30 Days Homeless

I spent some time reading a blog everyone should check out! 30 days homeless is the name of it. It tells the story of a Minister who has chosen to live 30 days, this month, homeless. His goal is to raise awareness to this very real problem! He sleeps in a van with a propane heater and spends his days just as though he were homeless. He has actually left his wife and his sons to pursue this. His wife sounds very supportive. It was a very moving story. His blog is done probably a bit better than mine, I have no shame in admitting! He clearly has more experience with these type of things than I do! His blog also reminded me just how bad some who are homeless really have it! Yes, we were homeless this past months or so, often not knowing where we might be going. But for the most part we had the hotel and we had family. There are too many who are out there in the streets. Cowering anywhere they can to stay warm and get some sleep.  The very first time we were homeless, I may have mentioned this before, we lived from May to October in a tent for the most part! The middle of October to the beginning of November we stayed with a family member and then from the Middle of November to the 1st of December we stayed at the worst hotel you can imagine! That was in the year of 2002. For those who need to be reminded or did not know, this is our 3rd time being homeless. The 2cnd time was rough, but not horrific and thankfully it was only for several weeks in the middle of the Summer! During that time we stayed at friends or in their camper. That homeless situation was caused by a very serious septic back up and we lost every single thing we owned. Our landlord was an elderly lady, who clearly was struggling with dementia and was not able to take care of the situation properly. She was placed in a Nursing home several months later! In that situation you can also see clearly how it was not our fault, and how situations far beyond any ones control can cause the situation. Think about it, any of you could have something catastrophic happen and face similar situations we have faced. I pray for none of you to have to go through it though! The blog and my own have similar goals, to raise awareness about homeless individuals and families. The families always tug most at my heart! In our Country, the land of plenty, you would think it would almost be absurd to have homeless families. And what makes some family's stories most sad is knowing that they are really out there on the streets! And they are not always homeless in warm and sunny places. We are talking about families struggling in the coldest areas, sleeping on the streets! As I have mentioned with our own situation, shelters are not easy to come by and are filled up very quickly. And for those who do not know this, but you are allowed to sleep at the shelter, but you are not allowed to hang out there. You have to arrive there late in the afternoon or the early evening and then leave in the morning. Where you go during the day is no concern of most shelters. And it doesn't matter what the weather! And if you arrive back late, do not expect a room to just be available to you. If you have kids the problem is only compounded. You have people from the shelter and the agencies trying to help you, paying very close attention to what is going on with the kids. The first time we were homeless we came very close to losing the girls. We actually had a church tell us that they themselves would see to it the girls were placed elsewhere if they saw fit! It was very scary, and it is so for many in the situation. There is also the safety issue! Not just the weather, but the streets for the homeless have many dangers and those living out there have a great chance to be a victim of crime. Those kids on the street see too much, endure too much and often eat too little! I hope that many of you will take a look at the site for 30 days homeless. Even more I hope it touches you! I also hope and pray for all the images of alcholic, drug crazed old guys is pushed back in your mind when you think of the homeless and that you will first see the faces of kids and their families. Most of you know us, our pictures are here on the blog site, do we look like the faces of the homeless? But we are!( Yes, there are individuals out there that fit your stereotypical ideas, they need help too!) But for the families out there and in real need for help, wanting more than anything to fix their situation and helpless to do so, let them be in your prayers!