We R S.H.E.Talks

Lady V’s Weekly Devotional 

They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!”

But Jesus reprimanded them, “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm. The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey his Word.” 

Matthew 8:23-27 TPT 

Devotional 

Are you having the recurring forecast of storms in your life? Are you facing some giant waves and wondering if you’re about to get wiped out? Life can change in an instant.

You’re riding easy one moment, and faced with a tsunami the next. You may start to wonder, “When will brighter days come and STAY?” 

Much like the disciples, in Matthew 8:23-27, they must have assumed that storms wouldn’t come as long as they had Jesus in their boat. But that’s not so! Storms still come in life even when you’re walking with Jesus.  

So, how do we handle the storms of life—in fear?  Do we handle it with an uncertainty of where our faith meter ranks? Consequently, the disciples had common thoughts of fear and little faith in the midst of an uncertain situation.  

However, there was wisdom to gain in that storm. Jesus pointed out that the disciples needed to remember: first, do not give in to fear, and second, stand in FAITH. We must look through a constant lens of the Lord being with us in every situation we encounter. 

Nothing is a surprise to God!  He is already aware of the intensity of the storm that’s going on around you. Hence, Jesus isn’t moved by the storms we face, and neither should we.  

 Sometimes we need reminding that the LORD is with us to resuscitate our faith. And, the reason we need faith during the storm is because we must believe that Jesus is greater.  

The Word can calm the storm simply because when God speaks—something ALWAYS happens.  Jeremiah 1:12 (AMPC) says, “…for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” 

 Therefore, our faith in Jesus should be so solid, that when the boat starts to overflow with water, and the waves intensify, we should instantly trust God. Our thought should be, “Jesus is in my boat, so I will trust Him in this.” Most assuredly, God is always faithful and HE cannot fail. So rest in HIM! 

Beloved, if Jesus can rest during a storm—we should take the hint.  Rest with all certainty that you are not alone in this. Nothing is too big for God! And,

Take time to enjoy the holiday season. Photo 1 is by Christopher Ryan and photo 2 is by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.

It is that time again--the holiday season has begun. And for many of us, it is a joyous time to behold. For the most part, people look forward to spending the holiday season with family and friends. Of course, others are happy for the long-awaited vacation time from work or school. 

Reflection and thanksgiving 

The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the many blessings you received this year.Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Some Christians approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season with reflection. Lady V and I reflect on the goodness of God in our lives. Our family has a spirit of thanksgiving because we have overcome some difficult times. Thus, we are grateful to God that He is the one that has seen us through time and time again. He has remained faithful. Praise God!

So, we hope reflection is a part of your holiday season too. You see, no matter your culture or religion everyone has something to be grateful for. 

Celebrate the memory of a loved one 

Also, during this holiday season let's keep in mind that for some people it may bring sadness because of a loss of some kind. We know that because of the cycle of life people are born, people live and sadly people die. For those families who are grieving the loss of a loved one, the holiday season can be especially hard. 

And so, for those that like our family who've had a loss this year, we hope you will consider reflecting on the good times. Celebrate the person's life--honor him/her. Think of the last laugh you shared, wisdom imparted to you, a warm hug or a sneaky smile. 

The holiday season is so much better with family and friends.

Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash

In other words, celebrate the good memories instead of remaining in a mournful state. Surround yourself with family and friends who also loved that person. Know that your time with that person was a meaningful time because life is precious and no day, no time, no moment is purposeless when it comes to God. In fact, to God every moment of every hour is purposeful. 

A new year and a new season 

A new year is coming and hence a new season of We R S.H.E.Talks Podcast. So, Lady V and I are taking time out to prepare for Season 2 because it is our goal to spread hope everywhere. Thus, we will have more inspiring episodes in the upcoming year. Also, we appreciate everyone who takes the time to listen to us and/or read our blog and weekly devotionals.

We hope that we have been a blessing to you. And we are believing God that He will give us further knowledge to inspire and pour into you in the new year. 

So, we bless you, we pray for you that all things go well for you. That the year not only ends well, but the new year begins well. Moreover, we pray the blessings of God upon you and we pray blessings upon your family.

So, however you celebrate the holiday season, we pray that you'll know Jesus as we do. And that God reminds you that He loves you and that your life and your family matters to Him. Likewise, be encouraged in knowing that His love knows no limits. Hence, because He loves He expects us to show love to others. John 15:17 New International Version (NIV), “This is my command: Love each other.

Why is Christianity misunderstood? 

Well, Christianity is misunderstood because some Christians do not understand Grace. You see, grace and truth come by Jesus Christ. He showed love to everyone He met. Unfortunately, there are Christians who don't represent Him well. Thus, causing others to not want anything to do with Him. 

So then, some people give Christians a bad rap. They stereotype all Christians as angry, judgmental, hypocrites. And that's not true for so many of us. I say us; because Lady V and I are Christians too. And we have experienced those reactions first-hand. 

Trust me, we get it because there are Christians who present themselves as perfect. And that is far from the truth of the matter. Jesus is the only perfect person to ever walk the earth. Believe it or not, we all needed a savior; that's why Jesus came, died, and rose from the grave. 

The Mosaic Law [Old Covenant] 

So why do Christians get such a bad rap? To begin with, there are three types of Christian churches. First, there are traditional churches that operate under the Mosaic Law. But the misconception is that the Law of Moses was only the 10 commandments. 

In fact, God gave Moses 613 commandments for the children of Israel to follow. The 10 commandments written on stone plus another 603 written on scrolls and tablets. That people--was the Old Covenant. The traditional church often teaches that people are to live by the 10 commandments. 

Also, the members must also follow the rules and regulations of the denomination. For example, one can't go to the movies, watch TV, play sports, eat certain foods, or go on dates. In many traditional churches, there is a hierarchy and women are at the bottom.

Sadly, their opinions are often not respected or heard. And there are also strict rules for females. Such as, females are to wear a head-covering [hat or scarf]. They also must wear dresses and the dresses must be a specified length to the floor. 

Now if one doesn't follow those rules and regulations some congregants look down upon him/her. In the same vein, there are those who judge people who live in any way other than by the 10 commandments. Trust me that is not New Covenant behavior. 

Also, the tradition of no-wearing pants in a church becomes ingrained in some young women. Hence, even if one wears pants everywhere else--she won't set foot on the grounds or inside of a church. Because she is so scared, she's going to offend God. 

Lady V and I agree; that line of thinking makes no sense. The fact of the matter is--the whole earth belongs to God. So, if wearing pants is going to offend God, one might as well get off the earth. And even then, you still aren't away from God because He created the universe.  

Think about it, where are you going to go that wouldn't offend Him. But, let me reassure you, pants on a female don't offend God--in church or anywhere else. And God doesn’t look down upon women. The Word of God verifies this thought, 

Galatians 3:28 The Passion Translation (TPT), And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ with no distinction between us. 

Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ [New Covenant]  

Well then, what is the New Covenant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease. So, when is a disease considered a chronic condition?

Well, the CDC defines chronic disease as a condition that lasts one year or longer. Thus, causing a need for ongoing medical attention. And also limiting one’s daily activities or both. 

In fact, the main causes of disability and death in America are diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. They are also the leading drivers of the nation’s health care costs which is an estimated 3.3 trillion dollars.  

Healthy choices help in the fight against chronic disease.

Now, the CDC reports that the above-mentioned chronic diseases are caused by poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, excessive use of alcohol and/or all the above.

For some people, changing the preceding behaviors could help ease those chronic diseases. Now, on the other hand, there are chronic conditions that do not yet have a cure. Such as, 

Kidney Disease Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Dementia Epilepsy Asthma HIV/AIDS Arthritis Crohn’s Disease Parkinson Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Mood Disorder (Bipolar, Cyclothymic, and Depression) Muscular Dystrophy (MD) 

Some of the above-mentioned conditions you may very well recognize. Whereas, there are others you may not be as familiar with. Still, there are people who suffer daily with one or more chronic sicknesses. 

How people deal with chronic disease 

This week we have our resident counselor, Ms. Melinda Fields sitting in with us. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Human Services and Counseling. She shares some clinical insights. As well as little bit of her own personal journey of living through a diagnosis. 

Melinda shares how chronic disease can often take its toll on a person’s emotions. Such as when one is first diagnosed with a chronic or terminal disease. She says most people go through some type of grief process.

For one thing, when looking from the traditional science side of chronic diagnoses, both Western and Eastern medicines only manage the disease.

So, when looking at it from a scientific viewpoint, it is in rare cases that an incurable disease is cured. For that reason alone, some people have mixed emotions. 

The five stages of grief 

Since grief is very common, Melinda shares that there are five stages of grief. Therefore, according to the Kübler-Ross Method, when a person experiences a loss of sorts, he/she will experience one or more of the grief stages. Because the impact of chronic illness is very much like a loss depending upon the disease. 

In other words, some people have difficulty with daily activities due to constant pain, severe fatigue and loss of functionality in different areas of their bodies. In the article, Grief in chronic illness: assessment and management, the normal response to losing physical functions is grief.

Naturally, a physical restriction is heart-breaking for someone who is very active. Hence, the start of the grief process.

First is denial, one doesn’t want to admit that there's an issue. Second is anger, the person then gets mad with everybody. For instance, he/she may ponder the following questions, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ ‘Do I need to go to a specialist?’ ‘What specialist do I need to see?’ ‘Do I need to pray?’ ‘Do I need to pray more?

Mental Health—no longer a taboo subject 

For many years mental health was considered a taboo subject. Even though, in 1949 the month of May was designated Mental Health Month by Mental Health America. Also, October 10th, 1992, was chosen as World Mental Health Day to bring awareness to mental health issues around the world. Indeed, mental health awareness is at the forefront now more than before. 

In fact, we have been witnessing the result of untreated mental illness in the headlines. And sadly, it has been the cause of horrific loss of life through shootings in schools, churches, workplaces, malls, theaters, and nightclubs.  

Who does mental illness affect?  

Believe it or not, most people have had moments of not feeling mentally healthy. For example, that moment when you felt like you were about to lose your mind. Yep, that moment right there--the moment or moments that just popped into your mind. Now when we break down some of the different mental health problems, we will better understand why mental health awareness is so important. 

According to mentalhealth.gov, there are several different types of mental health issues that can affect a person’s thinking. And therefore, affecting one’s mood, and behavior. Such as the following disorders:

Anxiety - a fear or dread response to situations or objects. This can include phobias, panic, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Behavioral – a pattern of disruptive behaviors that last for at least six months in young people. It causes problems at home, in school, and in other social situations. Behaviors such as Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and Conduct Disorder. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – repeating upsetting thoughts [obsessing] and doing the same actions repeatedly [compulsions] to appease those thoughts. Personality – distressing personality traits that cause problems for the person. It can happen in school, at work, and or in social relationships. This can include borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. Eating - extreme emotions and behaviors concerning one’s weight and eating habits. The behaviors can include binge eating, bulimia, and anorexia. Mood – persistent feelings of extreme sadness, extreme happiness, or shifting between the two. This can include depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), self-harm, and bipolar disorder. Trauma and Stress-Related – can occur after experiencing or seeing a traumatic event. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) makes a person stressed out and, in many cases, afraid long after the danger has passed. Psychotic Disorders – this can include delusions and hallucinations. An example is someone with schizophrenia. 

When looking at the above disorders, mental health problems are more common than people realize. Actually, one in five American adults has experienced a mental health issue (Mental Health Myths and Facts).  

Our thoughts are directly linked to how we view life 

On the Mental Health: Cyber Bullying, Depression, and Suicide episode, Lady V and I discussed how our thoughts are directly linked to how we view life. We also discussed the connection between cyberbullying, depression, and suicide with our special guest and resident millennial Alexis. She shared how she has witnessed people cyberbullying others on social media because of their opinions or artistic expression. 

This week our special guest and resident counselor Melinda Fields, who has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Human Services and Counseling, shares some clinical insights on mental health awareness.  

What are people thinking? 

The frequency of suicide and murder-suicides have been in the headlines now more than ever. For that reason, it makes you pose the question, ‘What are people thinking?’ Let's keep in mind, our thoughts are important to our everyday living.

Whatever we meditate on, most often affects our movement through life. In other words, we shouldn’t allow negative thinking to take over our lives. Because continual negative thoughts can lead to negative behaviors. 

So, Lady V and I felt the need to address mental health awareness. We want to be a part of helping others that need someone to say, ‘I see you,’ ‘You matter to me,’ and ‘I want to help.’ Hence, we are discussing depression. 

Our thoughts affect our lives 

You see, our thoughts tie into how we view ourselves and our lives. Put it this way, our thoughts are directly linked to how we do life itself. Also, they influence our actions and how we treat others. Now, the Word of God makes it plain about transforming our minds and thinking or meditating on the right things. Moreover, right-thinking produces peace and the right actions. 

On the other hand, wrong thinking can lead to some tragic outcomes. And sadly, we've seen some of those tragic outcomes in the headlines. Such as celebrity suicides and shootings in schools, churches, workplaces, and nightclubs. 

Untreated clinical depression is a thief 

Negative thoughts steal peace from many families. And for some families, negative thinking also steals lives.  In John 10:10 Jesus says, 

“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”  

Now, Jesus wants us to have peace and to enjoy our lives well lived. Again, wrong thoughts can hinder the process and steal the lives of many. 

A biblical example of how the thief can steal your thought life is in Genesis chapter 3. Most people have heard of the story of Adam and Eve. Well since the beginning of time the thief has been infiltrating man’s thought life.

You might ask; ‘In what way?’ Look at it like this; when a person is convinced by others that he or she is ‘not enough’—that can lead to low self-worth. Now, when a person yearns to be excepted, he or she may find themselves doing something they shouldn’t. 

Know who you are and whose you are  

Ok, back to Genesis chapter 3. In the biblical account, Eve was speaking to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. She's listening to the serpent who is the thief and he plants these negative thoughts in her mind. And this confused her and it ultimately made her doubt God's words to her and Adam. 

So, you might say, ‘What does that have to do with us today?’ Again, negative thoughts, planted in Eve's mind were seeds of doubt. They were seeds of lack and mistrust. And these negative thoughts stole something from her. The thoughts made her question her identity, her value, and most importantly, God's word. Keep in mind, with the thief, there's always something missing. 

Likewise, today some of the same negative thoughts are plaguing the minds of people. Therefore causing, utter destruction and wreaking havoc on their lives and the lives of others. Lady V and I believe that Jesus wants every life to matter and for everyone to achieve greatness. And that's why we felt the need to shine a light on one’s thought life and mental health awareness. 

What is cyberbullying?  

What is wisdom and why is it important? 

Wisdom is the state of being wise. It is knowledge of what is right coupled with good judgment and discernment or insight. And a God-listening heart will assure wise decisions. When we use wisdom, it helps us avoid reckless decisions. Lady V and I believe everyone needs wisdom to live skillfully. And a God-listening heart will greatly help one in that process.

So, let’s look at why wisdom is important to our lives as a whole. For instance, the Word of God [The Holy Bible] is filled with wisdom. Therefore, when we read the Word of God, we learn golden nuggets. More specifically, those golden nuggets will light the way and keep us on the right path. 

Furthermore, God uses the wisdom of the past to speak to our present. And you may ask, how does God do that? Well, the answer is clear. God speaks through His Word with the experiences of others. Therefore, when we live our lives, guided by wisdom—we gain insights that help the next generation. Lady V and I agree this happens best when we open our hearts to hear God’s direction. 

The following two scriptures reiterate the importance of wisdom: Proverbs 3:4 says, getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do and whatever else you do develop good judgment. And Proverbs 2:11 it says, wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. 

The perks of wisdom 

Wisdom is the principle thing. Why? Because with wisdom, the perks of wisdom are good judgment, knowledge, and discernment (Proverbs 8:12). An example of this is found in 1 Kings chapters 3 and 4. Because of wisdom, King Solomon was known as the wisest of kings.

Likewise, he followed all the traditions of King David his father. The most important of those traditions was loving and worshiping God. Since Solomon was a young king, he knew he needed wisdom from God to rule and govern the people under his leadership.  

In Luke 10:38 Mary sat at the feet of Jesus as He discussed scripture. She hung on His every word because she knew He was giving insights that would greatly benefit her life. And that is how we're supposed to be. We're supposed to come to God like Mary, like Solomon and sit at his feet; listening to His directions for our lives. 

God is always speaking—are you willing to listen? 

The Word of God is one of many ways to receive wisdom.Photo by Rachel Lynette on Unsplash

Back to King Solomon, he worshiped and sought direction from God. Then God visited him in a dream. He told Solomon that he could have whatever he wanted. But instead of asking for things, Solomon asked for wisdom. In other words, he wanted discernment to know the difference between good and evil.

Specifically, he knew he needed a God-listening heart to rule his nation. Solomon knew he couldn't judge or lead the people without God. So, because God was impressed with the young king’s request—He gave him wisdom and great wealth. King Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest king to ever live. 

In the same vein, we see Solomon operating from a God listening heart in 1 Kings 3. There were two prostitutes who had a dispute about a baby. They brought their case before King Solomon because they wanted him to determine the true mother. The women had given birth three days apart.

The second mother rolled on her baby in the middle of the night. She awoke to her dead baby; she then switched her dead baby for the first mother’s live baby. This was the case presented to King Solomon. 

Just take a moment  

Forced Labor and Sex Trafficking 

In episode 3 part 1 we obtained a better understanding of ‘human trafficking.' For instance, we learned the definition of ‘human trafficking,' with clarity from The State.gov Policy Issues for Human Trafficking. In other words, modern-day slavery and trafficking in persons are common terms the International Labor Organization, activists, and independent researchers use when referring to both forced labor and sex trafficking. 

Sex Trafficking and the Adult Entertainment Industry

Strip club Photo by Mateuhsz Turbinski on Pexels 

Presently most people just aren't aware of the clear meaning of ‘human trafficking.’ So they have not connected the dots between it and the sex industry. As a result, the misconception is that all adult entertainment workers [in pornographic content, strip clubs, and brothels] are willing participants. The most common belief is that all of the people in porn videos, brothels, and strip clubs are consenting adults who actually choose to work in the sex industry. 

In fact, traffickers use tactics such as coercion, force, or threats of physical violence towards sex workers or their families just to make a profit. The traffickers also use current victims to recruit new unsuspecting targets.

The Pornographic Industry and Human Trafficking Work Hand and Hand

According to the article, The Porn Industry Is Modern-Day Slavery': How Pornography and Sex Trafficking Are Linked by Luke Gibbons, sex trafficking and the pornographic industry are linked. Again, traffickers use different methods to obtain victims.

For example, they present porn as a glamorous career that could make the eager target, rich and famous. The traffickers present the most beautiful women as the face of the adult film industry. The women claim to love what they do and that they get paid well for doing it.  

Unfortunately, that is not true for the majority of porn workers who traffickers forced to pretend they are enjoying the sex acts and that they are doing those acts of their own free will.

In fact, an ex-porn star told CBNNEWS.com, "Women are lured in, coerced and forced to do sex acts they never agreed to do… [and given] drugs and alcohol to help get [them] through hardcore scenes…The porn industry is modern-day slavery."

Why Should Sex Trafficking Concern Us?  

So, you may ask, "Why should I be concerned about sex trafficking; I'm not tangled up in that criminal behavior?" Well, I'm so glad you asked. In episode 3 we also discussed a story from the article, The Porn Industry and Human Trafficking Reinforced Each Other by Marlo Safi. The writer gave an eye-opening example of how the pornographic industry exploits and directly informs what happens to trafficked victims.  

Safi shared an example of just how the pornographic industry indeed exploits victims in the previously mentioned article. Safi reported how editors of a popular porn magazine featured a multi-page lay-out of a young mentally handicapped woman.

Her captors held her prisoner and violently and sexually abused her for seven years. During that seven-year period, the victimizers photographed her performing hardcore sexual acts. Therefore, if people do the following;

Buy porn magazines Watch porn online, and buy videos Go to strip clubs 

whether it is occasionally or on a regular basis, they unknowingly contribute to the demand for more adult content.

People are the commodity of Human Trafficking

In other words,

What is Human Trafficking? 

When one hears the words ‘human trafficking,’ people often think of criminal organizations selling and shipping women and children out of the U.S. Although we are not wrong in thinking the previous thought is true, sadly that is just part of a much larger picture. According to The State.gov Policy Issues for Human Trafficking, trafficking in persons and modern slavery are umbrella terms that are used to refer to both sex trafficking and compelled labor. 

In the article What is Modern Slavery we get a more in-depth look at exactly what falls under the umbrella of human trafficking as a whole, such as the following: 

Sex Trafficking- When a person is misled, forced, and/or threatened to engage in prostitution.  Child Sex Trafficking- When anyone under the age of 18 is baited and forced to perform a commercial sex act. Forced Labor-The use of physical and psychological threats, dishonesty, and/or abuse of the legal process (migrants are targeted) to force people to work.  Bonded Labor or Debt Bondage-The debt of a family member imposed on a person or the exploitation of an initial debt a person incurred Domestic Servitude-When a domestic worker (housekeeper, nanny, cook, and etc.) is not allowed to leave, not given a day off, is abused, not paid minimum wage and/or not paid at all.  Forced Child Labor-Forced labor of children in the custody of non-family members for the financial benefit of persons outside of the children's families. Unlawful Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers-Children recruited by force, deception, or coercion to be soldiers, porters, cooks, messengers or spies. Both boy and girl soldiers are sexually abused by the perpetrators (rebel groups, paramilitary organizations, and some government armed forces). 

The above list breaks down the different areas of trafficking and what it in-tells. 

Traffickers Lure Unsuspecting Victims into a Life of Modern Slavery 

Homeless girl standing against a wallPhoto by Eric Ward on Unsplash

In episode 2 we talked about the face of homelessness in America. Sadly, among those persons are a large number of youths. There are a number of reasons those young people find themselves on the street. Some run away from abuse in the home or foster care placements. Whereas others are forced out onto the street because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or both.

Innocence Bound in Chains Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

Quite often those young people are targeted by human traffickers camped outside of homeless shelters. The traffickers lure the teens by offering food, shelter, and a job; then they are indebted and trapped into a life of slavery; when all they wanted was to have a meal, rest in a safe place, and make some money to live.

According to the June 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report in the U.S., a large number of child sex trafficking victims were in the foster care system at one time or another. Another method some traffickers often use is to place ads (modeling, dating, or acting) in the newspaper, magazines, and online--to lure innocent victims, such as in the case of two men in Miami.

In the NationalReview.com article, the men lured 50 women over a five-year span into sex trafficking by offering modeling jobs. Those young women obviously wanted careers in modeling but they were deceived. The women were drugged and raped. The criminals filmed the rapes and sold the videos to porn stores all over the country as well as the internet. The men were later charged for the crimes.  

In the Fortune.com article, Human Trafficking Is an Epidemic in the U.S.

Who are the Homeless?

A homeless person pushing a cartPhoto by Fares Hamouche on Unsplash 

The face of homelessness in America has dramatically changed over the years. Most people would agree, the representation of homeless persons in the thoughts of many Americans are negative. The following examples describe some of those stereotypes:

a drunk, filthy, smelly man riffling through a dumpster a bag lady pushing a cart filled with [what appears to be] a lot of junk the con-artist pretending to be homeless to get money

Thousands of Dollars on Homeless Dead Man

In a news story from 2009, there was a homeless person found that had thousands of dollars strapped to his body.  According to the Mail Tribune article, Homeless dead man found with thousands of dollars on him, the 85-year-old was found surrounded by his belongings. The police could not understand why someone with thousands of dollars strapped to his body would be homeless. 

SD shares that stories like the before mentioned story shaped her view of homeless people. She viewed them as con-artist manipulating people out of their hard-earned money. Those perceptions are no longer the reality for the majority of the homeless population in America.

The Present-Day Homeless Population   

When looking further into the state of homelessness today, one’s co-worker, classmate, family member or friend could be homeless and doing a good job at hiding the truth about the circumstances of his or her living situation. The question then becomes, “How do working people end up homeless?” The following three articles answer that question.

Tent Encampments on the Rise 

Homeless Tent EncampmentPhoto by Brandi Ibrao on Unsplash 

The first article was in The Washington Post, The rise of tent encampments is changing the face of American homelessness, by Terrence McCoy. McCoy told the story of a working woman (Monica Diaz) whose apartment building was condemned by the fire department. 

All tenants had to evacuate the building leaving Diaz and her husband homeless. They could not stay in a shelter because they had a dog. The shelters did not allow pets so they ended up living in a tent encampment. Her co-workers had no idea until it became difficult for her to maintain good hygiene; she was then fired from that job.

The Clean-up of Tent Encampments 

In the second article, Richmond Homeless on the Move Again After City Clears Large Tent Encampment, by Kate Wolffe of KQED News, Wolffe told the story of Cella Jones a homeless woman living in Richmond’s largest tent encampment. The city’s abatement crew was scheduled to do a clean-up; Jones arrived at her spot shortly after they began. She was able to collect some of her belongings before the area was cleaned and mulch spread over the site.

Homeless Because of Rent Increase and Health Issues  

The last article shared was, High rents create a new class of hidden homeless in Los Angeles, by Matt Morrison of CBS News. In this story, Morrison told the story of Ana Estrada, a social services caseworker. She and her 13-year old daughter had to live in her BMW SUV because of a $2000 rent increase and then some health issues that caused her to miss work, therefore losing money and their residence.

Forced eviction or Health Problems Leave People Street Bound 

Furthermore, some people are living paycheck to paycheck and sadly are only one paycheck away from homelessness. Also, something happens to someone who is renting or has a mortgage,