About 1 million people in the world are homeless. In the United States, 610,042 people—both sheltered and unsheltered—were found homeless in a single night. Homelessness affects those of all ages, from children to adults 25 years old and older. In Philadelphia, there is an average of 650 homeless people at any given point in time. This number goes up and down depending on the season; there tends to be more homeless people in the summer.
Homelessness is caused by a variety of issues. Included in these are lack of jobs, public supports, benefits and affordable transportation, healthcare and housing. However in spite of these statistics, homelessness decreased by about four percent from 2012 to 2013, and decreased nine percent since 2007. Over the last year, unsheltered homelessness decreased by about seven percent. This is because of help like outreach programs. As the need for help for the homeless grows, so do these programs. Every year, an estimated 5,500 people from various outreach programs help people living on the streets, in cars and other places that are not homes. Around 12,000 people, including families, are exposed to shelters every year.
Among the 5,500 people reaching out to the homeless people are Cabrini College students. In Campus Ministry, Father Carl Janicki—who has been here for six years—and the rest of the members are given the opportunity to help out. They meet together doing various activities to engage with local, national and international service. One of their primary outreaches has been their peanut butter and jelly night, which happens on a Friday evening at 6 p.m. The students involved make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bring them to Center City in Philadelphia for distribution.
Janicki believes that homelessness is a multi-faceted and growing problem.
“It is near and dear to the heart of Christians because of the Gospel command to love God and love our neighbor,” Janicki said. “Cabrini students can use their God-given gifts and talents to create ways to eliminate this challenge faced by so many by advocating for systems of just pay, affordable housing and encouraging less waste of food.”
More students reaching out to the homeless at Cabrini are Dr. Thomas O’Donnell’s Engagement with the Common Good classes. O’Donnell teaches two ECG classes that focus on homelessness and hunger in the world. These classes get the opportunity to visit and volunteer at a nondenominational Christian non-profit shelter in Chester, Pa. called Cityteam. Cityteam’s mission is “to passionately transform lives of individuals, families and communities.” They have been serving those suffering from homelessness, poverty and addictions for the past 55 years.
Every day, the kitchen team makes three meals. They open their doors and feed anyone who shows up. They do not know how many will come, and they do not turn anyone away. They also organize clothing donations and teach the homeless. The students from O’Donnell’s classes have been put to work in the kitchen and organizing the donated clothing to make the homeless feel as though they’re in a department store. The students have been hard at work with food drives and volunteering. Cityteam gladly welcomes all volunteers, as they are the “lifeblood of Cityteam.”
@KatieAMuska
