Once upon a time, homeless people were usually men who were often categorized as vagrants. Today anybody hardworking men, women and families can become homeless. We see them everywhere sleeping on sidewalks and park benches. But there are others we dont see who are neatly tucked away in homeless shelters trying to put their lives back together again.
There are many causes of homelessness. Surprisingly, the top three (according to the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness) are: low incomes, unemployment and high housing costs. Of course, substance abuse, alcoholism, lack of adequate health insurance/government benefits, domestic violence and mental and physical illnesses are also on the list.
Unfortunately, when one becomes unemployed or ill without adequate health insurance, chances are they may find themselves two to three months away from becoming homeless.
Next week, one week before Thanksgiving, is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week ( Nov. 12-18). It is a week when many of us will be planning for Thanksgiving, while others may be pondering where their next meal will come from.
Clearly, the purpose of National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is to call attention to the plight of our fellow human beings who are alone, hungry and homeless. Many of us may have a tendency to dwell on bad choices made, instead of perhaps the "faulty structures or policies" of our society that may lead to the tragedy of being homeless.
This is the fourth year in which the V.I. Alliance Against Homelessness Continuum of Care and the V.I. Interagency Council on Homelessness have joined the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness in highlighting the plight of the homeless.
Our weeklong program of activities begins with a day of prayer. Churches have been asked to dedicate their Sabbath or Sunday service to the homeless. Monday at 5 p.m. the community is invited to a Hunger & Homeless Week kickoff march from Schneider Hospital, the Department of Human Services or Emile Griffith Park to Emancipation Garden. On Wednesday we invite you to donate nonperishable food goods, as well as household items, to our shelters and soup kitchens. These items can be dropped of at the following locations.
St. Thomas: Methodist Training & Outreach Center, 11-A Kronprindsen Gade, 714-7782
St. Croix: Catholic Charities, 32-A King Street (rear), 773-0132
St. John: Safety Zone, Lumber Yard Complex (above the Ice Co.), 693-7233
Our Continuum of Care agency members will discuss this serious issue on various radio and televisions shows throughout the week. On Friday the week culminates with an "Evening of Dining" for the homeless on St. Croix, and Saturday on St. Thomas with a "Feed the Homeless" activity from 9 a.m. at Market Square. Lunch and refreshment will be served, and service providers will disseminate information about their services
There are many local organizations such as Catholic Charities, Methodist Training and Outreach Center, Frederick Lutheran Church, The Salvation Army, My Brothers Table, St. Andrews Soup Kitchen, St. Croix Mission Outreach, The Safety Zone, Village Partners in Recovery, to name a few, that are committed to serving the poor and homeless.
Over the years, the number of soup kitchens and distribution centers has not increased, but the demand for these services have. Why? Because, according to the National Student Campaign, the " severe cuts to social programs in the early 1980s led to a visible increase in the number of homeless and hungry Americans."
What can you do? You can join us next week in our quest to highlight the plight of the homeless. You can make food donations or volunteer your services with any of the above-mentioned agencies. And you can urge our elected officials to expand and increase funding for food and homeless assistance and affordable housing.
If you would like to assist us in this effort please call Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands at 777-8515 or Methodist Training and Outreach Center at 714-7782.
Editor's Note: Michael Akin is executive director of Catholic Charities for the Virgin Islands.
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