It's really sad to see how in one night, the kids who are having a great time, would never feel the suffering of those who are suffering hard times because they were down on their luck. How many of these homeless folks were church-going folks? How many of them prayed that they can get out of their rut, most times with no fault of their own, now living in a box with their child or children worrying about getting evicted by law enforcement for trespassing or getting robbed or raped or murdered?
I am NOT saying that the members of the church should live a life like a living Hell, but donating food, clothing or even praying will not be enough. I am a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation and we too help the homeless. Yes, we give food, support shelters and do all the good deeds that helps the homeless so they would not starve.
Yet there is more that we do, you know, the long-term goals that strives to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place. We, under the mantra/program Standing on the Side of Love and committees lobby our elected representatives to increase taxes on the wealthy so that funds can be used to build shelters, enact affordable housing so that the family can have a place called home.
We also have an attorney who is fighting for folks who were illegally evicted from their homes so that the owners can eventually have a roof over their heads and live peacefully. Under the Affordable Care Act, we are also helping folks to receive medical care as well as lobbying for a single payer health care. During the financial crises, people were going bankrupt because of soaring medical care which led to most of the homeless folks living out on the streets. More than 50 percent of all bankruptcy were the result of unpaid medical bills and the insurance company not accepting people with pre-existing condition.
This caused many to either forgo treatment and die or take out a second or third mortgage to pay what the insurance company refused to pay. Sadly, many live under the freeway or in the park or even in storm drains because the nice three bedroom house with the picket fence the homeless folks had, was taken away from them.
The banks refused to finance them but demanded that they themselves be bailed out because they were too big to fail. Ironically, after all their greed and bailout, the economy still stinks, people are still homeless, banksters are wealthier and nothing much has changed. As a matter of fact, as a kid before Reagan was President, the only issue the City had were drunks living out on skid row.
Today though many of the skid row folks are mentally ill and/or vets...you know, the heroes fighting against the war on terror? Why are they homeless? Should not the vets be treated like heroes and have free housing and free education and free medical? No they don't, why? Because the members of Congress refuses to fund the vets so they would get off the streets, treat their PTSD. Congress is expecting the private sector to give them jobs and to treat them too.
Yet many churches members who wish to help the homeless, feed them and go back home to their houses while the homeless crawl back into their box city. There is this disconnect that seems to be more and more prevalent during these times and homeless shelters and churches only do so much. So what can we do?
Increase taxes on the wealthy. Tax churches. Bring the troops home, Reinvest in our infrastructure, have free universities and colleges. I am by no means criticizing my former church's program, but there is more to ending homeless than feeding and/or praying for them...but many are saying that churches are not supposed to be involved in politics...why, because of their non-profit status? Give me break! Your 501(c)(3) status was the result of politics, so what is a Christian to do? Do what your liberal brethren and sisteren do..start lobbying. Do the Matthew 25: 34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I don't see ONLY donating money, I don't see ONLY feeding the hungry, I don't see a one-time/one-sided ministry, I actually see a long-term service goal here. I see a continual support of of those who do need help, not just feeding and going home or praying, I see, again I repeat, lobbying, hard-core grunt work, I see getting down and dirty without cease until every homeless person is no longer homeless.
Again, I'm happy my former church as well as every church out there are doing something, but doing something to make a more viable change in the lives of many is better than sleeping in a box in the safety of the church parking lot.
