Dealing with the Symptom and the Problem
Wednesday Self-Reflection
Struggling to Make Sense of It All?
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Today, I invite you to spend some time in silent consideration. Imagine me sitting with you and asking the following questions. Allow the time to turn into an internal conversation with me. I think this works best as a journaling exercise.
Why don’t people invite unhoused individuals to stay with them? What are the main concerns?
If we are not inviting unhoused individuals into our homes, what other options do we have? How can we care for those who need the care?
If we look at people who don’t have a place to live as a symptom of a larger problem, what would that problem be? What are the contributing factors that manifest this particular symptom? How might we address the wider systematic issue that leads to people being unhoused?
Peace, Bo
The Evolving Christian Faith Network
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Credits
Thanks to Mikita Yo for the cover art
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As someone who has a deep heart for the unhoused and hungry among us, as well as having worked with and among those in my own city, I do know this problem is complex, but not unsolvable.
Part of the complexity is that some of the unhoused need more help that the typical neighbor can provide. For those who have been unhoused for quite a while, there could be problems with drug abuse and/or mental health issues. Unless you and I are professionally trained to handle these types of issues, we could be creating more problems for both them and ourselves.
Many times unhoused people want to live close to a city to be near public transportation. So city dwellers are likely the best options for taking in an unhoused neighbor.
Yes, we are called to help the stranger. But sometimes we need help from other places to be able to do that. Ultimately, I believe we need to look at our broken systems that lead to people becoming unhoused and address those…as well as the epidemic of unaffordable housing across our the U.S.
Thank you, Angie. Difficult question to answer. Ask me to donate to a shelter? Sure! But actually opening my door - scary.
Re church as sanctuary - we found in St Louis county all sorts of regulations, zoning, health codes, etc. and of course nimby. I think sheltering folks is going to be a huge issue if an immigration round up begins.
I think Americans have an idea that food, shelter, health care must be earned (thank you, Calvin?) charity is from the good hearted to the “less fortunate.” Sharing belongs in kindergarten - it’s individual achievement that matter.