212 Days
“For our neighbors who are on track for housing, it takes on average 212 days from beginning assessments to being housed. That is if there are no detours along the way. I am afraid that number will increase as our housing agencies are finding less and less affordable housing for our neighbors.”– Todd Barnes, Community Council
If we have experienced being displaced from our homes I would guess it was because we having some renovation on our current homes or we waiting to move to another new home. On average that might last 60-90 days. You might be able to relate to living out of suitcases. Looking through boxes to find one of your three can openers. Getting tired of microwaved meals. Living on top of each other in cramped environments.
But what If you were without permanent housing for 212 days? Seven months of living in shelters, strangers’ couches, your card, and the streets. How would you get ready for work? How would you rest to have enough energy to go to work? Where would you prepare meals for your family? If training is required to keep your job where you study? Would you be able to get cleaned up enough to go to church? Would you have friends and neighbors you could connect with to get through the hard times?
We need to be aware of emergency situations like the latest heat wave or the upcoming winter weather and how they impact our homeless neighbors right here in our community. Agencies around us are trying to better prepare for the next emergency.
Our community needs established cooling and heating centers with transportation. The experts in our community have been trying to advocate for real affordable housing. Municipalities, nonprofits, and ministries in our county have been trying to create a regional homeless shelter for years. There is no easy solution. At the base level, these solutions required millions of dollars and public support.
Just because it is a daunting issue don’t allow
Satan to convince you to turn away out of fear, apathy, or confusion.
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Pray for the safety and well-being of our homeless neighbors. Pray they are seen and known because of who created them. Pray for God to reveal to you one simple act you can do to unleash hope in our homeless neighbors. Seek God first.
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Educate yourself on the growing plight of our homeless neighbors in St. Charles County. Seek out information from the Community Council, Faith Haven House, and the Salvation Army.
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Do something. Carry bottled water, socks, QT gift cards and offer them to the people God places in your path. If they are not accepting of what you have to offer don’t allow your heart to become bitter. We do not know anything about their story. Contact your legislators and ask about what solutions they are working towards. Consistently volunteer with local nonprofits and ministries like Faith Haven House, and Salvation Army, and build trusting relationships with our homeless neighbors. Donate nonperishable food items to the HCC Food Pantry.
Mark 14:7 has always resonated deeply in my heart. Jesus says the poor will always be among us. To me, that means we cannot silently hope they will go away. We cannot turn our heads and pretend not to see them. We cannot allow Satan to overwhelm us with confusion about what is the right thing to do. We cannot listen to Satan’s whispers encouraging us to judge our neighbors or convince us that what we have to offer will not do any good.
212 is an unacceptable number.