“All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air. Lots of chocolate for me to eat, wouldn’t it be lovely.”
Liza Dolittle hit a home run when she sang this song in the classic film, “My Fair Lady.” Who would have guessed then that this song would resonate with harsh reality for countless Americans who are and will be without a home this holiday season.
Americans are losing their jobs at an alarming rate all across this nation and the hope of alternative work in a new or different field is slim at best. “Middle Class America”, has all but become a footnote for the history books, while soup lines at shelters increase on a daily basis.
The American dream of owning a home has been traded for the hope of a room somewhere, anywhere. Shelters are busting at the seams, unemployment checks are often dispersed weeks to late for families to salvage their homes from the ferocious jaws of foreclosure, social service workers are overwhelmed, food stamp programs in every state are all but broke and social security for the elderly and disabled is far from secure.
Where do we go from here? Do we continue to allow the bureaucratic red tape of government agencies to define who we are and who we become as Americans? How long can we as Americans turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the ever increasing homeless population? Do we want our children to realize even a portion of their hopes and dreams?
I believe that for both rich and poor the answer to this question is a resounding, “Yes”. Here it is 2009 and in the land of the free and the home of the brave many among us still choose to ignore the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves.
When will the reality of what is occurring all across this great country hit home? Can we afford to wait until the sting of poverty makes it debut on the doorstep of, “Wall Street Executives?” Maybe we will get uncomfortable enough to do something when the stench of homelessness takes a nap on the front porch of, “Suburban America.” This writer for one thinks the time for action is now, not later.
With our federal budget being at an all time deficit and both state and county run programs in danger of being cut, we the people must be committed to becoming part of the solution, before we too, fall ill to the fate that has ruined the hopes and dreams of thousands of our fellow Americans.
Locally, in Denver Colorado, federal funding for homeless individuals has been rerouted by Mayor Hickenlooper to pay for refurbishing suburban libraries. Additionally the mayor takes a hit with his homeless meters. They boldly advertise that a 50 cent donation will cover the cost of an entire day’s transportation for a homeless individual.
It amazes me that bus fare for regular citizens without any disability is $2.00. Maybe the homeless get some special discount that we are not aware of? Poor stewardship of funding does not stop at the mayor’s office. It trickles down through the Department Of Human Services and even taints the clarity of some non-profit organizations.
Kudos are in order for several local agencies that continue to be at the forefront of positive action that results in the transformation of lives. The Empowerment Program for women and more recently men; continues to assist a large portion of the homeless and ex-offender populations, with educational classes including accredited GED classes, housing, medical care, mental health counseling, personal case managers, certified drug and alcohol rehabilitation classes, employment opportunities and training to prepare people to re-enter the mainstream community. Denver Rescue Mission and The Crossing offer many of the same opportunities to families and single individuals.
Saint Francis center offers a refuge for men and women during the day, along with a job service center for temporary work. The Gathering Place offers many services to women and children. They serve healthy food three times a day; provide daycare for mothers that remain on the premises. They also provide clothing and hygiene. They have an employment specialist who assists women with finding jobs. They also offer holiday meals to take home, gifts for children and support for families in need.
Samaritan house has a multitude of services and both short and long term programs that assist the homeless in gaining the skills needed to once again be a positive influence in their communities.
The Denver Voice is crucial in getting the word about programs, services and events out to both the homeless population and the community at large. It provides income to many homeless individuals through its distribution program.
Finally, Stout Street Clinic and The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless have an enormous impact with regard to medical and mental health care for homeless individuals. Those who work at Stout Street Clinic are caring individuals who make it their priority to serve the homeless community.
While many good services exist we are in need of additional properly formulated and enacted solutions that must be put into place, if we hope to survive as a free nation while transforming into a land where dignity and justice for all actually prevails.
When will we learn to stop pointing the finger at black, red, brown, yellow or white? It seems to me we are the human race. Unfortunately we have not yet learned to be humane to one another.
Over 80 percent of our nation claims to believe that God exist, no matter what given name they choose to acknowledge him by. Why than is it that we cannot come together as a nation to preserve the very freedoms our forefathers fought so hard to gain? I do believe the, “Declaration of Independence,” refers to us collectively as, “one nation under God.”
It is clear that the current costly and ineffective programs are not a viable solution to the ever growing population of Americans that are without a home. While countless well meaning organizations are doing their level best to help those in need, their own survival is threatened as public and private funding is dwindling at an alarming rate. More non-profit organizations and American businesses have been forced to close their doors in the preceding eighteen months than in all of history save for the era of, “The Great Depression.”
Perhaps it is time to take a grass roots approach and give every working American a chance to become part of the solution. What would happen if every working American gave just one dollar a month to a united committee formed with the soul purpose of housing the homeless and aiding jobless Americans who are in danger of losing their homes by preventing the devastation of foreclosure or loss of rented properties?
What if every business and corporation across America matched dollar for dollar their employee’s donations? What if the government actually gave these businesses a deserved tax break for their participation? Imagine the transformation that could take effect if the board governing these funds in local communities was compiled of volunteers from all walks of life. People could participate in the solution because they actually care about all of their fellow Americans and we could work as partners with those in need.
I believe that a positive and effective result will be achieved; when we as Americans dare to take a stand and make a difference that counts, then many others will join us. Your tax dollars could actually be spent to improve education, keep your neighborhoods safe and provide the public services they were originally designed to provide.
This writer firmly believes that we the American people can restore dignity and the pursuit of happiness to many of our fellow Americans and in doing so, change the course of history. The question is, will we actually stand up and be counted as people for change or will we continue to hide behind the security of our own good fortune? This writer prays that, “we the people,” will make a stand for positive change and that next year many more Americans will be safe from harm and home for the holidays.
Gloria Hallatt is a homeless individual currently housed in a transitional housing unit. She can be reached at home4many@yahoo.com. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
