Homelessness, Hunger, Hypocrisy Part I: Homelessness

It has been bitter cold here, in the -20s at night, and I've been thinking alot about people who don't have four warm walls around them. On Sunday night, the city of Des Moines tore down the huts of a long-standing homeless community on the banks of the Des Moines River. The eviction of the community's residents came after a fire that was caused when a resident kicked over a propane heater while sleeping - it exploded, severely injured him, and burned the hut down.

The city is going to find emergency short-term shelter for these people - and plans to build an additional and larger shelter in Des Moines are being "fast-tracked" against the wishes of constituents who fear lower property values as a result of the shelter's location. So perhaps good will come of this -- short-term, warmer, safer housing and a larger shelter for those in need.

But as I read the articles and view the pictures, I see something else, something that is being lost: the sense of efficacy and community and activism that the residents of the homeless gathering felt. This is a long-term (at least 18 month-old) squatter's community, serviced by community organizers, activists, and people of faith. Tearing down the huts represents more than a material loss -- it is an immaterial loss of community.

Immaterial. In our culture, we think of immaterial as unimportant -- lets rehabilitate that word, rehab it (to keep with an architectural theme). To lose the immaterial: a sense of efficacy, togetherness, community, peace and safety - feels as important as to lose a home.

Thinking about all of this has made me realize, too, how petty my own home-related concerns are. Mindful of the environmental and pocket-book costs of heating the house, I stress when I put the heater above 66 (68 is my limit!). Getting the water bill yesterday, I was stunned to see that some new taxes have doubled doubled our monthly bill - from a usual $40 for sewer, trash and water to $93. This is a significant jump for us, especially in the winter when Aaron is unemployed - and I stressed about it for a good day or so.

But, the thing really is, we can afford it. We can afford to have the heater at 68 when we need to, and we can insulate the house even better to keep it warmer, and less drafty. We have running water, and a water heater, and plenty of blankets.

Even more than that - we have the immaterial: a family, a community, respect and love for each other, joy in our days. For that I'm grateful.