From our Blog

6 Responses

1. 

   I am a soldier at the Corps in Glendale, AZ. Arizona has a pretty bad homeless situation in the winter, be we don’t freeze over here. in any case, I don’t believe we can force them anywhere. they will do as they please. All we can really do is offer help, and pray they accept!
2. 

   for those who are not of legal age or not of sound mind I would like to think our system would step in and force shelter upon them. Any death including needless deaths are not never acceptable. We are charged to look after our fellow man in the love of Christ
3. 

   My opinion here rests somewhere between the “force them in” and the “open the door and let them come” stances. Obviously, we can’t go around essentially kidnapping homeless people, even if it is for their own good – but what we need is officers who are willing to spend those cold nights, especially during the worst of conditions, patrolling in their vans and offering anyone they see without shelter a ride to their facilities. Rather than forcing people in, we give them the easiest path to help that we possibly can – I believe this is what the Army does with most other issues, so why shouldn’t it work with this one? Those who refuse to go should be respectfully handed a business card with the address of the corps and a phone number of the CO, told that the offer stands anytime. A lot of these people are just looking to have their choices respected – that little bit of respect can save a lot more lives, and souls, then rounding them up like animals because “we know better.”
4. 

   What is offered? Housing or a week free at the hostel, then get out? Why not an apartment and a job?
5. 

   Unfortunately we cannot not force the homeless to do anything as they have the right to do as they want,and being a good samaritan does not give one the power to ‘force’ anything on anyone even if it is for their own good. Drug addicts cannot be forced into rehab, as it is their right to do drugs. (under the human rights code) If someone has the right to decide for another the responsibiltty is then laid on the decider’s shoulders.
6. 

   You cannot force someone to come inside and it is monumentally difficult to declare that a person is globally incompetent. I pray that the Holy Spirit will move in people to act against homelessness, to get help lobby government for sustainable action now and that those affected may receive the mercy,respect and honour from all of us that they need and desire to live a fulfilled and deeply joyful life.