People Need People

Life is beautiful.., just look around! Do you see it? Not really? Something is wrong? Oh, I understand.. sometimes talking about homelessness makes you feel uncomfortable, and they - homeless people - are in the way of that world beauty we were talking about... Come on, stop for a second, look around. Do you see them-those people who need your help because they have nothing...
Just remember that it takes so little to save a life, and believe me, it is worth it...

For a moment try to remember one of those "terrible weather " days, which our Colorado is famous for. It is raining and snowing at the same time. Extremely windy, for a second you even start wondering that if wind had fingers and nails your face right now would be bleeding from its scratches and hits. You try to run but soon realize that it is not worth it due to uncomfortable difficulty breathing. You stop only for a second to catch your breath, during that short moment you manage to blame yourself for not putting on that old fashioned but extremely warm green sweater. Finally after couple deep inhales and self blaming words you are ready to face harsh weather challenge while getting to your car or bus from the campus area.
Do you remember that feeling? I guess you do. There are numerous days and nights in Colorado when cold rain, snow and wind start playing games, which are not fun and sometimes even fair towards us.
How long does it usually take you to get to your car or a bus from the campus? Ten, fifteen minutes, half an hour, and then with the switch of heater the suffering is over? Now, how would you feel if you didn't have a car, a bus or home to come back?
If only words could change the reality… There would be so many things to talk about and life would be much easier. In that case what would you talk about? Now, after our second challenge, I know what I would talk about - homelessness. Obviously, just talking is not enough. Homelessness is one of the main issues city of Denver is facing at this moment. Simple awareness and concern will help to make a difference (you know what is said about one head compared to couple working together).
Did you know that according to the recent Denver's Road Home reports (http://www.denversroadhome.org/):
60% of homeless are people in families with children.
29% respondents of Denver's homeless are women.
40% of Denver's homeless are currently employed.
The same reports state the most common reasons for becoming a homeless in Denver area are:
Loss of job - 28%
Housing cost - 23%
Breakup of the family - 20%
Seems, that living in this society that is changing extremely fast , it is impossible to know what tomorrow will bring to you and to people you care about. It might take only one step to loose everything and find yourself on the street. Maybe it sounds cliché but in order to avoid tragic outcomes we must to understand each other, don't group people by their financial status and stick together, simply because people need people. Scary, but time, circumstances and luck determine the situation you might fight yourself in. So why not to try to understand and help others who at this moment are not as fortunate as you...

Giedrute