“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room." – Matthew 25:34,35, MSG

Day 18 : Lean in and Learn | Homelessness

Homelessness is a complex issue.

Like a spider’s web, it is made up of numerous, intricately woven threads in which victims will find themselves entangled, whether for a moment or a lifetime. These threads are easy to overlook unless one views them from the proper angles. Otherwise, all one sees are those unfortunate enough to be stuck in the web.

In this post, we will give attention to the complexity of homelessness by focusing on a few different “threads:” youth, families, and veterans who experience both short-term and chronic homelessness.

To start with an overview:

• On a single night in January 2023, about 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the US, according to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This number includes both sheltered and unsheltered people.

• In Canada, between 25,000 and 35,000 people are homeless on any given night. 38% of homeless people in Canada are women. 30% of Canadian homeless come from Indigenous communities.

• Although it is difficult to produce an exact number for homelessness in Mexico, the Borgen Project estimates that it is in the millions.

In M25i we are very careful about images and photos, seeking to honor and respect at every turn. Above is another realist painting by James Earley, the artist from yesterday's post. Earley desires to bring dignity to his subjects and raise awareness of homelessness through his work. The title of this painting comes from the sign in the shop window: "La Vie est Belle," which means, "Life is beautiful."

“To save a life is a real and beautiful thing. To make a home for the homeless, yes, it is a thing that must be good; whatever the world may say, it cannot be wrong.”

— Vincent Van Gogh

Unaccompanied youth made up 22% of the people under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness in the US in 2023.

50,000 youth sleep on the streets for six months or more each year

About one-quarter of youth experience homelessness within a year of aging out of the foster care system.

Insufficient academic support leads to not completing a high school degree, and increases a teenager's chances of becoming homeless 3.5 times.

In Mexico, child poverty and displacement are widespread. In Mexico City alone, it is estimated that about 15,00 children live on the streets. Many factors contribute to youth homelessness, like family conflict or abandonment, domestic violence, poor child welfare programs, and residential instability. This is the case for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Speaking of families:

57,563 family households were experiencing poverty on a single night in the US in 2023, with an average family size of 3.2 people.

About 91% of these households were sheltered, with the remaining 9% sleeping in locations like cars, abandoned buildings, and outdoors.

The causes of family homelessness are similar to those listed for the other categories. With many of these families headed by single moms, they struggle to make enough income to afford housing.

Many single parent homes experience cyclical or periodic homelessness, are provisionally accommodated, or stay in emergency shelters due to domestic violence or natural disaster.

Veterans also make up a significant number of individual adults who experience homelessness in the US, with 22 in 10,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in 2023. This is about a 7% increase from 2022.

Veterans face numerous obstacles that place them at higher risk of experiencing homelessness. Many struggles to find a job due to injuries and PTSD.

Only 36 rental homes are affordable and available for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in the U.S.according to reports in 2022. Consequently, even Veterans who receive housing vouchers have difficulty using them in high-cost regions with housing shortages.

In Canada, according to Employment and Social Development Canada, veterans made up 4.4% of individuals experiencing homelessness in 2018.

Texas, in 2023, registered one of the largest jumps nationwide with a 19% increase in Texas veterans experiencing homelessness, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Each person experiencing homelessness, whether visible or invisible to us, carries with them the immense hardships and obstacles that brought them to that point.

Yet, despite their burdens, many of our homeless friends choose to see the light and joy in their lives. Many are followers of Christ. These individuals do not choose to be tangled in the web of homelessness.

May we approach each individual who experiences homelessness with a posture of respect for the battles they fight, and humility to hold their story with care.

As you listen to this song, “Ancient and Brave,” by John Mark and Sarah McMillan, allow the music and lyrics to draw you into worship that is the fruit of wrestling, grappling with God about suffering and pain. The weight of human lament is held by a God who chose to suffer and carry it on his back on the cross. Only that kind of deep, wide, and pure love can bear the weight of such suffering.