As I approach the second floor of the Homeless shelter which was once an elementary school as some point, my heart drops as I see children in a room full of single beds all jumble together as neatly as possible. The children appeared to playing with dolls and action hero figures. My mentee Soraya whispered, "Do they all get dressed in the same room?" I nodded, in disbelief as I couldn't imagine getting dressed in the same room. We then walked down the hallway to the laundry room. There were about six washers where tenant could wash there clothes for free. We walked past a closed door where children were laying down in there beds for a nap. My mentee Sarah peeked her head through the door. "Oh, wow....I seen one in there. I quickly corrected her, Sarah, those children are people just like you and I, that could've been you laying in that bed.
I then walked to to the community room where some children were playing as the parents all huddle around the television to watch there favorite shows. We greeted the tenants in the community room. Hello, how are you? Some had looks on your face help me, some had looks on their face like they had already given up, and some were just too glued to what was on TV.
There were lots of questions to ask the director of what we'ved just seen.
Volunteer:How long can a person stay here?
Director: 90 days
Volunteer: What happens after that?
Director: They move on some to permanent housing and others we are not for certain
Volunteer: Do you have extensions for a person that just can't find a place to stay after 90 days?
Director: Yes, there are some exceptions
Imagine, loosing everything you worked to hard for. Imagine coming home one day from work as your children run up to hug you only to tell them the news that today would be your last day, Imagine being lost without in composer of words to find how to tell your family this.
Homeless in American Statistics
Homelessness is caused by many different factors some of these that make up a large portion of homelessness job loss, death in the family of sole provider, divorce, domestic violence, mental illness, depression, and physical disabilities.
Homelessness in America persists in part because many urban areas remain economically depressed, housing costs have risen rapidly in the past decade, and wages for lower skilled workers have remained stable http://www.solutionsforamerica.org/thrivingneigh/homelessness.html
On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/homeless.shtml
As Christian we are commanded by God to help others in need. anything of those people you see laying in the streets with no where to go could be you. "Here today gone tomorrow"......won't you heal there sorrow?
Matthew 5:42 says, Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Takeaway: Glorify God by helping someone in need. Not just once a year, or on Thanksgiving holiday but whenever the opportunity arises.; lend a helping hand. Don't think twice about it.
