Thursday; September 12

Even though it is still quite warm in many parts of the nation, autumn is not too far away.  While many of us look forward to the cooling temperatures, some of our neighbors lament the changing seasons because the cold, damp weather is especially difficult on the homeless.  Homeless is often viewed as a silent problem in our nation – we know that it exists, but we just don’t like to talk about it.  It can appear to be overwhelming ... often involving complex social, physical, fiscal and mental health components.  More often than not, it is easy to relegate this issue to our government and social services, but is there something that we can do help the people who have no place to turn?  Here are a few practical suggestions:
1.  Get involved in being a part of the local solution.  Most of our medium to large communities have organizations to help care for the homeless.  If we want to make a difference, this might be the best place to start.  Find an organization or agency and volunteer to help.
2.  Interact with the homeless when you see them on the street.  No, we probably can’t help everyone we meet nor will we be able to take care of their own personal issues, but by speaking to them and acknowledging them as people we can help them maintain their dignity.  Yes, they are homeless, but they are humans, too.
3.  Help people BEFORE they become homeless.  One of the best ways to deal with the homeless situation is to stop it before it gets started.  When we help someone stay in their homes we provide them with shelter and self-confidence.  Do you own a business that could use an extra employee?  Do you know of someone who has extra space that can be used to house someone?  Connecting people with resources before they are in absolute need is much easier than trying to get them out of their struggles after the fact.
          Homelessness is a challenge in today’s society.  Are we willing to get involved?
          Think About It!

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