reflections

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Resources. Shopping carts and tarps, cardboard and polythene. Often-dirty blankets, especially in this weather. Another rainy night in store for our friends and others outdoors. Chronic homelessness is an apt title for the living conditions of thousands of human beings. Not unlike the conditions of refugees and other marginalized populations, as they work the days and survive the nights, frustrating thoughts of the glacial pace of real change in their situations are dulled by the relentlessness and the seeking of stress relief. Good humor doesn’t exactly abound, but is in evidence rain or shine. Who can say– maybe it is not so much an indictment of the officials and advocates and charities who are at least trying, but of society as a whole. Structural issues need to be reconsidered, but for that to be recognized society has to consider all priorities. It does come down to resources. Unless a person has made this kind of living a lifestyle choice, and is on a permanent campout …