I’ve been a housing advocate for an absurdly long time. Absurd because – if you look around – homelessness is rising and that’s the opposite of what I’d intended. Weekly (if not daily) I try to find a new way to get folks to learn about homelessness. Just about seven weeks ago, a couple of thousand volunteers and I put more than a thousand blankets on the west lawn of the US Capitol.
You should have seen it! It was magical – all that love, handmade, spread out for the world to see. Within hours of packing up our art display, those blankets were in the hands of folks in need – street people and shelter dwellers in need of warmth.
But guess what: That was Dec. 21st – this is Feb. 16th and nothing’s changed.
Believe me, I’ve tried everything. One year I even lived in a Ferris Wheel for a week – seriously. I was a radio disc jockey raising awareness for the Greater Bangor Area Homeless Shelter in central Maine. We raised ten grand — peanuts — so the problem persists.
And just yesterday, I spoke to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania chapter of the AARP. One of the women asked what to do about people with cardboard signs that ask for help. I gave her my stock answer, “If you want to help, keep $5 fast food gift cards in your pocket. You’re not just giving someone a hot beverage or a sandwich, but you’re making them a customer. They’ll be able to go inside, get out of the elements AND they’ll be able to use the bathroom.” A bathroom is the finest gift you can give to someone experiencing homelessness… except for a home.
As a journalist I write a lot of stories about the subject. You can read hundreds for free. Just do a web search of my name with the word homeless next to it – and have at it.
I also write books. The books don’t just raise money to help people. I write hoping that they’ll help someone understand. I’ve even written quite a few books for school kids about homelessness. Why write on such a depressing topic for kids? Two reasons – 1) our generation shredded the safety net. Our kids and grandkids will inherit the problem & 2) the U.S. Dept. of Ed. says there are about 1.6 million kids without homes. Those kids need to see themselves in literature.
Speaking of kids: a month or so ago – not long after we decorated the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol with all those blankets – a mom called me and told me that she was one of the mentors for a group of kids who wondered if I might zoom with them. Turns out they’d read The Priscilla Series and they had a few questions. I jumped at the chance to talk to these kids. The mom set it up. We met for the better part of an hour.
Boy were those kids prepared! So many thoughtful and insightful questions. The kids didn’t ask easy questions and I didn’t pull any punches. The answers were grim. Undaunted – those young people made a plan to mitigate some suffering.
We’d talked about the difference between what the blanket makers could do and what the congresspeople in the building in front of the blankets could do. Congress could end homelessness. But they haven’t. So, the kids (like the blanket makers) decided to do something practical – do something now! They settled on providing some basic essentials. They got busy filling plastic bags with the items people desperately need – like toilet paper and those gift cards.
Those young people are pictured at the top of this story. Want to help them? It’s $10 to fill a bag. If you want to get in touch, email me your contact info and I’ll pass it on to the moms. I’m at epicjourney10 at gmail dot com. The moms will get back to you.
Or you could do your own project. Let me know and I’ll help. My publisher will send copies of the books to your local library. We’ll do anything we can to help you get involved. If you decide to buy any of the books – including our newest social justice science fantasy book for kids – please know that our publisher’s a non-profit 501c3 and every penny goes to help people.
Oh yeah, and call your congressman.