Homelessness is an epidemic. As Americans, it is our right and privilege to help reach the needy. As Christians, it is our duty. What are the real problems and real solutions?

"How do we reclaim our park benches back from the homeless?" I listened to a city official ask a group of business men and women last Tuesday.

Sound heartless?
In the heartless motivation of a city official, there was a question that needed to be answered. As far as I was concerned: The motive did not matter. The selfish heart of some city officials, politicians, CEO's, government powers, and even religious leaders, is not worth arguing over. The important thing is finding a home for those without one.

Personally, there was a feeling of outrage that welled up inside me when I heard this man ask the question he did. I almost spoke up, but then I remembered a quote from the Apostle Paul. When he was in prison for preaching the news of Jesus, he found that there were others in prison that could hurt Paul by preaching too. This was Paul's response:

Phi 1:15-19 "It's true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they'll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help.The others, now that I'm out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better--they think--for them. So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on! And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done."

The problem: Homelessness is a epidemic
According to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, on any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless. Each year, more than 3 million people experience homelessness, including 1.3 million children.

And according to national studies, even more Americans are at risk of homelessness. Millions of low-income American households pay more that 50 percent of their income on rent when estimates say the figure should be no more than 30 percent.

A missed paycheck, a health emergency, or an unpaid bill creates a crisis, pushing them out of their homes and in to homelessness. (Source, NLCHP.org)

We must be an answer
It doesn't matter how an individual became homeless. Homeless is homeless, no matter how one looks at it. For Christians, being part of the answer is not an option but a duty. Jesus told a parable about those who reach out the needy and those who don't. He said to those who had done something that they were blessed, then he went on to tell of what happens to those who claim to be of God, but do nothing to reach out to the needy:

Mat 25:41-45 "Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because-- I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.' "Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?' "He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me--you failed to do it to me.'

There is solutions:
Short term solutions are not going to keep people off the streets, but it's a great place to start.

• Find out where the homeless hang out

• Ask if there are groups that comes to feed them and get involved

• Put together a group to find and feed the needy

• Ask organizations and Churches for donations of blankets, bottled water, backpacks, or money for shoes, tooth brushes & tooth paste.

• Discover local government shelters and food pantries and soup kitchens to see if you can volunteer, maybe one day every other week.

Long term solutions will take a little more time, effort, and energy, but the end result will truly help create a secure place for future generations.

• Being aware of government policies and alerts concerning bills and solutions being presented to government officials.

• Getting on e-mailing lists of organizations that are staying at the forefront of the matter.

• Voting for any bills that would offer; affordable housing, adequate income, social services to all, and prohibit discrimination.

There are many ways to reach out to those who are in need. As the Church tries to discover more ways to reach out, we must open ourselves up to the possibilities and potential in teaming the secular organizations as well and government organizations. There are funds available, if we will join hands with those who are working towards the same cause, regardless of the motive.

More information:

• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
• La's Homeless Blog
• National Alliance to End Homelessness