You can take one picture of homelessness and show it to 20 different people and get 20 different reactions to it. 9/10 people really can careless about those living on the streets with no shelter, food, safety, or warmth. As long as they have food, clothes, and a place to sleep, what goes on in the outside world really doesn't matter.
I really like the idea behind the Atlanta Children's Shelter because they not only offer shelter, but they also offer programs for homeless families to receive counseling, job training, and job placement. It does no good to just shelter people without enabling them to become self-sufficient, full-fuctioning adults.
Most homeless shelters only offer basic necessities (i.e. food, clothes, shelter) but neglect the secondary needs of people. People need to learn how to be self-sufficient and take care of themselves. Handing out (only) basic needs can do more harm than good by creating a sense of dependency in people as opposed to self-sufficiency. That's why you come across the same homeless people who've been homeless for years. They actually expect people to take care of them such that when help is scarce, they develop a sense of helplessness.
How Can We Help Change the Rate of Homelessness in America?
Homelessness in America isn't a problem that we can just fix overnight. Neither is it a problem that can be fixed by one person alone. To correct the epidemic of homelessness in our neighborhoods and throughout America, it is helpful to educate ourselves on several factors:
1. What Causes Homelessness?
2. Who does homelessness affect?
3. What are the correlates of homelessness? If a person is homeless, what other issues do you normally see? (i.e. joblessness, single parenthood, etc)
4. What agencies and corporations are already answering to the need of homelessness?
5. How much does the epidemic of homelessness cost the community as a whole?
At the end of the day, when you go home and get into your bed, there is a family, a veteran, a teen, a mother who is left to fight homelessnes on their own. Don't be like the next person who just talks about the problem, but stand up and be the person who is willing to help.
Join us and help us combat homelessness by clicking here.
Danielle Leach, writer and founder of Dream Pathways Magazine
I really like the idea behind the Atlanta Children's Shelter because they not only offer shelter, but they also offer programs for homeless families to receive counseling, job training, and job placement. It does no good to just shelter people without enabling them to become self-sufficient, full-fuctioning adults.
Most homeless shelters only offer basic necessities (i.e. food, clothes, shelter) but neglect the secondary needs of people. People need to learn how to be self-sufficient and take care of themselves. Handing out (only) basic needs can do more harm than good by creating a sense of dependency in people as opposed to self-sufficiency. That's why you come across the same homeless people who've been homeless for years. They actually expect people to take care of them such that when help is scarce, they develop a sense of helplessness.
How Can We Help Change the Rate of Homelessness in America?
Homelessness in America isn't a problem that we can just fix overnight. Neither is it a problem that can be fixed by one person alone. To correct the epidemic of homelessness in our neighborhoods and throughout America, it is helpful to educate ourselves on several factors:
1. What Causes Homelessness?
2. Who does homelessness affect?
3. What are the correlates of homelessness? If a person is homeless, what other issues do you normally see? (i.e. joblessness, single parenthood, etc)
4. What agencies and corporations are already answering to the need of homelessness?
5. How much does the epidemic of homelessness cost the community as a whole?
At the end of the day, when you go home and get into your bed, there is a family, a veteran, a teen, a mother who is left to fight homelessnes on their own. Don't be like the next person who just talks about the problem, but stand up and be the person who is willing to help.
Join us and help us combat homelessness by clicking here.
Danielle Leach, writer and founder of Dream Pathways Magazine
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