Homelessness; A Purpose Teaching Us How To Love

Simple Solutions To Ideas Usually Confusing & Complicated
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love. - 1 John 4: 8

This article is the Addendum of a four-part series on homelessness.

A stepping stone from homelessness to societal redemption is private space; enough space to sleep, enjoy peace and quiet, and ultimately get back to doing one's part (work).

If we take the example of a family, what can we learn when applying a family dynamic to our extended family found in all humanity?

The parent(s) work and provide for their children.

Learning steps are taught by the parents to ensure the children's success as they grow and to eventually provide for themselves (and perhaps repeat the process in the next generation).

Usually, the children are given menial tasks (chores) to build in them the concept of earning their keep.

The family model of past times (or places Today where the farm is where the family resides), having more children allowed for more assistance in the labor of growing food to first feed the family, and secondly provide for other necessities or luxuries.

The city-dwelling family, more specialized skills are needed since the basics of food production have been culturally 'contracted out' to others.

This is why I repeat the point of food production for not only the poor, but that every single person has a bit of 'green' on their thumb.

We are organic beings, and we derive our sustenance from other organic beings (fruits, vegetables and sometimes animals).

To sustain a connection to our biological relationship to nature is a reminder to stay grounded to our natural order.

The human being needs food in order to continue to live.

When other means of sustenance fails, we shall have a method for the human being to return to the basics.

Food production.

For the very small segment of the population in modern cities that lives on the fringes of poverty, the ability for them to realize a meal from their own efforts can be groundbreaking in their redemption back into a specialized society.

The current approaches to poverty, homelessness and broken human beings falls short, I think, of including the responsibility and lesson of the family.

Have you noticed that children who grew up with responsibilities inside and outside the home usually become more successful as adults, as opposed to those who were somewhat spoiled and not held to certain expectations?

I was the child who learned the hard way about responsibility, work ethics and accepting certain realities that I didn't want to accept.

My eldest sibling was raised with responsibilities, chores and expectations, and when life's challenges came their way, they seemed to navigate such challenges according to the discipline they learned.

Me, on the other hand, had few expectations and this allowed me to be more rebellious.

Sure; my personal examples are not an accurate depiction of all humanity, but perhaps there is some semblance and relation, and maybe even more examples and variables you individually can add!

One reality in life I had a difficult time accepting was how an overriding market exists.

The market treats all players equally; punishing the less learned and rewarding those paying close attention and learning its manners.

The only racism in a free market is the color of the money and who can accurately manage the ideas of value.

The capital incentive, however, isn't always a humanitarian one, and this again is where the family example can provide solutions.

Thus a humanitarian approach and solution is needed regarding the humanitarian crisis of homelessness in places where wealth flourishes, yet somehow people go hungry despite the various opportunities all around them.

Something has been broken for some time, and the evidence is in the minds and manners of those whom the market has spit out.

Over a century ago the idea of a poor farm was introduced in the United States as a solution to homelessness.

As with any human endeavor, there were good and not so good developments.

Some people who had no other option and were too old or frail to find work found instead a bed, food, and ways to contribute their part in an accepting community.

The homeless were able to realize a more dignified life besides sleeping on the street, begging, and being vulnerable to violence or further neglect.

A state solution is one manner of addressing homelessness.

Many people go out of their way to help the less fortunate, and these are stories we rarely hear about on the news.

The absence of good news (people helping people) not being repeated in the news doesn't mean they are not happening.

I see it every day.

I know of a man who befriended a homeless person and allowed them to stay in his beautiful home.

This kind consideration was enough for that homeless person to get back on their feet, to have a peaceful place to sleep and shower, and align their efforts in finding consistent work.

There was a plan, a time limit, and eventually that person was redeemed back into society.

The success of this particular story includes the charitable giver's heart and effort, and also the intention of the one being helped.

Trust was an important factor, on both sides of the relationship.

Not every homeless person has arrived to their position because of outside forces, but because of their repeatedly bad decisions (drug / alcohol abuse, for example).

For others their journey was a combination of a variety of factors.

The aim for those who desire to help is to provide, through self-sustainment, a place where people can grow in a variety of ways...much like the family example.

Who will pay for it?

Donations to charitable groups, religious organizations and some government funding shows a slush of cash readily available, all well-intended, but perhaps some of it misguided.

Misguided because some of the effort lacks love.

Love in the form of friendship.

Government programs, as do non-profit organizations privately run, have their overhead (cost of conducting their efforts) that supports those who manage the efforts, respectively.

However, there exists those examples of outright fraud capitalizing on charitable hearts.

These, as in all aspects of society, have their vultures...but such vultures exist to show what a bad example is, and not all species are vultures.

It is this same shame and possible regret someone may feel who personally desires helping someone on the street, hoping those helped get some food, but instead the receiver uses the money for drugs, alcohol, or more detrimental activities.

The real work is the one-on-one that is not easy to do; an effort that is easily deferred to others who claim to help.

But each of us, when putting ourselves in the shoes of another, needs to sense our part of responsibility and sensitivity.

How can the human disparity be bridged?

It is very easy to drop some change in a box or write a check and forward the responsibility of the hard - interpersonal relationship with the less fortunate - work onto others, hoping a particular charity is wise and honest with their efforts in helping the homeless.

Some organizations are run by honorable people and these people do a blessed job.

The human being is a product of their upbringing.

The upbringing is usually less than ideal (as all of our upbringings have been; to err is human...).

Some people have a limited view on life, what their options are, and other ideas besides what they've known due to their upbringing.

This is evident in even the most affluent of situations, for all of humanity shares a limited horizon outside of things they have not experienced.

Read this transcript (or hear the interview) about what may be a precursor to homelessness, crime and prison [be sure to also read / hear about Pineapple, and how the human element is crucial in bridging gaps of misunderstanding and narrow-mindedness].

Since homelessness isn't a simple topic to fully discuss, because it is tied to all other aspects of life, a child's upbringing needs to be addressed.

Those homeless people we see or hear about...were once children...most likely having hopes, aspirations and dreams like the rest of us.

I don't think any homeless person ever dreamed of being homeless.

Somehow, somewhere along their path, something went wrong and the challenges of life overwhelmed them like waves overtaking a boat in a sea ever-changing.

As we would approach a child according to their limited view and understanding, so shall we approach a broken person according to their limited view and understanding.

To do so we need to get to know them first.

Revising The American Dream

Although a city seems like a vast place full of opportunity (which it is), not every person 'sees' this reality.

Most people only 'see' what they've been raised and taught to see.

Not every person is made or capable of being extremely productive in modern and specialized societies like a sports car is manufactured according to a specific design, as such a model of car is made according to a specialized production model being made for the same purpose.

To use a vehicle as an analogy for human beings, some people are sports cars (but very few), more are tractor trailers, even more public transit buses, and many more wheel barrels...with few being parts of wheel barrels.

This is not be undignified when speaking of humanity, but to put into simple terms that some people shouldn't be expected to outperform other people.

Not every human being is a competitor nor desires to be.

Humans are not machines in that sense, although we can become mechanical in our approach to life and life's challenges.

Humans can become programmed productions influenced by their home's conditions, parent's character traits, their local community dynamics and their collective experiences throughout their journey of life.

The fear of moving beyond one's current reality is a factor almost every adult can comprehend and worry about.

Yet this is the very issue that not only is a stumbling block for humanity in many aspects of life, it can also be a psychological reason for the homeless to cease seeking hope in a world that seems to have evicted them onto the streets (a possible homeless argument).

Re-Imagining 'Home', 'Job', 'Identity', 'Self Worth'

The idea of permaculture is, I think, a forerunner to success.

Before a person 'needs' a car, they need the basics; food, shelter, clothing.

A few sets of clothes is a need, while a closet full of labeled brands is a luxury.

Here is a very important example of turning an arid desert into a lush and food-producing landscape capable of feeding many people.

That example shows how even the most desolate looking places on earth can mirror a Garden of Eden.

Surely we can do the same in more fertile places on earth, and also in approaching people who may today seem a wasteland, but with love and kindness, can become a fertile ground exemplifying grace and redemption.

The current permaculture proponent and expert is Geoff Lawton, and this quote of his is quite simple and profound:

“You can solve all the world's problems with a garden.”

Growing food is key for the homeless and poor.

The manner food is grown, and how that effort ties people to a deeper appreciation of the natural world (and life) is a defining factor.

I think a more modern approach to life is key, but perhaps not according to current modern manners.

This means: the aim to support people in already overpopulated and expensive cities should be reconsidered.

The aim should be to base a human system around the natural reality, from basics to simple things.

Self sustenance.

The city model is dependent on many factors, and over time has crept further away from the nature-based model of ancient times...and man still needs to eat.

Not everything archaic is valueless, just as not all things modern are valuable and can delete the past.

While incorporating the natural and reasonable that is aimed at rehabilitating people, a departure from the profit motive needs to be evaluated.

The permaculture video example linked above shows how a desolate 10 acres of land was transformed using wise and natural efforts, leaving behind the 'modern' efforts that actually are unwise and detrimental.

Surely those 10 acres are now valued several times more than its previous state, but that value is what people have worked into it.

Imagine teaching the homeless to participate in the market in a way that they can be proud of...that is inclusive, that reflects the value they intrinsically have due to being our brothers and sisters!

And it is this value that the common person, even someone needing to be rehabilitated into a sense of belonging, can realize when reflecting on how creation responds when men each do their part.