| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | June 2001 |
Homeless No Longer
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“I will make the place of my feet glorious.” |
ONE OF THE GREAT blights in modern Western society is the presence of homeless people in their great metropolitan centers. Various solutions have been tried to solve or eliminate the problem, but none seem to work. In New York, strict measures are taken with these unfortunate people periodically. Last November 26, the “New York Daily News” ran an article on the Mayor’s crackdown on the homeless, entitled, “Rudy’s Latest Crackdown—Another War on Homeless.” The article said, “The chill of winter has arrived and so, too, has Mayor Giuliani’s annual rite of arresting the homeless. As he looks to draw renewed attention to his ‘quality of life’ crackdown, he would like nothing better than for this debate to be split along the lines of civil liberties.
“Specific to the homeless issue, the question at hand is not whether people have the right to bed down on city streets. In polarizing the dialogue in this fashion, Giuliani conveniently detracts attention from the root causes of the increase in the street-bound population—a shelter system that is difficult to access and his massive disinvestments in affordable housing with appropriate services.
“If you find yourself homeless this evening, your options are bleak. Men are either bused 90 miles north of the city to Camp LaGuardia, or, worse, to the notoriously dangerous Atlantic Armory city-run shelter in Bed-Stuy. Women have the equally appalling option of the chaotic and filthy Brooklyn Shelter.
“Further, under Giuliani’s watch, the number of homeless men, women, and children has increased dramatically. This past summer, for the first time in five years, the number of people sleeping in public shelters each night exceeded 24,000—including more than 10,000 children. Perhaps most disturbing, a quarter of the families in the shelters have a parent who works, yet have no place to live because they don’t earn enough to afford an apartment.
“Rather than rise to the bait of again arguing where the homeless may sleep, let’s talk about where New Yorkers can live. Giuliani must tackle a true quality-of-life problem that cries out for mayoral leadership: affordable housing. In the 1990’s, the city lost more than 500,000 apartments renting for less that $500 a month, representing the loss of more than half of low-rent units. And during this period of unprecedented prosperity, Giuliani has cut city investment in housing development a staggering 44%.
“What New Yorkers, especially the homeless, now need is not another public scolding from the mayor, but the vision to launch a comprehensive housing plan. Specifically, he must:
- Over the next 10 years, finance the development of affordable housing by increasing the city’s annual capital commitment to $750 million.
- Expand New York City’s Rental Assistance program to provide temporary rent subsidies and support services to 2,000 homeless families and 1,500 homeless individuals.
- Negotiate with the state to dedicate surplus revenues from the Battery Park City Authority to support affordable housing development.
- In conjunction with the state, commit to providing the remaining 8,500 units of supportive housing needed for mentally ill homeless people in New York City.
With one year left remaining in his term, Giuliani has time to lay the foundation for a legacy that would truly improve the lives of New Yorkers.”
A VOLUNTEER’S TESTIMONY
Affordable housing would go a long way toward alleviating the homeless problem in New York City. The problem, however, is more deep-seated. We get some insight into it by reading the testimony of a volunteer worker which was published in the winter, 2001, edition of a periodical called “The Safety Net,” a publication of an organization called, Coalition for the Homeless. This testimony read as follows:
“‘I wonder,’ asks the poet John Keats, ‘how people exist with all their worries.’ I wonder the same.
“On Wednesday evenings I drive a Coalition for the Homeless van through the dark streets of Manhattan. With other volunteers, I serve soup, milk, fruit, and bread to 375 people who gather at designated stops: 34th Street by the East River; outside the courts at Centre Street; City Hall; the Battery.
“Everyone we serve in the Grand Central Food Program is poor. Most are homeless men. They are hungry, and in the winter, cold, with none of the protections from life’s hardships that we take for granted—such as a room of our own, warmth, a supply of food, a modicum of financial security, and human companionship.
“To wake up in the morning on the street, or in a shelter, and start a new day is itself an act of courage. The resiliency of human beings never ceases to amaze me. On Wednesday evenings I think of Herman Melville’s, ‘Bartleby, the Scrivener.’ I think of the homeless Bartleby because in this short story written in 1856, Melville depicts the same human loneliness I see with my own eyes a century-and-a-half later on the city’s streets. ‘His poverty is great; but his solitude, how horrible!’
“To combat isolation, if only for a moment, when handing out food we strive for a human exchange. This is done with a smile. A friendly pat on the shoulder. A handshake. Small talk. ‘Good evening.’ ‘Chicken soup tonight.’ On parting, a heartfelt, ‘Take care.’
“Except on bitterly cold nights, my aim is not the rapid distribution of food. Efficiency is not a priority. Conversational exchanges slow the process, but humanize as well as dignify it.
“A camaraderie exists among some of the homeless men. They chat among themselves and with us, and help each other out by taking food to those who cannot come. But others are withdrawn, distant, resistant to human contact. ‘Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!’
“As I write these lines I am sitting at a table in my apartment. The radiator is clanking ‘the hiccups of central heating,’ as Proust puts it. How I welcome the heat. What a fortunate person I am, protected from the cold, spared daily humiliations on the street and the dangers of the night. The men I see in line have come to homelessness by different paths. Deep poverty, injustice in our society, bad luck, addictions, and mental illness.
“Injustices need to be righted; the homeless, housed; those with bad luck assisted; and those with addictions and mental illness, treated. In our city, there is too much suffering among the homeless and the poor.
“On Wednesday evenings, when I return home, I think of these lines from Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield”: ‘I remember,’ recalls David, who himself has been homeless, ‘how I thought of all the solitary places under the night sky where I had slept, and how I prayed that I never might be houseless any more, and never might forget the houseless.’”
OTHER ASPECTS OF HOMELESSNESS
As brought out in this testimony, there are many aspects to the homeless situation. It is not only the hunger and the cold, but especially the loneliness that needs attention. The people that find themselves in this situation are victims of other ills in our society, and the lack of capability to deal with basic causes. The poor need to be assisted. The addicted and mentally ill need to be treated, and hopefully, cured. Bible students acquainted with God’s plan as revealed in the Scriptures know that we have been living in this “present evil world.”—Gal. 1:4
Furthermore, we must not think that the Western world is the only place where such problems exist. On the contrary, such problems in the Western world are more visible against a background of prosperity and normal living conditions. Recent statistics published concerning the entire world reveal that 80% of the people live in substandard housing, 70% are unable to read, and 50% suffer from malnutrition. The report ends by saying “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world.”
GOD’S ACTIONS
This ‘present evil world’ must be displaced by God’s kingdom before we can expect these ills in our society to be eliminated. The first step taken by the Heavenly Father in this direction occurred about 2,000 years ago, when he sent his Son into the world to become man’s Redeemer. As described by the Apostle Paul, “that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (II Cor. 8:9) Jesus was willing to be made flesh not only to become the corresponding price for Father Adam, but also to experience all the problems associated with the fallen state of mankind.
We have in him a fully sympathetic high priest. As Paul wrote of him, “He took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”—Heb. 2:16-18
Jesus said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20) Did Jesus mean by this that he was homeless? Not in the sense that we usually think of this condition. First, he was indicating to a scribe who wanted to follow him that it would be a rugged life. We see there is more depth to our Lord’s words than may first appear. It is true that man needs air to breathe, water to drink, and food to survive. He also needs shelter from the elements and many people today lack this essential. One of the important aspects of a home is companionship. A poet once wrote,
Our house may be humble with thatching,
Or noble with turret and dome,
But only the loving hearts in it
Can turn a house into a home.
This was our Lord’s situation. He had left his heavenly home and his Father in heaven to come to earth. As noble as his disciples were, none could supply the companionship or fellowship that he previously enjoyed with his Father. There were many who entertained Jesus and his disciples as they traveled through Israel. He did not lack shelter. The closest he came to calling any one of these places his home on earth was the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in Bethany. He especially found in Mary a kindred response to his words and teachings that he did not find in any other. It is this same element of companionship and fellowship that is especially lacking for the homeless of today. There must not only be food for the body, but also for the spirit, because man was created in the image of God.
All of this is known too well by our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus, who plan not only to restore man’s Edenic home, but also plan a society that cares about its members. No home can be complete without love and the graces of the Spirit in abundance.
Insecurity accompanies homelessness. In God’s kingdom, it is plainly stated, “They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.” (Isa. 65:21) Unlike our present society where they build and another inhabits the house, in God’s kingdom “they shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat.” (vs. 22) Everyone will be given the means and skills to build a shelter and provide for his welfare. “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble.” (vs. 23) Security will be assured absolutely because God’s promise concludes with the words, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [kingdom], saith the Lord.”—vs. 25
THE BINDING OF SATAN
The main obstacle to any attempt for such peaceful proceedings today is the activity of the Adversary, the Devil, who as a roaring lion “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Pet. 5:8) Satan is to be bound so that his influence will no longer be felt. (Rev. 20:2,3) The Prophet Isaiah describes how all obstacles are to be removed by the construction of the highway called, “The way of holiness.” (Isa. 35:8) He says of God’s kingdom, “No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:9,10
The removal of Satan’s influence will lead to the removal of selfishness, which characteristic of our society has no place in God’s kingdom. As God is always giving, so ‘the ransomed of the Lord’ shall learn to be godlike and to share their blessings with one another. How easy it is for people today to be concerned for their own welfare and not to be concerned about the needs and welfare of others. The change of nature in people’s character will be remarkable. Again, without Satan’s influence the change will become permanent. If not, the testing that will come as illustrated in the parable of the sheep and goats, will lead to a separation of those who do not change and continue selfish. As Jesus said in giving the parable, “The Son of man shall come in his glory, … before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another.” (Matt. 25:31,32) He will say to the sheep, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (vs. 34) Those who do not change, but continue to be selfish will perish in second death, as will Satan and his angels.
HEALTH RESTORED
Likewise, all illness will be removed. Isaiah’s prophecy says, “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” (Isa. 35:5,6) These miraculous cures of afflictions will go beyond the ones mentioned in this specific prophecy. In an earlier recorded prophecy of kingdom blessings, Isaiah also says, “The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” (Isa. 33:24) One of the principal causes for homelessness is that patients with mental illness and addiction are released and left to fend for themselves, while still needing attention. What great blessings lie in wait for mankind in that wonderful kingdom of Christ!
The earth is described as God’s ‘footstool.’ “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isa. 66:1) It is God’s plan to make the earth a glorious place to live. In Isaiah the sixtieth chapter, God tells how the time shall come for accomplishing all he has promised to glorify the church selected during the Gospel Age. Included in that promise is their part in blessing mankind on earth, “I will make the place of my feet glorious.” (Isa. 60:13) The glorious earth as a new home for mankind will be a glorious place in many ways. Not alone will it be environmentally beautiful, and a blessed place in which to live, but it will be surrounded by love, peace, joy, harmony, and mercy. Truly, the place of God’s feet will be glorious!