This week is being observed as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and events are being organized across the country by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), local advocacy groups, and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. This past weekend the student campaign held a national organizing meeting on the campus of Seattle University in Washington.

NCH’s newly updated web site has a wealth of information on why people are homeless and other related issues. The US Conference of Mayors concurs with NCH and others that homelessness is increasing in America as the poverty rates continue to grow.

You can help draw attention to this issue by educating your congregations and friends about the crisis of homelessness in America. No one should live a third world life in a first world nation.  I served as a member of the NCH board for several years and urge people to support the mission of this grassroots national organization. 

The picture included with this post is a volunteer at Portland’s Goose Hollow Family Shelter helping feed a meal to a young guest staying at the shelter from when I was still working there.