Stop the Stigma of Homelessness

LAST MONTH, I VISITED A HOMELESS SHELTER WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
ALLIANE TO END HOMELESSNESS! WE HAD THE OPPORT"NIT# TO SPEND TIME WITH MAN#
PEOPLE THERE! I WAS OVERWHELMED WHILE SPEA$IN% TO MAN# #O"N% AD"LTS WHO
SHOWED HOPE, AM&ITION AND DESIRE FOR THEIR F"T"RES! A ONVERSATION WITH A
#O"N% WOMAN NAMED MAR# SPEIFIALL# HIT HOME FOR ME!
SHE TOLD ME, SHE'S NEVER $NOWN WHAT IT'S LI$E TO MA$E LIFELON% FRIENDS, NEVER
$NOWN THE SAME TEAHER FOR MORE THAN A #EAR AND HAS NEVER HAD A PLAE TO
ALL HOME! DESPITE THESE %RIM OMMENTS, SHE SAID THAT &EIN% HOMELESS DOESN'T
DEFINE HER! SHE TOLD "S THAT HER SHELTER HAS %IVEN HER MORE THAN A WARM MEAL
AND AN OASIONAL &ED, THE SERVIES PROVIDED %IVE HER HOPE!
IT'S EAS# TO ASS"ME A ERTAIN STI%MA ASSOIATED WITH &EIN% HOMELESS! HOMELESS
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN PORTRA#ED AS LA(#, DR"% ADDITS OR ALOHOLIS! &"T
HOMELESSNESS IS M"H DEEPER THAN THESE STEREOT#PES! DID #O" $NOW THAT OF O"R
NATION'S LASSIFIED POOR ) SI* H"NDRED THO"SAND FAMILIES WITH +!,- MILLION
HILDREN E*PERIENE HOMELESSNESS ON AN# %IVEN NI%HT!
WE HAVE THE POWER TO HAN%E THIS THRO"%H EVENTS LI$E THIS TODA#! THE ALLIANE
HAS MADE EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE %OVERNMENT A%ENIES S"H AS HEAD START,
MEDIAID AND TEMPORAR# ASSISTANE FOR NEED# FAMILIES SO F"NDIN% AN ."I$L#
%ET TO THOSE WHO DESPERATEL# NEED IT!
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Stop The Stigma0!1
I AM HONORED THAT &E#ON2, 3A#4(, OLDPLA#, &RAD PAISLE#, AND &R"E SPRIN%STEEN
FEEL THE PASSION THAT %4N4 AND O"R EMPLO#EES FEEL FOR THOSE STRI$EN WITH THE
PAIN AND S"FFERIN% OF LIVIN% ON THE STREETS!
WHAT I DIDN'T TELL #O" EARLIER IS THAT MAR# IS 3"ST ELEVEN #EARS OLD! SHE IS WISE
&E#OND HER #EARS AND HAS HOPE FOR A PERMANENT LIVIN% SIT"ATION, ED"ATION AND
A AREER! SHE WANTS TO &E A TEAHER!
3OHN &"N#AN ONE SAID, 5#O" HAVE NOT TR"L# LIVED "NTIL #O" DO SOMETHIN% FOR
SOMEONE WHO AN NEVER REPA# #O"!6 WITH #O"R %ENERO"S DONATIONS, THE LIVE
WELL AND OFF THE STREETS AMPAI%N WILL HELP F"ND PRO%RAMS THAT PROVIDE MORE
THAN 3"ST A TEMPORAR# SOL"TION! THESE PRO%RAMS PROVIDE PERMANENT RESIDENE
AND %IVE NEESSAR# RESO"RES TO STA# OFF THE STREETS AND IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT!
I HOPE #O" ONTIN"E TO 3OIN O"R FI%HT AND SI%N "P FOR O"R -$ THIS NOVEM&ER!
THAN$ #O" SO M"H FOR OMIN% O"T TODA#) TO%ETHER WE AN MA$E A H"%E
DIFFERENE IN THE LIVES OF MAN# INDIVID"ALS WHO WANT MORE FOR THEIR F"T"RES!
WE AN HELP THEM AHIEVE THEIR DREAMS! IT STARTS WITH A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS
AND SOMEONE TO &ELIEVE IN THEM!
THAN$ #O" AND I HOPE #O" EN3O# THE ONERT!

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