Hand in Hand of Glynn
There is something uncomfortable about seeing an individual who is homeless. Maybe he’s not quite clean; he’s unshaven and disheveled; he smells bad, and he is mumbling something over and over. His clothes are stained and he concentrates on gathering all his seemingly worthless possessions into a shopping cart which he has undoubtedly pilfered from the grocery store parking lot.
He is alone. No family trails along with him. As he spreads out some rags on the cement, he is clearly making his bed for the night. Though under a canopy, he is otherwise open to the elements. He props up a sign: “Please help me. I lost my family. I am a vet. I need food and a job. God Bless You!”
What do you do? What can you do? Is he faking it? Is his story for real? There are three more like him camping just up the street. What will you do for them? Is it possible that they like living out on the street? Why don’t they get a job when the unemployment rate is at an all time low?
Yes. It’s overwhelming. You just give up before you’ve begun, because this is such an intractable problem. And we don’t seem to have any good answers.
The 410 homeless individuals in Brunswick, Ga. did not choose to be homeless. If you could hear each individual story, it might include losing a job, losing a spouse, losing a home and not being able to rebuild a life; mental illness; physical abuse; drugs; alcohol. The list goes on. The differences between the causes of homelessness and the remedies the individual has used to numb the physical and mental pain, become blurred. Where do we begin to untangle this human bundle of rags and regrets?
Hand in Hand of Glynn, Inc., a 501c3, is dedicated to eradicating chronic homelessness in Glynn County. We believe in a proven principal called “Housing First”. We believe safe, decent housing is a right; not a reward for a positive clinical outcome. Housing is the first step on the road to humanity; Every person deserves a safe, dry place to call home. Every person deserves to live a life of dignity, purpose and self-respect.
He is alone. No family trails along with him. As he spreads out some rags on the cement, he is clearly making his bed for the night. Though under a canopy, he is otherwise open to the elements. He props up a sign: “Please help me. I lost my family. I am a vet. I need food and a job. God Bless You!”
What do you do? What can you do? Is he faking it? Is his story for real? There are three more like him camping just up the street. What will you do for them? Is it possible that they like living out on the street? Why don’t they get a job when the unemployment rate is at an all time low?
Yes. It’s overwhelming. You just give up before you’ve begun, because this is such an intractable problem. And we don’t seem to have any good answers.
The 410 homeless individuals in Brunswick, Ga. did not choose to be homeless. If you could hear each individual story, it might include losing a job, losing a spouse, losing a home and not being able to rebuild a life; mental illness; physical abuse; drugs; alcohol. The list goes on. The differences between the causes of homelessness and the remedies the individual has used to numb the physical and mental pain, become blurred. Where do we begin to untangle this human bundle of rags and regrets?
Hand in Hand of Glynn, Inc., a 501c3, is dedicated to eradicating chronic homelessness in Glynn County. We believe in a proven principal called “Housing First”. We believe safe, decent housing is a right; not a reward for a positive clinical outcome. Housing is the first step on the road to humanity; Every person deserves a safe, dry place to call home. Every person deserves to live a life of dignity, purpose and self-respect.
“ If not us, who? If not now, when?” – Rabbi Hillel the Elder, 1st century