War on homelessness

There have been sometimes in my past that if it had not been for very aggressive help by family and friends that I could have ended up homeless or worse. I was reading an article in American Legion Magazine about the homeless initiative by VA Secretary Shineski. I have read various case studies on homelessness and while defiantly not well educated in the area I understand many of the issues. I understand on both sides of the spectrum. I have looked into the eyes of homeless people as so many have while trying desperately to help them. I have experienced also what it is like to have one's utilities shut off and to have to go to a food shelf. I know what it is like to be so frustrated when trying to obtain proper housing for a homeless individual and run up against walls. I know what it is like to not trust those who want to help as I feel deep down that they are trying to hurt me. I know also when I have done all I can do to help a person and have to say NO I can not help and having my heart break in a hundred pieces. I have served in uniform and I also see brothers and sisters who have served and face the same demons. Yet, it is not as much the veteran population or even the adults that haunt me .... it is the little ones who face horror on the streets.

The problem is huge and I recognize that. I know that there is not a quick fix to this issue. Radical steps have to be taken to not only house people but help them heal. Then issues of substance abuse come into play. Self medication to help forget yet all it does is make it worse. It would have been so easy for me. It was only God's grace that held me up.

I started to write this and wanted to lambaste Mayor Goodman of Las Vegas for some of his policies yet I realize he too is fighting a battle of monumental proportions. It is easy for me to comment yet what am I doing? What am I doing to make a difference? Maybe there is too much tossing our hands up in the air about this situation and way too much acceptance that some how this is normal or acceptable. Maybe Americans should be upset and even angry about the plight of those who for what ever reason have slipped through the fabric of society. Maybe the question I have to ask is why am I not doing more-- why aren't we doing more? Maybe I should be praying that God helps me to make a difference and not complain about what is not done. Maybe we all need to ask what can we do.

I carry the memory or those eyes of people who were homeless and suffering in my mind and will for the rest of my life. I remember in someways seeing those eyes look at me from a mirror years ago. I need to remember those eyes and the feeling in the pit of my gut as I looked at them. I need to remember the desperation and embarrassment I felt in going to a food shelf. I need to remember the frightened feeling of not being able to trust anyone and how panicked I felt. I don't think God heals and makes us better just so we can do what ever we want and not help others who are back there where we were at. I think, He does those miracles in our lives expecting us to be instruments of healing to others.

Still in the early hours of the morning the fear comes in. Still sometimes I find it hard to trust. It is in those times that I have to lean on Jesus. It is in those overwhelming times when I want to run and hide and give up.......that I have to remember that Divine Mercy Image and say to Jesus......."I trust in You." I pray this day to him that in the future I can help more in the war against homelessness. I pray also that I may keep Him and His eyes ever upon my mind as I go through my day.


Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless

Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis