Problems of Our Time: Homelessness

Is it right that men and women have to take to the streets and live off the charity of others?  Is it right that some should starve, while others can relax in prosperity?  Of course you would say no, however this is not at all evident in society today.

Recently in the news there was a man with a Master’s degree and he was panhandling for a job, because there was just no work available.  This is not right at all.  If a man as obviously talented as this individual has to take to the streets, is it really fair to say that everyone on the streets deserves to be there, because of the choices that one made in their lives?  I don’t think so.

Also, on a more grim not is the recent abuse that the homeless community has suffered, with the death of the Tuba Man and killings of many homeless men and women by some reckless teenagers.  This should not be permissible, as these are still members of humanity and still deserve rights.

In the past month, I went to the Union Gospel Mission to volunteer.  There I saw people from all walks of life stuggling to find their feet.  What was really heartbreaking were the young adults, maybe only in their early 20’s, but looking so gaunt and haggard that they could be mistaken for 60.  These people told amazing stories of running away from parental abuse, parents having drug or alcohol problems, or the fact that they drank or smoked their money away.  What was really interesting was that the vast majority were just struck by bad luck and ended up in this situation, without having done anything wrong.  And when you look at the food that they have to eat, it literally made me sick.  I could not believe that men could be thankful for this slop, it was not right and needed to change.

On the flip side, I have a friend that works at Red Apple and says that everyday the chicken that is fresh daily is thrown away, as well as many of the items just about to expire.  Is this right?  Can stores just toss their food out into a dumpster, while men at homeless shelters are eating slop?  This is something that must be changed.  We have talked to the stores in our area and organized a drive that will bring the fresh food to the homeless shelters every night, so these men and women can eat some real food for once.  Now when I visit and volunteer, it is a much more welcome sight, one can actually see that this extra food is putting extra pounds on the men and women.  No longer do they look gaunt and about to fall over.  And do you know what?  Many have found construction jobs, as their new found strength enables them to work while before they could barely walk.

This article is to spread the awareness of people being forgotten on the streets.  Please take it upon yourself to not only bring food from the grocery stores to the homeless shelters, but provide for them.  Every single man, women, and child is an American, and they all have a right to the American Dream.

Hope this motivates you,

Six Star