As the 2010 U.S. census approaches, census takers and members of the homeless coalition are attempting to obtain an accurate counting of homeless individuals in the area in order to receive various funding to assist in servicing these displaced folks.
As they set out in search of homeless “camps,” they pass cars, vans and trucks parked in various locations throughout the area. These vehicles are, in all actuality, homes. On their way to various shelters, recovery houses and underpasses, they pass folks walking the streets — folks who are, in fact, homeless. While they conduct their search for these elusive individuals, they pass by houses, duplexes and apartments that may actually contain one or more homeless persons crashing on a couch or taking up space on a living room floor. They stay maybe for one night, one month or longer. I know of a couple who live in their van instead of their apartment because they cannot afford to pay their utility bills. Where do they fall into the count?
The fact is, there is no surefire way to count the homeless. Consider the family or individual who at the time of the census is living in a home, only to lose it a month later. Or on the other hand, how about the homeless person who is included in the “homeless” count who actually obtains housing a week later?
When you start to ponder all of the variables, and these are only a few, it all becomes rather overwhelming. And regardless of what the “official” number ends up being, the truth remains that number will represent men, women and children who live in the shelters, vacant buildings, vehicles and underpasses of the richest God-fearing country on the planet. God bless America!
Joe Johnson
Joplin
Opinion
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