How did we get here?

So here's the thing- people who live without a home are on my mind all the time. Seriously. And I know you might be thinking, Come on LK, surely your kids and BK are the ones who are really on your mind all the time. Yes, they absolutely are. But people experiencing homelessness always seem to be right there too.

They crossed my mind last night when I awoke to an absolute downpour pounding down on the roof and windows of our house. Then I think: I wonder if an outreach team got to people living outside and warned them that it would likely storm tonight. They cross my mind when I wake at 4:50am to workout with my sister and I realize it's 25 degrees outside. And I think: It is too cold to be sleeping outside tonight. They cross my mind and my path when I drive to work every day and am struck with the stark contrast between the place I just came from and the place I spend my days.

So yeah, they are there with me, all the time. They weigh on my heart. And I don't say this to say, "Look at me and what a difference I'm making."  Not at all, actually. I say this because it's true and it's part of me.

When BK and I first got married, I really toyed with the idea of doing something other than social work to get us off the ground, something more financially rewarding that would propel us into the future we wanted. But I just couldn't do it. I always come back to poverty and homelessness. Always. 

And I can't move away from it- it's like it's in me or something. It's what I have to do. Maybe it's my way of paying back the universe for never having to wonder where my next meal was coming from, never wondering if I was safe at night, never wondering if our lights would be on, as a child never really having to worry about anything. And make no mistake, this is absolutely the childhood I also hope to give our children.

My question- and my frustration- though is how did we get here? And why the heck can't we figure it out? Why do we feel like it's okay for people to sleep outside, going without very basic needs being met? Do we just not care? It's not our problem? Do we want to blame the people who are experiencing homelessness? Do people deserve this? Maybe people have made bad decisions. But I would challenge anyone reading this to say that you haven't once made a bad decision. I definitely have. Lucky for me, I had support at every turn in the road to help me recover from any questionable decisions made in my youth.

So for now, yes, they'll remain on my mind and I'll carry them with me until we figure this out. I feel certain that we can figure this out. I'm convinced we can and that we have to.