by Yvonne Vissing and Diane Nilan

Homeless is far from a new phenomenon, one that has triggered crises for individuals, families and communities for decades. Commemorating our Silver Anniversary of homelessness research and advocacy, we figured it would be valuable to share our historical retrospective of how homelessness in America has changed over the last 25 years, with a particular focus on child and family homelessness.

Not far from the shadow of Mar-a-Lago, in tony Palm Beach County, is a woman I’ll call Rose. She’s in her 70s, has known stability, purposefulness, and a paycheck. She’s now staring down what any of us in this age bracket would consider our worst nightmare, homelessness. She reached out to me with a desperate plea for help. I’m reaching out to you.

When you see the grizzled guy or gal on a park bench, belongings stacked nearby, it’s easy to figure they had it coming. …

A handful of folks sat under the overhang near the front door of this, one of western North Carolina’s few homeless shelters. Each offered me a friendly greeting. Signs on the locked front doors warned masks were required and outlined stringent safety procedures. Staff admitted me, accepted my small bag of what I knew to be helpful donations, and went to find Tina, the long-serving director of this respected facility.

The longest night of the year has long been my favorite “holiday.” It has also been the occasion to commemorate those who lived and died “on the streets.”* National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, December 21, provides the occasion to remember those who died without a place to call home.

When I ran a shelter, we held this somber recognition and chanted, “remember the dead and fight for the living.” …

The Human Suffering Caused by Stupidity

Anyone with half-a-brain knows that birth — three-years-old is the most critical time of a child’s development. The respected Zero to Three organization offers a plethora of proof. No matter. We don’t value early childhood enrichment because it’s too expensive.

Now is the worst time to be homeless in America.

Millions of families and individuals experiencing or facing homelessness will encounter an avalanche of problems while discovering that “help is on the horizon” is as fake as a political campaign ad.

Bad enough: CoVid-19, surge in evictions, lack of financial help from Congress, restricted shelter admissions because of the pandemic, and ongoing “faux compassion.”

Add another new feckless Federal plan to address homelessness and Old Man Winter (and seemingly endless natural disasters) lurking make this the suckiest time to not have a place to live.

Two harbingers are among my reasons for dismazement:

1. The latest federal “toolbox” to address homelessness…

Poor Disney is regrouping after being battered by coronavirus. The company, with assets in the area of $193 billion, recently announced a massive layoff — 28,000 workers. Bloomberg reported that Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), “…criticized Walt Disney Co. for laying off thousands of workers as a result of the pandemic, saying its spending on share buybacks and executive pay enriched bosses and investors but eroded its ability to weather a downturn.”

I’ll take it a notch further: What will happen to those who kept the parks functioning at high level for the entertainment giant? …

We went to the same Catholic high school in Florida. We’re a year apart in age. We’re both Caucasian. I’ll identify her as K. She avidly supports Donald Trump. I avidly don’t, and will support Joe Biden.

How This Started

K responded privately to my inquiry to my Facebook friends:

D: For my friends still supporting DT (you’re not blocked because you’ve been civil), please read this (Heather Cox Richardson’s Oct. 2, 2020 post) and tell me how you square with his administration’s deception, for one.

I’m also curious as to how his underlying theme of nationalism /racism fits with your values?

(Since…