With Veterans Day just behind us, and Thanksgiving two weeks away, let's pause today and consider the plight of the homeless people in the United States.
By now, the world has heard of Arnold Abbott's brave attempt to feed the homeless in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The feisty 90 year old, along with two renegade pastors, was arrested and issued two citations for defying the new law that prohibits giving food to the less fortunate folks of the city. They were charged with breaking an ordinance restricting public feeding of the homeless. Each faces up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The law, passed on October 22, restricts "feeding sites" to one per city block. The "sites" must also be 500 feet from each other...and of course, from residential property. The thought is to limit food intake for those inconsiderate freeloaders who blot the landscape of Ft. Lauderdale.
Yes, the very same Ft. Lauderdale that has welcomed drunk college students for decades. Apparently, young people puking in public is a thing of beauty.
Not feeding hungry people is all the rage. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 21 cities have passed similar ordinances. Mr. Abbott, himself a World War II veteran, took on Ft. Lauderdale in 1999, when he filed a lawsuit to be able to feed the homeless. For 15 years he has done so. Lovely four-course meals that feed the soul as well as the body. He was back last week, serving the homeless as police videotaped the crime.
I'm not sure of the logic behind the efforts to stop feeding poor people...and no one is poorer than the homeless. Do the city council members say to each other, "If we cut off their food supply, they will just leave."?? Or, "Those homeless folks have it pretty damned good. Free food! Let's show them how the real world operates..."?? Possibly, "If we let them starve, maybe they will get jobs."??
That's not how it works, political geniuses. According to The National Coalition for the Homeless, here are a few facts:
-
"Far too many veterans are homeless in America—between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night—representing between one fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people. Three times that many veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus at increased risk of homelessness."
-
"Further, there is concern about the future. Women veterans and those with disabilities including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are more likely to become homeless, and a higher percentage of veterans returning from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have these characteristics. 45% have a mental illness."
-
"Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives (Network to End Domestic Violence)."
- "Low-wage workers have been particularly have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed. To compound the problem, the real value of the minimum wage in 2004 was 26% less than in 1979 (The Economic Policy Institute, 2005). Factors contributing to wage declines include a steep drop in the number and bargaining power of unionized workers; erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline in manufacturing jobs and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service-sector employment; globalization; and increased nonstandard work, such as temporary and part-time employment (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schmitt, 1999)."
Don't even start me on the plight of homeless children and teens. It is beyond heartbreaking.
With this background, here are three reasons to feed the homeless:
- Each one is somebody's child. They grew up like the rest of us. They were giggly babies and cute gap-toothed first graders. Moody teens. They probably had a parent who loved them as much as we love our kids. No one chooses to be homeless. Something happened and now they are broken. What if your child lived in a park or under a bridge? Wouldn't you be grateful for any kindess that another person showed to him or her?
- It's the right thing to do. Last time I checked, every single religion says we should take care of the poor. Beyond that, it is simply what humans do for each other. We especially should offer our thanks to veterans who came back from duty so shattered that they can't function. Don't post your flag-waving "Thanks for your service" message on Facebook if you can't reach out and help that person in real life.
- It could be you. Or me. John Bradford said, "There but for the grace of God go I." Life doesn't always go as planned. The best efforts fail. The housing market collapses. The economy takes a nosedive. Medical bills eat up a lifetime of savings. Everyone is vulnerable at some point. Can't we show compassion to our neighbors who happen to be suffering?
Contribute to a food bank. Serve at a soup kitchen twice next year. Join a Food4Kids campaign. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Find some way to end hunger in our bountiful country.
Heck, be truly daring like Arnold Abbott--feed the homeless.
I really like your blog and have put it on my blogroll.
Posted by: Hattie | 11/14/2014 at 10:07 AM