Speaking Up for Our Homeless Neighbors in Wake County

If someone where to ask you to picture a homeless person, what comes to mind?  Likely it is the person on the street corner with a small sign.  The reality is that homelessness can take any shape—any color, any gender, any age. 

I have been thinking about the homeless in Wake County a significant amount over the last few weeks especially since our homeless neighbors and the agencies that serve them are facing some significant cuts for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Wake County Human Services department has proposed at 23% budget cut to the nine agency partners that provide services for homeless individuals and families. These

agencies include: CASA, Haven House, Interact, Passage Home, PLM Families Together, Triangle Family Services, Urban Ministries, WIHN and The Women's Center. The total contract amount for these nine  agencies is $911,156. The proposed 23% cut totals $211,156. 

In full disclosure, I serve on the board of directors for PLM-Families Together, one of the agencies that will be severely affected by the cuts.  PLM-FT would be looking at a $75,000 cut in funding on top of funding cuts already taking place at the federal level.  The potential to cost the county in The $211,000 in proposed cuts will result in costs to mainstream and other services in the community of a conservative estimate of $2,547,425.

I fully understand that county budget, like many of our own, are strapped.  Cuts have to be made.  However, I believe deeply—rooted in my faith as Jesus as lover of the most vulnerable—that this cut is not the answer.  It drastically affects organizations that are serving on our most vulnerable populations.  

I keep thinking about MLK Jr’s interpretation of the Good Samaritan.  He says that the priest and levite didn’t stop because they were consumed with the question, “what will happen to me if I do?”  The Samaritan stopped because he dared to ask the question, “What will happen to him I don’t stop?” What will happen to our homeless neighbors if we allow these budget cuts to proceed?  Keeping this $211,00 in the budget will mean another group—even potentially us—will be affected.  Are will willing to make the sacrifice for another?  For someone that may not look like us? Dress or think like us? May not spend their money like us?  Do we dare as people of faith to overcome our self-preserving instinct and instead ask, “What will happen to these children of God if I don’t?”  

How can you help? Contact the County Commissioners.  http://www.wakegov.com/commissioners/default.htm.  Send emails, write letters, join us at the County Commissioners meetings and speak up!  The budget will be officially passed in on May 16^th.  If you would like a sample letter or talking points, email me and I would be happy to send them to you!  Get involved. 

PS: Homelessness is more than just laziness.  Many of our homeless neighbors are making tough choices daily to get by.  Without the luxury of savings or large networks of financial support, they are left with few choices. Urban Ministries of Durham created an interactive game to help us explore these difficult decisions.  Check it out: http://www.playspent.org/