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Homeless

Posted by Randy Anderson on May 18, 2008

This Blog was written by my daughter.  We have been volunteering at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission serving meals to the homeless.  She wrote this as a homework assignment (a letter to the editor format) about what was important to them.. The only editing that I did was take out her name.

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c/o the news room

the Milwaukee journal sentinel

P.o box 371

Milwaukee WI 53201-0371

Dear Editor,

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”

-Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

I used to think nothing of the homeless, I used to think that “whatever, it’s not our problem.” But it is, I now personally think that if we don’t help out things like this will never get better. My church youth group took a trip to the Milwaukee homeless shelter, to help serve dinner. I was kind of nervous to go because I didn’t know what to expect. As the line started to form I was scared. But once I met everyone I realized that there is nothing to be afraid of. All of these people were so nice and kind and most of all very polite, something I really wasn’t expecting.

I’m deeply concerned about the homeless because as being a free nation we all deserve equal rights. The homeless are no different then you and I, they are just people who have made some life changing choices that maybe weren’t the best. I was raised to believe that everyone makes mistakes, and you don’t hold that against them. And yes I’ve realized that there are things in Milwaukee and all around the United States to help the homeless. But I still feel like they need something more to help get their life back on track. Of all homeless men 40% of them have served in the armed forces.  This is true and don’t you think by them serving in the army and helping us, we should give them something help back? I appreciate what homeless shelters are doing, I really do. But they are just promising food and shelter for a night. Then what? Don’t you think as a nation we should try to help them get jobs and build a better life? Not only for them but for their children who are also suffering. Children under 18 make up 27% of the homeless population.

In the study that was taken in 2005, 744,000 homeless people were found dead in the United States. That’s not right. I’m not asking for a dramatic changes because there are only limited things that we can do. But I’ve talked to some homeless people that are now not homeless and they said that being homeless was the worst time of their life. So I’m saying if you see someone on the street that looks like they are in need, give them a dollar. Even if they don’t spend it on something that could maybe help them get better, at least they know that someone was there trying to help.

Sincerely yours,

Seventh grade.

Whitman middle school.

That is "HER TWO CENTS."