How can We Fighting Homelessness in America

Have you seen a person standing on the side of the road with a homemade sign and thought to yourself: What is their story? I think this way all the time. Then I think to myself: Why is there so much homelessness in the world and how could it be fixed? A lot of people feel that people are the creators of their own destiny or future. While that may be true, is it true for every situation? In my personal life I have felt homelessness with two children and a third on the way. I went to college. Finished with an Associated degree and had awesome networking skills and experience. So what happened? I will say that some choices and decisions we make can shape the lives we live but is there a way out of that? I didn’t understand why I was going through this with all of the success I had. I later found out that its more than the choices and decisions that people make that lead them to be homeless. Sometimes its lack of support and knowledge. When I was experiencing homelessness, I realized that the original reason I became homeless, besides some small choices and decisions I had made, was not having enough support. Here I once was working and providing then BOOM! Everything changed. I didn’t have reliable childcare, because of that, I had to quit my job and become a full time mother. I later moved in with my mother and father again with my children until I could be admitted into a shelter. five months after moving in with my parents, I went to a shelter and was sheltered for one month before I was kicked out for not self paying out of my federal taxes in which I had no knowledge of. I was again homeless, and had to stay some nights at my mothers and some nights at my friends. I couldn’t understand why a government that is supposed to fight homelessness would kick a single mother and two young children out with little to no place to go. I was so angry and I thought to myself. If I were to make a change, it would be non government related and it would be to serve and protect people not condemn them. So in a nutshell, homelessness is every ones problem, not just the victim(s). Especially the welfare system. How can we fight this epidemic together? I know I was homeless for a whole year. Feeling hopeless and fearful. I never want to feel this way again and I want to help others never feel the way I did. The most important thing you can do is know your rights and stand by them. One way we can start is by empathizing with those people sitting on the streets and corners, praying with and for them and if you can give no matter your concerns because you never know…..it could be you.