Making a Difference Beyond the Holiday Season

With all the holiday toy drives, coat collections, and food drives, it's easy for us to figure out how we can do something very simple to help homeless and other low-income families. In an immediate way, we can see that our donations of winter coats and stuffed animals can make a difference for families who don't have the extra resources we all need at this time of year. It makes us feel good, and it really does mean something to those receiving the gifts. After reading an article by Victoria Cheng in the Boston Globe last Sunday, however, I was moved to help keep people focused on the long-term goal - ending homelessness.

The article, Temporary shelter's role endures after 20 years, discusses the First Church shelter in Cambridge, and how after 20 years the beds remain full. The Executve Director, Jim Stewart, comments that a quick donation at the holidays isn't going to end the problem - despite the gratitude for it. This is in line with the concept of Housing First that United Way is trying to promote. People need to have their basic needs met, but those emergency needs will never go away unless we do something to change the system. More housing for people with extremely low-incomes, prevention resources, stabilization services, family sustaining employment... These are some of the key systemic responses that would result in solutions for homeless individuals and families for the long-term. This is what United Way is advocating for every day.

Until our entire community fully commits to providing housing-based solutions to those experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, we will continue to try to make ourselves feel better at the holidays by buying an extra toy for a little girl living in the local shelter with her mom. I'll donate this holiday season, but I won't feel better about my community until there's no need to do another toy drive and we don't have any families living in shelters at the holidays. Please join me in giving your time, talent, and financial resources now and all year long.