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No Room At The Shelter

© Bea Sheftel

There are more people homeless in America, and in Connecticut than ever before. Over 20,000 people were turned away from the shelters in Connecticut in the year 2001. This is a horrible situation that must be rectified and yet the numbers of homeless are increasing.What will they do when the temperatures hover and drop below freezing? Those who find shelter in the parks and alley ways will freeze to death because there was no room for them.

It isn't just people on welfare or who have no money who seek shelter, but the working poor as well. It is estimated that to afford a rental in Connecticut a person needs to earn $14 an hour. Most of the working poor who are homeless earn considerable less, more like $7.00 or less. They can't afford the high rents and the security deposits.

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness said the increase in homelessness is up by 81 percent. As the economy continues to worsen, the homeless situation will only increase. One expert said it is worse now than he has ever seen it. And he has worked for twenty five years to provide shelter to the needy. Another stated it was scary how many were in need of shelter, and yet there are no funds to enlarge the present facilities.

Before Christmas advocates for the homeless conducted a candlelight vigil in Hartford not far from the Governor's Mansion. They hoped he'd show an interest in their plight. They also wanted to make people aware of what was happening in the hope of educating the public to the severe need.

It isn't just Connecticut that has been hit hard, but other states as well. This is not a local problem, but a national one. The President is spending our tax dollars very fast to send overseas. He needs to be aware of the human needs right here in America. Imagine if instead of asking every child to give one dollar to the Afghan refugees, he had asked for a dollar from every child to help the homeless? It would be a solution for many who only need a cash boost to get them into a decent apartment.

Homeless men and women participated in the rally to make the public aware of their need, and in hopes of gaining compassion. One man fell to his knees in prayer. These are hard working people who are store clerks, fast food employees, housekeepers, aids and others who are stuck in low-paying jobs. They deserve not to be forgotten.

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