My heart weeps with sorrow; sadden by the fact that I do not have the means to reach and teach all of those who are lost. Some are struggling and living in the streets. And others are barely making ends meat and trapped working dead end low wage paying jobs. The issue is poverty.

Many, in our society, simply do not understand the reality of poverty. There are a lot of questions without answers; only an ending result of blame. However, after much debate and/or discussion, the issue still remains and we must find a solution to resolve homelessness and the increasing population of aging adults who are post retirement but still working minimum wage jobs to survive.

After witnessing first hand two individuals who are suffering from this plight, I realized there is a need that requires constant attention. We must not become silent adhering to willful blindness. Therefore, I write to raise awareness to the issues that many do not realize still plague our communities. Please see the data below.

Homelessness

"In January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States. Of that number, 206,286 were people in families, and. 358,422 were individuals. About 15 percent of the homeless population - 83,170 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals."National Alliance to End Homelessness

"Poverty:

• The official poverty rate in 2015 was 13.5 percent, down 1.2 percentage points from 14.8 percent in 2014.
• In 2015, there were 43.1 million people in poverty, 3.5 million less than in 2014.
• The 2015 poverty rate was 1.0 percentage point higher than in 2007, the year before the most recent recession.
• For most demographic groups, 2015 poverty rates and estimates of the number of people in poverty decreased from 2014.
• Between 2014 and 2015, poverty rates decreased for all three major age groups. The poverty rate for children under age 18 dropped 1.4 percentage points, from 21.1 percent to 19.7 percent. Rates for people aged 18 to 64 dropped 1.1 percentage points, from 13.5 percent to 12.4 percent. Poverty rates for people aged 65 and older decreased 1.1 percentage points, from 10.0 percent to 8.8 percent."Income and Poverty in the United States: 2015 September 13, 2016

Working Class 55+

"Employment

• In 2015, 33 million Americans aged 55+ were employed, and 1.3 million were actively seeking work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS])
• By 2015, older workers aged 65+ outnumbered teenage workers for the first time since 1948. (CNBC)
• Weekly earnings vary by age and gender. In the 55-64 age group, median weekly earnings for men were $1,069 in 2015 and $781 for women. (BLS)

Unemployment

• Mature workers made up 8.9% of the unemployed population in the U.S. in 2014. (BLS)
• The economic downturn that began in 2008 hit older workers hard. By May 2010, 60% of unemployed older workers had been out of work for six months or longer, and 43% had been without a job for more than a year. (CNN)
• Although the rate of unemployment among mature workers is lower than younger populations (3.7% in Nov. 2015), older workers who do become unemployed spend more time searching for work. In 2014, 44.6% of those unemployed workers aged 55+ had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer, compared to 36.4% of workers aged 25-54. (BLS)

Part-Time & Multiple Jobs

• Part-time work is appealing to many older workers who want to scale back but still remain in the workplace; however, many older workers work part-time because of the weak job market or because they cannot find full-time work. In 2013, just over 1 million adults aged 55+ said they took a part-time job “for economic reasons.” (BLS)
• In June 2014, 4.7% of workers aged 55+ held more than one job. Doing so may indicate an inability to find a job that pays enough hours. (AARP Public Policy Institute)

Discouraged Mature Workers

• Discouraged mature workers are not looking for work because they believe that none is available, employers will find them too old, they lack the necessary schooling/training, or they face other types of discrimination.
• In June 2014, 198,000 mature workers indicated they wanted employment but were not in the workforce. (AARP Public Policy Institute)"National Council On Aging

The Holiday season is a time of giving and it reminds many of the less fortunate. Donations during this time of year are massive according to Antanneca Simmons co-owner of GLOVE (God's Loving Hands Ministry), a non profit organization whose focus is to feed the homeless in the Birmingham Alabama area.

One of the ways Simmons and team plans to give back to the community before 2016 ends is by spending her birthday: December 31 / New Year’s Eve, feeding the homeless during the following event:

GLOVE Throwback Watch Party for the Homeless.

December 31, 2016

10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Church of the Reconciler 112 14th Street North Birmingham, Al 35203

If you are interested in volunteering for this event or to learn how you can help in the future, please call 205-516-4792 or visit http://www.godslovinghands.org/ to inquire.

Unfortunately, after the Holiday season is over donations decrease. But, the people are still in need. Simmons expressed the fact that “GLOVE will also accept donations for the 2017 calendar year during the event and attendees will receive gloves, socks, and other items.”

Final thoughts:

I am reminded of the following parable taught by Jesus.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:34-40

In order to become Christlike, there are some things we all must do. Be the solution and not the problem.