Well Barbara, Why not invite them to your house to spend the night. California, Tulare County, Local City’s, Churches all have many many programs for these people. Obama gave them all phones as well. Section 8 housing is a gold mine for them, Edison, Gas, Water/Garbage all have special rates for them. Welfare, Disability, Social Security, WIC, Free Medical at the ER and Several churches who have lunches, dinner and food to go packages for them, Clothing is free at AG, Baptist Church. Red Cross and many other groups have special programs such as H.H.H Helping Homeless Heal. This does’t’ include the money they get from Joe Citizen or family. Barbara at what point should they have any responsibility to care for themselves. Maybe you should do a Ride Along with local Police and see what happens at night and talk to some of the homeless. Trust me You are paying to help them everyday. Enabling people don’t always help. Sense you brought the Bible into your rant maybe you should read the part that says, If you don’t Work you don’t Eat. I don’t think you should try and make people or so called Christians feel bad. Let us know how it works out for you having the homeless staying with you on Cold Nights.

They are also living, breathing human beings. They are former neighbors who are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and children that are in desperate need of protection from the harsh winter elements. They are not going away. It is so easy to be judgmental and to denounce them for undermining ones sense of comfort and sensibilities. Why not be proactive and help the church out with the cost of providing comfort and human kindness. Start a Go Fund Page for those who wish to donate money; private security companies donate a guard for a night once a week; police department assign a patrol car to be regularly checking the premises while patrolling the surrounding area; porta potties companies donate your services; nearby grocery stores and restaurants donate food items that do not need cooking (sandwich makings, pies, microwavable coffee and hot chocolate, water bottles, canned juices, etc. as people rest better when their stomach isn’t aching from hunger. Salvation Army and all Thrift Stores donate blankets, pillows, all different sizes of warm clothing that you have taking up space in your stores. AMVETS members gather up all the army cots you can find to donate for beds (would be perfect for folding up and storing during the day and pulling out at night). Parents and their children could donate gently used stuffed toys for these children to hug and cuddle up to (can be so soothing to a hungry, tired and scared child). So much time, money, and personal energy is spent during the holidays and beyond. So many professed Christians should ask themselves “what would Jesus do?” or better yet ask themselves “what would Jesus say?” to those who turn away because they think that “these people” aren’t worthy of human kindness, human caring, and a helping hand. To everyone…..” There but for the grace of God go I”……any one of us can become homeless, desperate and in need of some human kindness in our lifetime. How would you want society to treat you? Perhaps we can view help as a “Pay It Forward” act. Remember, what goes around comes around.