PLEASE READ!!!!!

I suppose I am writing this simply because I don't know what else to do. I have cried, I have vented and I am PISSED!!!!

I received in my e-mail today a copy of the ordinances to be discussed at the city council meeting this Thursday. It seems the City of Lubbock is going to make it illegal to be homeless.

I understand that the majority of people believe the homeless community are not exactly the most beautiful people in town. They wear tattered clothes, they suffer from addictions and mental illmess. They panhandle for money and they urinate in public. I suppose this is just too much for some people to handle.

My husband and I have been involved with the homeless community for about three years now. we have volunteered at the prayer vigil, we have a monday night bible study and we take food to the library on occasion. We provide sleeping bags to as many people as we can and we are truly blessed by the friends we have made. The church we attend has set aside part of their missions budget to help with our passion. We have loads of friends that are right there in the trenches with us.

I realize the general concensus is that these people are all "bums" and the will never amount to anything. Let me tell you, alot of the homeless are there simply because they have hit bottom and are trying to climb back upl. We know of men who were at the prayer vigil because after they paid their child support, there was no money for rent. A dear friend worked as an electronics technician for over 30 years at the same company. He lost his sight and lost his job. He is one of the kindest people I have ever known and he is truly a minister to the homeless community. Another friend is mentally disabled but he works at Gardsky's as a bus boy. Could you pay rent and utilities on a bus boys salary? These people are just that, PEOPLE. How can our city build a huge, new jail to house criminals and spend millions of dollars to assure stray animals have shelter but leave our brothers and sisters to freeze to death?

Imagine, just for a moment, you have no clothes, except for the ones you have on your back. Imagine suffering from bi-polar disorder or anxiety or even high blood pressure or diabetes, and not being able to get your medications. Imagine not having money to even buy a burger off the dollar menu. Imagine the humiliation of having to urinate in public because you have no place else to go. Imagine not being able to shower or brush your teeth. Exactly how do you go to a job interview? Imagine the only place you have to lay your head at night is on the pavement at the Mahon Library. Hopefully with a sleeping bad to keep you warm. Maybe your belly is full but quite possibly, it is empty and you have no idea when it will be full again. If you could possibly imagine these things happening to you, just think how horrible your days would be and how frightening your nights would be. If you could possibly imagine this homeless person being a loved one, then would you be willing to do something. Would you be willing to force the city to stand up and lend a hand?


Is there NOTHING we can do?