invisible homeless kids

Hard to imagine that in this country way over 3 MILLION kids are without homes. H-O-M-E-L-E-S-S Kids. I don't get it. Are we willing to discard these kids? Not me. So this blog will relentlessly focus on this issue, hoping to light a spark to fuel a compassion epidemic. Chime in, argue, but do something....

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Cries from the Street, People Moved to Tears...


Yesterday I shared My Own Four Walls with a group of women from Naperville that I refer to as "the salt of the earth." They are members of Church Women United--the women that faith communities rely on to get things done.

Naperville, one of the most family-friendly communities in the nation happens to be the HEAR US home base. Tillie and I have slept in Naperville--just to be able to say I was homeless in Naperville--and I know lots of good people from this homogeneous suburb.

Despite an educated populace, I suspect it's like every other community--largely clueless when it comes to homeless kids.
Following the 20-minute screening of MOFW, the reaction of almost the entire audience to these articulate young spokespersons was clear...tears. Several woman bought MOFW DVDs and books that we sell to raise awareness of homelessness and to keep me from being homeless in Nevada.

Meanwhile, on a totally different level, tears were being shed on Wall Street as once-solid financial firms crumbled under the weight of what people like me would attribute to greed.

I understand the financial market about as much as most people understand homeless families. At least I admit my ignorance. And I try reading about the problem--and proposed astronomical solutions--numbers my little brain can't comprehend.


Seems to me
that it's time for some mutual understanding. Since people affected by the shattering sounds on Wall Street are inching closer to calling the streets "home," perhaps we could share some street-wise tips. I can tell you where some good places are to sleep in Naperville if you don't have money. You can tell me where to find some pockets of dough to fund HEAR US. Sounds like a fair trade to me....


2 comments:

Angel The Alien said...

I was homeless in Naperville when I was 19. I slept by the Riverwalk. The teenagers who used to hung out there bought me Burger King for dinner one time. I think i was the only homeless person in the town!

Diane Nilan said...

Hi Nicki,
So sad to hear you were on the streets of Naperville--or anywhere. I can assure you that you weren't the only one out there--but I'm sure it felt that way.

How are things going now?
D