through garbage cans, an old woman talking to herself as she pushes a cart filled with an odd mix of possessions down a city street. These street people are the most visible of the homeless. However, the homeless are a much more varied group.
For every wino lounging on a park bench or passed out in a doorway, I can name you six or seven who aren't. I can show you women who are homeless because of getting beat up by their boyfriends/husbands. I can show you people who can't find housing because it's too expensive, or it's in short supply. I also can show you little kids that haven't got a clue why they're home one minute and crammed into some lousy shelter the next.
People think it's all about bums, all about drunks. And, hey---I'd be lying if I told you that chemical abuse doesn't play a big role in some of these people's situations. But if you're looking for an easy answer, I got news for you---there ain't none. If you want to blame people, we can start looking in the mirror, blaming ourselves for not doing anything about homelessness a long time ago, for letting the problem get as big as it is today.
|
| |
|
The National Coalition for the Homeless estimated in the mid-1980's that the number of homeless people in the United States is as high as 3 million. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated around 350,000, but only counted people who lived on the streets or in shelters. Not counting those living in inadequate housing, such as tents, automobiles, vacant buildings, or people living temporarily with friends or relatives. But even now, HUD say that the number of people sleeping in public places or in shelters has increased fourfold in the past fifteen years.
|
|
|
