We need to have an open and honest conversation about homelessness. Like parents telling their kids about things like the birds and bees, it can be a difficult conversation for many people to have because they’re uncomfortable talking about it. It’s one of those things they think only happens in bigger cities and other communities, not their own. Pretending that a problem doesn’t exist will not make it go away, though, no matter now much bliss the ignorance may seem to provide. We can’t continue to try and hide from ugly truths. While we turn a blind eye and refuse to believe that a serious problem like homelessness is impacting those around us, there are families who are suffering needlessly. It’s especially heartbreaking to discover what the children of homeless families are going through.
Have a Conversation About Homelessness
I’m going to keep this post brief because I feel that the video below can explain it far better than I would ever be able to. I will say, though, that homelessness is a serious issue in our community. Chances are that it is in yours as well. Please take a moment to view the video below. Once you’ve done so, share it with others by either watching it with them or sharing it online via your social media outlet of choice. This will go a long way in helping to provide a better awareness of the issue. Most important of all, though, please take time to discuss the subject matter with them. Especially your kids. That “trouble maker” or “smelly” kid in their class could be facing serious challenges far greater than they could ever imagine. We need to change our perceptions that homeless people are “lazy”, or that they need to do more to help themselves. We need to take actionable steps to eliminate the problem of homelessness, and the first step is talking about it openly instead of whispering about it behind closed doors.
For more information, and to find out how you can help, please visit the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing website.