It does not matter that my name is Hank, I am the homeless man you see walking to the meal that has no reservation.
My coat is all I have but it carries many necessities for this journey.
Makes no difference I made a living wearing a suit, I was not born on the street. My life twisted into a direction without a map or exit sign.
I do not shave but I try to keep as clean as possible, I do not look at people anymore, they do not exist to me here. I am the homeless man with no name; they turn their heads and carry on. I will not let them exist to me anymore. This is all I have, no more questions, no more tears, just the journey to nowhere.
Forgotten? Maybe!
Alive? Yes! Here I am God, waiting for the purpose of this journey.
I only exist to myself, so here I walk to the meal with no reservation... alone.
In 1996, an estimated 637,000 adults were homeless in any given week. In the same year, an estimated 2.1 million adults were homeless over the course of a year. These numbers increase dramatically when children are included, to 842,000 and 3.5 million, respectively. Over a 5-year period, about 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population (5 to 8 million people) will experience at least one night of homelessness. For the great majority of these people, the experience is short and often caused by a natural disaster, house fire, or community evacuation. A much smaller group, perhaps as many as 500,000 people, has greater difficulty ending homelessness. One researcher who examined a sample of homeless persons over a 2-year period found:Most, or about 80 percent, exit from homelessness within 2 or 3 weeks. They often have more personal, social, and economic resources to draw from than people who are homeless for longer periods of time. About 10 percent are homeless for up to 2 months, with housing availability and affordability adding to the time they are homeless. Another 10 percent are homeless on a chronic, protracted basis, for as long as 7 or 8 months in a 2-year period. Disabilities associated with mental illnesses and substance use are common. On any given night, this group of homeless persons can account for up to 50 percent of those seeking emergency shelter. ThanksImagine how this has changed over years, imagine the count world wide. It is more than we can even imagine and most of us just don't want to think about it!
Posts
