HOMELESS IN RETIREMENT
© information from All You Really Need to know about Prayer
She has no home, no family, and no means of support. This is not a lazy woman who lived on welfare. It is a woman who worked hard all her life. She was kicked out of her apartment and lived on the streets awhile until some church members found her. They took her to a government-run shelter for the homeless.
Even at her she says she hopes to get stronger and get some work to earn some money. Her friend is Peter Simpsom who is 72 years old and also lives at the shelter. He encourages Mabel to pray for her needs and tells her God will provide.
Read more about the subject: All You Really Need To Know About Prayer You Can Learn From The Poor by Louise Perrotta, Servant Publilcations, Ann Arbor, Michigan. ISBN#1-56955-028-X
Mabel, despite her problems, is a woman of faith. At night, she lies on her cot and meditates on the Lord. Mabel doesn't only pray for her own needs. She prays for the woman who runs the shelter and for other people.
Mabel is crippled with arthritis and probably will spend the rest of her days in this homeless shelter. She has very little to call her own and no privacy. It is a pitiful way for someone of her age to end her days.
What happened to social security? As a housekeeper she wasn't under social security for many years of her working life. If any of her employers put in social security for her, there wasn't enough quarters to qualify for even the minimum. And if she did receive the minimum she still wouldn't be able to live on her own and pay rent and buy food and pay for utilities.
The situation for Mabel and other elderly who worked at minimal jobs is terrible. They often must choose between eating or keeping warm. Mable is far from alone. She is one of hundreds of thousands of people not covered by social security or with so little social security they can't afford the essentials. Without savings, or family help, they have no recourse but to live on the street, or in a homeless shelter.
It shouldn't be the case in our country like ours, but these poor people have no voice. They are powerless except for the love and generosity of others who care for the least of these.
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