Welcome to the Homeless Experience
Homeless community members-Colorado
What do you think it would it be like to be homeless…spending the day in the clothes you have slept in, perhaps not eating for 2 days, using a
rock for a pillow, fearing for your safety, …the list could go on. Many of us don’t have a clue. Many of us would not choose to experience homelessness personally. And yet homelessness is increasing in this wealthy country called America.
Who are the homeless? What are their stories?
If you have a personal story of being homeless, if you have a friend that is homeless, or if you just want to understand the homeless in a new way, join me. Let’s travel into a new community. I am sure we will have a lot to learn…let’s do it together!
A Child’s Homeless Christmas-in school
I remember being a child in school at Christmas time. I went to a parochial school, so there was much to do about this time of year and all it entailed. There were pageants, plays, gift making and of course the choir. Yes it was very busy and we were expected to maintain good grades in the midst of ‘sugar plums dancing in our heads’.
I began to think about what a homeless child might be experiencing during this time. Who will come see their performances if their family is estranged or parents are begging for food? Who will hear them sing? Who will meet them behind stage? Who will hand them flowers? Will they even show up and share in the class experience?
Who will receive their hand-made gifts? Where will they put them? Will they get temporarily be put in a backpack? Will it replace precious space set aside for a water bottle or a box of band-aids? Does this child think “Why bother?” Are the things they make as good as they might be? When they look at the gift in their hand, what does it mean to them?
There are certain rights our
Colorado homeless children are guaranteed through the McKinney-Vento Act. This Act provides for their right to an education. This does not cover a homeless child’s right to a joyous Christmas.
As you send your child off to school, with their supplies and treats in hand, please send a little extra for them to share with a friend who may have ‘forgotten’ theirs. Teach your children how to help protect the dignity of their peers.
Let’s put a face to the words ‘homeless veteran’
Veterans Village of San Diego, each year provides services to more than 2,000 military veterans, men and women, who have served and sacrificed for our country.
They were recently featured on CBS 60 Minutes. Please watch this 13 min. video and leave a comment. Thanks
Why are veterans homeless?
Veteran’s Day is right around the corner. I was wondering how it came to be. According to History.com this is the story:
“On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars”
The 11th day of the 11th month will soon be here. My heart is heavy for a group of veterans who will, on that day, see the parades, see more flags flying, all as a reminder of the sacrifice they made to keep America free and safe. These vets, will then return to the same streets that previously honored them, calling it ‘home’. These vets are homeless, over 100,000 nationwide.
In 1990 the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans was formed to address the issues of our homeless vets. One of the questions they asked was “Why are veterans homeless?” They list the following as a few reasons:
- Extreme shortage of affordable housing
- Livable income and access to health care
- A large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance abuse
- Lack of family and social support networks.
I am becoming more aware of the problem, but what is happening to solve it?
NCHV has a database which will help you to find resources in your community. When I searched the NCHV database, this is what came up for my community…”No records were located that matched your criteria.” I sighed. There are so many issues around the homeless that need to be addressed. I was very saddened that this particular resource did not list anything for the homeless veterans in my city. But it has spurred me on….
…this search will continue.
“The Poor” bias…
I decided to walk this morning to meet friends for breakfast. We live in the older part of our city, which means it is mixed with owner-occupied ‘fixer-uppers’ and rental property. As I walked by the houses that were in dis-repair, I noticed myself avoiding eye contact with those just sitting on their porches. I couldn’t believe it….what was I really avoiding? What bias do I have for anyone, that I presume to be a certain way. I know this is conveniently called ‘stereotyping’ but in the sterility of diagnosis we can easily disconnect from personal responsibility.
Luckily this realization happened more quickly than in years past. Not sure if I’m simply surrendering easier or I am getting wiser. Whatever the reason, I lifted my eyes and began greeting those people in my neighborhood. With that came my next ‘aha’ moment.
I realized that the people I had just judged were not homeless and yet I had responded to them the same way-judging how and where they lived. The real difference was that they just didn’t live in the same kind of house that I did. They obviously were able to pay their bills which meant they were managing an income of some sort. And yet, I had pre-determined an economic condition based on all sorts of mean things. I realized all of the biases we have against the homeless we might also have against those who live in ‘lesser than’ others. Which then made me realize that all of the excuses we come up with to not tend to the homeless is nonsense…we really just need to find a way to justify it.
Sorry to step on toes, but mine are still hurting so I thought I would just share the experience. I guess maybe we should talk a bit about being a good neighbor. What do you think?
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