With all the churches is the U.S why are there homeless people living in the streets?

Question

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Christian but with all these huge million dollar churches going up why are there people without homes or food in the U.S?

Answer 1

Brandon God Bless YOU! I have been praying about that very thing, it is heart wrenching! We are so blessed as Christians, why cant we help them? why cant we open our home to a needy family share a meal give a pair of shoes? sometimes I think it breaks Jesus's heart the way his brothers and sisters act.

Answer 2

Many churches and other religious groups do help the homeless, but many don't. There is one particular megachurch in southwest Missouri which proudly advertises their multi-million dollar firework display for the Fourth of July. The money they use for that could certainly be better spent on some of the kitchens in the city.

And, as some have pointed out above, some people choose that lifestyle (believe it or not) for various reasons (I'm not talking about alcoholics or the like). Most of them, though, will go to shelters for the night.

Answer 3

Here we have churches with bowling alleys, swimming pools and their own Starbucks but if a church lets a homeless family stay inside they are in violation of several ordinances. Christians don't want to work on the front lines of poverty it seems. They are into holiness and cleanliness not the real life harshness of being homeless, mentally ill, alcoholic or poor. Of course the Republicans want churches to provide all of the social services putting many vulnerable adults and children at risk. One local organization accepted a warehouse of supplies from FEMA and instead of a local distribution, they trucked it down to South America. These are tax dollars used fraudulently if we have US people in need of food and housing. One church did get real recently and wrote a book and set up a program for church members addicted to METH! If the Christians are in this kind of shape, what help can they be to the rest of society until they get their own house straight?

Answer 4

Working with the food distribution program at my church, I see every imaginable situation.

Situations are often not that simple to solve Very often there is addictions involved. We also have some homeless guys that prefer to live in the woods for various reasons. I think they equate civilization with getting thrown into jail. We do what we can and help them get the information they need, but there is only so much we can do particularly if they don't want to change.

By the way, every single food program in my community is run by churches.

The only thing I can really suggest is to get involved in a program in your community to get a better handle on the many problems. Perhaps you will be the one to come up with a solution.

I give information. I give hugs. I give food. What else can you do when you say all that you can think to say and you know this person is not going to accept the help you suggest.

Answer 5

You can throw money at people or a problem all you want but if wont really solve most problems.

This may sound a little heartless, but why do I have to work everyday and pay my own way but other people dont? People get down on their luck. Yes it is sad. Yes we should help them to a point. But people need to help themselves, too.
Churches are paid for by the members to be used for the members. If they were turned into full time shelters then they would not exactly be great places to go to church in.

The main reason why people dont have homes or food in the US is due to choices they have made. There is no reason why anyone in the US should be homeless or hungry. And there are shelters for people that need temporary help. There is also family that more people should be relying on for help and a lot of gvt help, too.

If someone needs temporary help then we can help them or their families can help them, but there is plenty of help out there. There are also plenty of jobs out there. Free education up until 18 and plenty of ability for anyone to go to college or to get a technical skill. A lot of opportunities.

Noone really has a right to complain too much living even in poverty in the US. Poverty in the US is living like a king compared to most of the rest of the people around the world.

Answer 6

Christians needs to do more to help the homeless and the hungry in the United States. However, there are some who for some reason will probably always be in such a state. If you were to give them a new home, a job, etc, etc, it would be wasted on drugs or alchol. There is also a lot of homeless people who need medical treatment for mental disabilities.

But you are right, Churches do need to do MORE!

Answer 7

Churches, organizations, groups are doing what they can... but not all are concentrated on providing homes or food to the people of this country. Each are unique in their mission. There's FEED THE CHILDREN, DISABLED VETERANS OF AMERICA, HOSSANA HOUSE, et. al.

But the question is, What have you done???

If you want to blame someone, start with the self.

If you want to effect change, start with the self.

Ask for God's guidance.... you post a great question. Why not find an answer (or rather a solution) yourself.

Even if you cannot effect a change in the entire country you can start in your own city or state.

Answer 8

I'm agnostic but I've grown up with a Protestant background.

Christian organizations (ie. Billy Graham foundation, the Salvation Army, John Piper) do spend a great deal of their resources providing free spiritual resources, aiding people in need (ie. the homeless, Tsunami victims).
There a great deal of homeless people, unemployed men and women, and low income families. The government with its neoliberal policies hasn't managed to provide an satisfactory standard of living for these suffering people yet. I believe to better aid those unfortunate, we must focus on more broader picture (ie. paradigm shift in policies, and allocation of government resources and spending). To say churches, many of which are small, can solve the plight of the millions in poverty in the US, is very wishful thinking.

Answer 9

Good question... Some has to do with the mentalities of the homeless and some of it has to do with the self preservation and selfishness of men that run the corporate messes of some churches.... We must face the fact that men you can not trust but only God himself some religious establishments wont do anything for anyone else but their paying customers..I have had an eye opening experience in my life when I needed help the most....Sad but true!

Answer 10

Most of these people have mental illnesses or addictions that control their lives.

If it is a mental illness, usually the mental facility has to have that person's permission to be admitted. But they are mentally ill..they are not going to say, yes, admit me! Instead they wander the streets and do not get the proper medication.

As for drug dealers or alcholics, the addiction controls their lives. How do you hold down a job when you need a hit to get through the day?

So therein lies the problem. As an American you have the freedom to destroy your life as you please.

Answer 11

There are some churches here in California that open their doors at night to provide shelter. There is a bus that goes to various homeless areas to provide transportation to the churches. It works out great, but the parishioners do tend to complain.