Shelter the Homeless
"For I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
Familiar sights in many cities worldwide are growing numbers of homeless men, women and even children sleeping in doorways, train stations and under bridges. Causes of homelessness are many and varied: the lack of permanent, affordable housing; overcrowded, temporary shelters; unemployment and underemployment; breaking up of families; mental and physical disabilities; and, on a major scale, wars and natural disasters that displace families and whole communities.
Despite our abundant resources to aid the homeless, we still have an estimated two million "street people" in the United States. In addition to helping our own locally, we have a moral responsibility to reach out with aid to people made homeless by disasters and conflicts in poverty-stricken countries.
Bear in mind that counted among the homeless are not only "street people," but also migrants, refugees, orphans, and foster children. Providing shelter entails fostering a sense of belonging.
As God's hands on Earth, we can help the homeless. Here are some suggestions:
• Donate to charities that care for displaced persons.
• Support national and international disaster relief programs.
• Volunteer your services to organizations that build affordable homes for the poor.
• Advocate for legislation to provide housing for poverty-stricken and disabled persons.
• Offer your love and home to an orphan, or consider becoming a foster parent.
• Provide a temporary home for migrant workers or refugees who are fleeing oppression.
• Welcome newcomers to your school or community; help them to feel at home.
• Remember, to provide someone with a sense of belonging is to fulfill a basic human need.
Click on the following links to learn more.
Feed the Hungry + Give Drink to the Thirsty + Clothe the Naked
Shelter the Homeless + Visit the Sick + Visit the Imprisoned + Bury the Dead