Stephen at Stone Soup Station tells us the reality of homelessness. He’s talking about the working poor this morning and giving very specific examples. It’s a heartbreaking read but he it tapping into what people, who feel that they’ve been treated as disposable, are feeling as he works on the front lines.
They can’t understand how it is that the “leaders” of our country are able to throw billions of dollars around outside the walls of the homeland with barely a comment, yet obstruct, yell, curse and stamp their feet when we ask them to share some of the wealth here at home.They’re confused as to how it is that those they choose to lead us out of the mess previous “leaders” got us into – on both sides of the aisles, folks – continually seem to forget us as soon as they hang the drapes in their new office.They’re mad that the welfare system they’ve been told for years has been extravagant turns out to be a bold-faced lie.They’re shell-shocked when they discover that, unless they’re considered “chronically homeless”….hold it, let me give you the official definition, since this is what they’re held to: (1) an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, OR (2) an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.” they’ve really got nothing coming in the way of resources or assistance.
And they are beyond frustrated that they cannot find a job with pay adequate enough to allow them to survive. And I’m not talking here about luxury living, or even middle class stability. Just enough to pay all the bills each month, have food every day and be able to fill the gas tank or purchase a 31-day bus pass to get back and forth to work.