Kudos to Washington Rep. Brendan Williams (D) for sponsoring a bill which just passed in the state House on Tuesday which would allow churches to house the homeless inside or outside! A town in Washington had altered its laws after a local church decided to host the tent city “Camp Quixote”. The town restricted the homeless to be housed only inside buildings, and not within 300 feet of a daycare center or school. The town has recently amended the laws a bit, but I am guessing it took the fact that a House bill was up because of them.
This town clearly does not want the homeless! Is housing the homeless an eyesore?! I think that offering a homeless shelter shows a community who cares. Sure there are “bad apples” everywhere in society, not just the homeless. There are more homeless who are productive in their lives, working or getting medical care or education. They are clean and look presentable. You would never know they are homeless by looking at them. I am one of those people, and I know many others.
I am grateful for churches that are willing and able to house the homeless. They provide a great service–THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You honestly can’t find a better help and care for the homeless than the volunteers at homeless shelters! It is they who inspire us, give us a good meal and a warm place to stay. They converse with us and we feel like family. We feel like we belong and we matter. They obviously volunteer with their heart.
I have to recommend everyone sit down with a homeless person and talk to them. There is so much that we can learn from each other! We need to combat the stereotype that towns like that one in Washington have of the homeless. Don’t try to get rid of us. Be a friend and understand that we are actually no different than you and your neighbor.
You can read the article I saw here.
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