|
The Domino Effect of Homelessness
NMB, Florida December 27, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
THE DOMINO EFFECT OF HOMELESSNESS
One of my resolutions for 2002 is to do something about homelessness. I am
not of the government or any of the semi-official agencies that speak for
the homeless. So, I don't quite know what to do about homelessness. I know
a little about soup kitchens and food collection.
These things go together. If you have no home it is more than likely you
have no income or savings and no money for food. Shelter and food go
together. This is the season when we finish celebrating getting home for
Christmas and feeding at over-loaded tables and then getting ready to make
resolutions for the coming year. Does anyone think of the homeless and those
who have to seek out a "soup-kitchen" in order to get something warm to eat?
Theirs is a long term need, not just during the holidays.
It is cold now in Florida. This is an anomaly for there are few cold days.
I do remember the man I saw on Dixie Highway one year outside of Greynolds
Park. He had icicles hanging from his outstretched arms as he spread his
coat to catch the sun like one of the water birds drying off after diving
under the surface of the canal attempting a catch. It is not quite as cold
as that now but there are new signs that the homeless are trying to find a
secure place to sleep at the edge of public roads and along side of the
canals.
When Carol and I volunteered at "Lunch-Break" in Red Bank we got there
early to prepare the food as the "steady" workers got the kettles hot. We
prepared vegetables for the soup and pared potatoes and other products for
hash and grilling the rare meats. There was always dessert. These were
sometimes things we delivered ourselves after parties we attended had so
much left over. We asked the hosts if we could donate these goodies to
Lunch-Break and the next morning delivered them. They were always welcome.
Some bakeries donated exquisite breads that were unique and some were the
kinds we would have liked but could not afford.
All in all the experience was a good lesson for us. We got to know some of
the regular "patrons" and were shocked at the appearance of people who just
dropped out of the middle class and didn't quite know how the bottom of the
heap worked.
The recession (call it by its proper name, "depression") has been with us
for a while. People are out of work and there is less and less food in the
soup kitchens. People would rather live on the streets than trust the
security of "shelters".
I hope this downturn in the economy doesn't hurt those at the top of the
heap. Those who expected bonuses this year may not get them. They should
be happy they have jobs. The top 5% of the wealthiest may have to wait for
their cut in taxes but, at least they will have their homes in various parts
of the world where the exclusive live. I just realized that our lawmakers
will not suffer during this recession. They just voted themselves a hefty
raise.
The domino effect of homelessness is the fact that these poor people still
have to eat and still need shelter until we find solutions to the problems
that vex all of us. They are our neighbors. The rest of us who are lucky to
have a steady income and a place to live and food to eat must not abandon
them. The cost of caring for them and spending to make sure it does not
happen again falls on all of us. If we can succor the newly emancipated
Afghans and spend billions on a war effort, how can we not care for our own
people?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
|
 |
|