Another Hungry and Homeless X-mas
<www.beyondchron.org>
 
by Tommi Avicolli Mecca, 2006-12-19
silent night, holy night
 all is calm, all is bright
 round young homeless mother and child
 hungry infant so tender and mild
 sleep on Americas streets
 sleep on Americas streets
 
 Most Americans were probably too busy shopping until they dropped to notice, but the U.S. Conference of Mayors just released its latest findings on hunger and homelessness in America. Its not full of holiday cheer. It also doesnt tell you anything you dont already know. Unless youve been comatose for at least the last decade. According to the report, more people were hungry and homeless in this country in 2006 than they were in 2005. Over the past several years, the number of people in need has been steadily rising.
 
 Its not going to improve. The mayors group, which has been releasing studies of this sort for more than 20 years, predicts that things will only get worse in 2007. "Peace and goodwill to men" may be the order of the day, but food, affordable housing and universal healthcare would go a lot further. Mary ended up giving birth to Jesus in a manger, but Americas homeless wont even have that much this xmas.
 
 Among the many disturbing statistics of this years report: 25% of the residents in emergency shelters were children. One-third of hungry adults were employed. In 86% of the cities, homeless folks had to be turned away from emergency shelters due to a lack of resources. About 74% of the cities saw a marked increase (7%) in the need for emergency food assistance. Over 23% of the requests for emergency food went completely unfilled. The length of time that someone remained homeless increased in 32% of the cities.
 
 While many cities have plans in place to tackle homelessness, they are not meeting the tremendous need that exists. Its no wonder: With six years of Bush administration cuts to social services, including HUD funding, people in America are needier than theyve ever been.
 
 Twenty-three cities were surveyed in the study, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Officials in those places reported that among the contributing factors to hunger and homelessness were: mental health issues, the scarcity of social services, lack of affordable housing, low-paying jobs, domestic violence, prisoner re-entry, unemployment and poverty.
 
 What will the new Democratic majority in Congress do to alleviate this hunger and homelessness? Forty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for an all-out war on poverty. Its never been declared, but war has been declared on oil-rich parts of the Middle East. In America, filling cars is more important than filling empty stomachs.
 
 Were a nation thats good with Band-Aids. During this holiday season, thousands will volunteer at food programs, or bag old cans of corn and string beans for pantries and food banks. Theyll spend a few hours feeling sorry for Americas poor. In their sermons, priests and ministers will remind their congregations that people go hungry. Theyll urge them to pray for the poor. Which has never put food in anybodys stomach. Or provided a roof over anybodys head.
 
 On December 26, the same number of people will still be hungry and homeless in America.
 
Silent night, holy night
 cops drag poor out of sight
 fine them for asking for change on the street
 just a few pennies for something to eat
 jails are our homes for the poor
 jails are our homes for the poor
 
 (Silent Night: music by Franz Gruber/ new lyrics by Tommi Avicolli Mecca)