HOMELESS IN THE SUBURBS

When I mention the homeless most people cringe. They think of dirty, alcoholic men who live on the streets. They don't realize that a large portion of the homeless are women and children. They became homeless for different reasons, but most are the result of leaving an abusive relationship and divorce.

People think the homeless live in the cities. They don't realize that the homeless live right in our nice neat suburbs. Sometimes we see them with signs, "WILL WORK FOR FOOD." Or they may hang out in the public library or other public buildings waiting for the shelter to open. When there is no shelter, they sleep in the parks and cemeteries and under bridges. In winter they try to keep warm by wrapping themselves in layers of clothing and rags. They burn newspapers in old trash cans and eat out of dumpsters in back of restaurants.

I once found a homeless woman in the dumpster outside the childcare center where I worked. We had just cleaned the cupboard of the out dated foods and put them into the dumpster. The children were playing outside when one screamed, "There's a person in the trash!" I hurried the children inside the building with one of the aids and checked out the situation. Fortunately for the woman, the food was still good, though out dated. I called social services to help her. While waiting for her ride to the office, she stepped into the childcare center to keep warm. The children felt so bad they wanted to give her their sandwiches.

I feel passionately about the subject of the homeless because I think many have been maligned by misunderstandings. Through this suite101 site I have come in contact with compassionate people who ask how they can help.

There are many ways, from donating good, clean, in-style clothing to the dress for success program, to volunteering at your local community shelter. Even those unable to volunteer in person can help through a helping hands program online. The members crochet baby clothing and donate these to mothers and babies at risk in their community. In my area, it is the Salvation Army who distributes the baby outfits at their homeless shelter for families.

The Manchester Area Council of Churches has set up the Samaritan shelter for homeless men and women. When it was first proposed town residents were adamant that we didn't need a shelter. MACC worked hard to make people aware that the homeless were not only here, but many were our neighbors, or adult children of neighbors who had fallen on hard times.

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