I just saw an ad on TV about Volunteering Americans helping people who are homeless and not starving..
Look, I’m all for volunteering. I’m all for trying to be involved. More times than not volunteering and seeing the situation “second hand” produces advocacy.
Ahem... BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT ANYBODY NEEDS IS JUST ADVOCACY
We need change. We need people who need to go out survey real people who are going through situations they’re volunteering for. Let me give you a reality check. If you want references, Inbox Me.
[] 2% of the entire world’s population is homeless
[] Over 600,000 people are homeless on any given night in the United States
[] The average age of a homeless person is NINE, because nearly half of the homeless population are children.
[] Homeless is defined by 3 subdivisions:
-- Literally homeless (cars, motels, squatting, shelter, cardboard boxes, etc)
-- Imminently homeless (motels, eviction notice, no current resources)
-- Chronically homeless (period of 12 months average in 4 years)
[] You may only receive services if:
- have a severe mental illness
- you are fleeing domestic violence
- you have a drug abuse history
- you have just finished serving a legal detention
[] In order to receive services you must go through an intake process
- this may take up to an additional 3 months
- you must prove to be mentally competent (You are not mentally retarded or mentally ill)
- you must receive referrals which can take a week up to 10 days
[] Most emergency services require:
- you have proof of your eviction/payment due notice
- are usually between the hours of 9-5 on any given day of the week
- are served by household size, not by need
- are only able to obtain help once a month
This leaves people working full time day jobs, trying to support themselves on a single income, without many resources. Food pantries decide if you need food baskets, you must not work. A popular poverty stereotype.
[] Most jobs hold a check when you begin if it is biweekly which leave people who live paycheck to paycheck stranded.
[] Working 50 hours a week is not enough to live comfortably in a temporary housing situation (motel with accommodations)
[] The federal minimum wage is 7.55
[] In ALL U.S. states, the minimum wage on one income is not enough to survive.
All of this and here’s my point:
The creators of these programs, services etc are well aware of these statistics, but they choose to ignore that people are still not receiving assistance when they need it the most. You want change? Speak up about real facts, not what the numbers tell you. This is the poverty crisis in the U.S. and what’s being done to stop it?
