In her article “Does Poverty Cause Homelessness?” Marchauna Rodgers argued that the United States has misdiagnosed the problem of homelessness, equating it with a lack of resources, or specifically one resource – a home. As a result of that misdiagnosis, she wrote, government programs and social services have focused on addressing symptoms rather than root causes.
It’s easy to see how we went astray. It’s right there in the word: home-less-ness. If someone is home-less, it would seem we could rectify that situation by providing the thing s/he is lacking.
But what if that person is also friend-less, job-less, without a family or the social and life skills one is supposed to learn in a family? What if that person is severely depressed, suffering from trauma, domestic violence or severe anxiety? What if that person aged out of the foster care system and doesn’t really know how to do life on her own? What if that person can’t read or dropped out of high school? What if she keeps getting fired because of angry outbursts that have nothing to do with her job? What if he is coping in the only way he knows how – self-medicating with drugs and alcohol? What if that person is not only home-less but hope-less?
A home in and of itself doesn’t seem to address any of those deeper issues.
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The emotional and psychological scars are not immediately visible, but they're just as real as the bruises. Helping homeless women and children takes time, consistent love and support, a commitment to building trust.
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God's design for family is perfect. But our families aren't. Pastor Sonny talks about why family is so important and how we can help our residents experiencing the consequences of family breakdown.
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Dr. Mark Baird explores the long-term consequences when people go through childhood trauma.
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Research confirms what we see working closely with homeless or addicted people: Childhood trauma has extensive long-term consequences. Still, there is hope in God's healing power.
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When we've experienced trauma and brokenness, we can truly take refuge in Jesus and not our own abilities. There, he shows us he was near all along.
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Kevin came to UGM for a meal and protection from the snow. Now, he’s an alumnus of the LIFE Recovery Program – and, as he says, “a whole different person.”
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Our community is generous: UGM and other charities must be accountable to them not just for the temporary relief of suffering but for long-term change.
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The task of learning can be very difficult for people who grew up with trauma. UGM's Vocational Education Centers specialize in overcoming those obstacles.
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When Jesus brings Lazarus to life again, he directs the community to “unbind him” from his funeral wrappings. That's what trauma recovery looks like.
