In 2010, for the first time, World Homeless Day was held. Unusually for special days, this one does not have a theme although it could be argued that its very name is its theme. The website gives a simple overview and can be found at www.worldhomelessday.org – it states the purpose of the day.
“This international day serves as a platform to advocate for improved policies and funding that can help prevent and end homelessness.
“World Homeless Day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death.”
If, like me, you feel overwhelmed by the number of special days there are in a year, you too may wonder how much time and energy to devote to each one of them. Care for the homeless and concern for their plight goes to the heart of the gospel, resonating through the Christmas message that also comes from a one day a year event. People without homes, support or in poor health were catered for in the ancient laws of the Old Testament while in our day, we know that health problems and homelessness often go together.
The problem of homelessness in this country is not only about those we are aware of who sleep rough, who turn up at night shelters or who camp wherever they can find a space and a welcome. There is a larger problem of affordability of housing, quality of housing and volume of housing. The government has made pledges about housing but what is our own position on this?
Instead of theorising in platitudes we all need to stop to ask how we react when we hear of a new development in our neighbourhood. Do we truly understand the difficulties of those who have no home of their own, and do we really care, or do we just say that we care because we know that we should care? Next time there is a ‘not in my back yard’ protest about a local development will we support it, or will we reflect on the need of others through their eyes and think again?
Yes, this is provocative – so was Jesus.
A Prayer
Lord God of the poor, the refugee, the homeless and the foreigner, your gospel makes us feel uncomfortable when it challenges us in our safe, secure homes surrounded by friends and accepted in our communities. We thank you for the challenges of the gospel and ask that you will help us to constantly revaluate how we think and behave and the way we see the needs of one another. Next time I feel the flesh-creeping awkwardness of not knowing how to help, show me and give me peace for Jesus’s sake. Amen.