HOMELESSNESS: WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SPRING?
From: Ignatian Solidarity Network
By: Rachel Kelso
Article by Rachel Kelso. Good insight.
As spring rolls around, flowers are waking up, children are spending more time outside, and orange construction cones line the streets all across Chicago. People are breathing in warmer air and dusting off their patio furniture. Everyone seems to be happier. As the weather gets warmer, it seems we start to forget about our neighbors who are still looking for a place to call home.
In the freezing cold of the winter, it’s a little easier to make room in our hearts for those less fortunate. Especially around Christmas, we donate more of our time, effort, and money to food banks, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. We sponsor families and buy them Christmas gifts. We join in campaigns to make sure there is enough warm housing for all. But what happens in the spring? Just because the weather is warmer doesn’t mean the struggle has been removed. In fact, without all the attention turned to the poor and homeless, they might struggle the most during this time.
Growing up, my mother always told me that if I saw a homeless person, I should buy them food instead of giving them money. While the intention is reasonable, I disagree with the implementation. I think that donating a dollar or two is perfectly responsible if you are unable to purchase groceries, rather than ignoring the person altogether. Ignoring humanity is not an option in my book.