Tomorrow night I will be walking with others at Penn State Berks (5pm) to raise money and awareness for Reading (New Journey Community Outreach) – CNOY 2024 USA. This is my first time participating, and I will admit that with all the other stuff happening in my little world, I have not put a lot of effort into getting people to donate. If you click on the above link, you can contribute to this amazing ministry in Reading, PA that feeds hundreds of people every day – New Journey Community Outreach. The small staff and volunteers there do incredible work to help people make it through some of the worst conditions and unbearable situations.
For all that we have done as a nation to help people who are without homes – I can think of at least 5 organizations where I live – the problem is getting worse. But first – yes, there are some people who lose their homes because they have messed up their lives in some ways and, yes, there are a few troubled people who choose to be un-homed. Those two groups are miniscule. 40 years ago, a friend who was a financial advisor and a member of a church in Dover, NJ told me that 90% of Americans, in his estimation, were 3 months from being homeless. The reasons are many; losing a job, health care expenses, family tragedies, not having enough money in reserve – these and so many other reasons that are so often out of the individual’s control. The widening gap between the rich and the poor continues to plague this country, but those with the ability to address that crisis are too often beholden to the first group and dismissive of the latter.
People in their 20’s and 30’s can expect to pay 40-50% of their income on housing, compared to 30-40% in the 1980’s-2000’s and 15-20% in the 1960’s-70’s. Unrestrained greed has become the new fake capitalism. Hoarding of resources is commonplace. The problem is complicated and vast, and we keep putting band-aids on gushing wounds. If we truly believe that we are a good nation made up of mostly moral people, we should be able to find the internal fortitude to make our economic system fairer and – oh no, am I going to write this? – more equitable. And to be clear, equity is a God-mandated concept. If you don’t believe me, read your Bible or Quran. Nobody should be punished for being successful, and nobody should be punished for having a low income either. Most low-income people I know don’t expect to live in a mansion, but they do expect to live.
You want to prove that we are a nation that cares about people? Work towards a national healthcare system and fair housing. You want to prove we are a nation filled with selfish, uncaring people? Continue to do what we are doing. I don’t expect America to live by my Christian values, but I do expect this country to value people and their welfare.
Want to know more about homelessness? Check this site out State of Homelessness: 2023 Edition – endhomelessness.org
Prayer – Holy God, You expect Your people to not only express thoughts and prayers but to act on those feelings. Help us to provide daily needs and systemic change, for Your sake and our neighbors. Amen.
Today’s art is an abstract painting of a homeless man by Martin Jansen.