This past Friday we had an awareness night on homelessness. Preparing for the evening really helped my awareness. We usually don't spend very much time thinking about the homeless. If we see them we turn away, but many homeless we don't even see. Many are in shelters, or moving from couch to couch of relatives, friends, or neighbors.
Stats on homelessness (from various local shelter websites)...
39% of the US homeless population is young people under 18.
1 in 3 DC children live in poverty.
33% of DC homeless are families
The gap between the rich and the poor is greater here (DC area) then almost anywhere else in the country
If you made minimum wage, you would have to work 168 hours a week to afford a modest apartment in MoCo! That's 4 + full time jobs... or every hour of the week! Or if a couple were both working that would be 16 hours a day 7 days a week... which would leave 8 hours a day to eat, sleep, shower, clean, commute, AND/OR take care of your kids.
In order for a family to go to a shelter in MoCo they would need a referral from the DHHS and be able to prove residence for 6 mos + prior to their becoming homeless.
US - While 75% of teens on the street use drugs or alcohol as a means to self medicate to deal with the trauma, experience, and abuse they face, 46% left home bc of physical abuse and 17% bc of sexual abuse. 50% said their parents knew they were leaving or didn't care. 5,000 will die this year bc of assault, illness, or suicide.
What can you do? Donate you time, talent, and treasure. Some ideas: Volunteer in a shelter or feeding the homeless. Don't marginalize or ignore the homeless- be kind and treat them with dignity and respect. Donate money, food, clothes, toiletries, etc. Pray. Jesus spent most of his time with the marginalized and poor. He went to them and loved them.
The top 3 states for highest levels of homelessness in the US are California, New York, and Florida. Below are 2 videos of homeless persons in those areas.
Stats on homelessness (from various local shelter websites)...
39% of the US homeless population is young people under 18.
1 in 3 DC children live in poverty.
33% of DC homeless are families
The gap between the rich and the poor is greater here (DC area) then almost anywhere else in the country
If you made minimum wage, you would have to work 168 hours a week to afford a modest apartment in MoCo! That's 4 + full time jobs... or every hour of the week! Or if a couple were both working that would be 16 hours a day 7 days a week... which would leave 8 hours a day to eat, sleep, shower, clean, commute, AND/OR take care of your kids.
In order for a family to go to a shelter in MoCo they would need a referral from the DHHS and be able to prove residence for 6 mos + prior to their becoming homeless.
US - While 75% of teens on the street use drugs or alcohol as a means to self medicate to deal with the trauma, experience, and abuse they face, 46% left home bc of physical abuse and 17% bc of sexual abuse. 50% said their parents knew they were leaving or didn't care. 5,000 will die this year bc of assault, illness, or suicide.
What can you do? Donate you time, talent, and treasure. Some ideas: Volunteer in a shelter or feeding the homeless. Don't marginalize or ignore the homeless- be kind and treat them with dignity and respect. Donate money, food, clothes, toiletries, etc. Pray. Jesus spent most of his time with the marginalized and poor. He went to them and loved them.
The top 3 states for highest levels of homelessness in the US are California, New York, and Florida. Below are 2 videos of homeless persons in those areas.