Who Are The Homeless?

Have not posted for a few days. Living on the streets and going to school is difficult and has takes a lot of emotional, spiritual and physical energy.

Yet I am not alone. Many of the residents in the Path of Life shelter are either going to school or working. The high cost of housing and utilities along with other issues such as coming up with the deposit or having bad credit make it almost impossible for them to find housing.

Quite a few are what I call the "middle class homeless" Until recently they were living the American dream. They had good jobs, nice cars and the other rewards that come with working hard. Now they are living the American nightmare.

This economic meltdown is not one of just statistics. The media and much of society are concerned with the number of foreclosures and the jobless rate. This is also a meltdown of people's lives. Many have lost everything. Families have been lost and marriages broken up due to financial difficulties. Some are forced to live with relatives. Others are living in their cars or staying at the local homeless shelter. Seldom do we hear stories of these struggles or the courage people have shown. And yes, there are stories are recovery and hope.

I urge you to think of this next time you see a homeless person on the streets. That person could have been your neighbor, co-worker or someone you went to church with.

It is time that we as a society quit pushing this issue under the rug. It is time that as a compassionate society we really up to the plate and help people put their lives together. And it is time for the churches of this great country to start doing the job and the mission they were given by God.

God Bless

James McPherson

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