The Homeless

I don't know if homelessness is much of a problem in the areas where you live but, increasingly,

the numbers continue to rise in San Francisco.  Partly due to a temperate climate with winter temperatures that seldom fall down to freezing, people flee west when blizzards begin to pound the eastern seaboard.

The National Alliance for Homelessness announced, earlier this year, that, because of the

recession, there will be an estimated 1.5 million people made homeless during the next two

years.  To me, those are terrifying numbers.  We are not talking about the chronic homeless -

those who suffer with mental health issues or addiction and have been on the streets for a year -

but I am talking about the "new" homeless.  These are people, many of them with college

degrees, who held good jobs that have ended because of the recession, who never would have

expected to find themselves in this type of situation. 

Sadly, the number of families experiencing homelessness has increased. San Francisco has the highest per capita rate of homelessness -- nearly 1 for every 100 residents -- of any major U.S. city.  As many as 40% of San Francisco's homeless population is part of a homeless family.  Needless to say, there are not enough resources in the city to accomodate the needs of this many people.  Hamilton Family Center is one of the largest providers of shelter, eviction prevention assistance, rapid rehousing, youth programming, and support services to homeless families in San Francisco.

Today, as I was driving in the city, I saw so many homeless people, more so than usual, it seemed.  I felt so sad, wondering what sort of Christmas they might have had.  While I don't usually give money to people asking for handouts on the street, I do keep bottled water in my car and boxes of trail mix and protein bars to give out.  Having lost my job in February, with a huge drop in income with my retirement, I know how quickly one's financial status can plummet. 

I am just grateful I had a half time retirement income and social security to collect.  It isn't enough to pay my rent if my housemates leave but I'll just have to find a cheaper place to live then.  Hopefully, I won't have to be homeless.

For those of us who can, please make a donation to your local homeless shelters.  So many of them have lost funding and have limited resources.  Some of them need donations such as food, blankets, and toiletries.

When I came home tonight, I found a poem I wrote a couple of years ago.  Here it is

 The Homeless

I pray that I will never be,

Oblivious to those distraught,

That I will never pass them by, 

Without a glance or thought.

I see the tattered homeless,

Who have no food to eat,

Problems seem insurmountable,

To those mired in defeat.

I do not know the circumstance,

That led them to this fate,

Yet I'm aware it's possible,

We all could reach this state.

I'm saddest most at children,
Who haven't any toys,
Huddled with homeless parents,
They lack all the childhood joys.

We can help in different ways,

By trying to ease the pain,

Making sure we treat the homeless,

With empathy, not disdain.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2007 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved.