Your Place in the Domino Effect

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge was recently interviewed by NPR. In her interview, Secretary Fudge noted that the issues causing homelessness - namely housing affordability and housing discrimination - were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the general public does not even realize the populations that are being hit the hardest. Families with children, the elderly, and veterans are amongst the groups with rising rates of homelessness, and housing is not expected to get more affordable any time soon. With an already dire situation, the response is having a hard time keeping up with the pace of the problem.

When the issues are so large, it’s easy to feel like anything we do on an individual level is just a drop in the bucket that won’t have much of an impact. But we want to encourage you to think a few steps further. 

The invisible faces of homelessness that Secretary Fudge describes are those we meet every week on the streets of New York City and New Jersey. Our job as their neighbors is to serve them with love and without condition. So when you give financially, volunteer your time, or donate hygiene products or winter gear, you are one person making a small impact, but they all add up. In 2022, you helped us serve over 61,000 people. That’s HUGE. 

When we all come together to take action in community, we see that generosity come to life. You can make that difference in your own community, too. Just remember that big impact starts small, and we all have a part to play in making sure those invisible faces of homelessness are seen and cared for.

Sincerely,

Josiah Haken