{"id":6791,"date":"2017-01-05T12:57:18","date_gmt":"2017-01-05T17:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=6791"},"modified":"2023-07-10T17:19:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T21:19:50","slug":"who-do-we-call-when-a-homeless-person-needs-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/who-do-we-call-when-a-homeless-person-needs-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Do We Call When a Homeless Person Needs help?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Homelessness Is a Nationwide Crisis That Must Be Addressed.<\/h4>\n

A lot can happen in 15 years: You attend college.\u00a0You get a new job.\u00a0You rent your first apartment. You get married, start a family, buy a house. For Jossalyn, little has happened. She has spent the past 15 years homeless.<\/a><\/p>\n

Like many others I meet on the streets, Jossalyn has fallen through the gaps in the safety net. She is surviving now, but how long will it be before Jossalyn becomes critically vulnerable?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m reminded of a question Nancy Lublin<\/a>\u00a0and her daughter asked me repeatedly\u00a0on a recent tour of Skid Row.\u00a0Besides 911, who can people call when they see a homeless person needing help? And there are people in dire need of homeless<\/a> services everywhere.<\/p>\n

\"homeless<\/p>\n

An elderly gentleman lies on a park bench with a head injury. You ask if he is alright; he slurs that he is fine and waves you on. It becomes clear that he is intoxicated, most likely homeless and in need of medical help.<\/p>\n

In another city, a man asks if you can spare some money. You notice he has severe, deep sores on his arms that require medical attention.<\/p>\n

Using cardboard as flooring, a woman sits on a city street. You can clearly see a large tumor growing on her abdomen as she struggles. She needs urgent help.<\/p>\n

These are actual people suffering in\u00a0cities\u00a0across the country. Any decent person wants to call a professional to help. But who do you call?<\/p>\n