My brother is a social worker and homeless advocate. He came to my church on Sunday to speak with the high school kids about the realities of the chronically homeless. He first had to explain the other type of homelessness which happens when there is a natural disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, etc). For those people, there is more help from the government and private agencies like the Red Cross.
The disaster-related homeless usually receive the most attention. People organize fundraisers and will often volunteer their time to help rebuild or rehome.
The chronically homeless receive very little. They are mostly invisible to the public, and funds to help them are often the first to be cut from a state or federal budget. Besides serving meals or organizing clothing drives, there is little the public can do to help. Why? Because 99.99% of the chronically homeless are severe addicts. The average citizen is not trained or qualified to help. And, because of confidentiality and liability issues, the average citizen cannot do any serious outreach.
It struck me that even within a class considered by most to be the lowest rung on the ladder, there is still more division. Does creating a class system within the lowest class help government officials justify their actions? They can say they help the homeless and still not be called on it. Does classifying-out the most needy help them avoid a very uncomfortable reality? Or is it that they regard addicts as having no inherint worth or dignity?
I think it's time for the public to get themselves educated on the true plight of the homeless and hold their representatives feet to the fire. You?
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