One of the many things I found myself unprepared for as a parent was the questions. The varied, numerous, seemingly never-ending questions. “Can I have a treat?” “How does the microwave work?” “Where did great-grandma go when she died?” “Can I have another treat?” “Is great-grandma coming back?”
Some of the questions are what we call small questions and easier to answer: “Yes, you can have a treat . . . no, you cannot have another treat.” But others, like where people go when they die, are what we call big questions.
Small Kids With Big Questions
On one chilly winter morning during our ride to school, my then six-year-old son’s voice squeaked from the back seat. “Why is that man sleeping outside?” I glanced at him in the rear-view mirror to see his tiny face pressed against the window, fogging up the glass. His brow furrowed, and his hazel eyes looked worried.
Whether he knew it or not, my son was asking a big question that couldn’t be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.” A big question requires conversation, careful thought, and sometimes, even adults don’t know the answer. But in our house, we don’t shy away from big questions. I told him this was a big question, and promised to answer it when he got home.
After school, before we even arrived home, he again asked about the man on the street. I can always count on the kids to remember when I owe them an answer. Many big questions are difficult for me to answer. And while I’m not an expert on homelessness, I have sat on the board of the Pope Francis Center for the past six years and gained some perspective on the subject.
The Pope Francis Center
The Pope Francis Center is a nonprofit based in Detroit. It provides services and resources, including temporary housing, to those in Detroit experiencing homelessness. Most importantly, the organization’s mission is ending chronic homelessness.
Like other big cities, Detroit has a significant population experiencing homelessness. But one of the many reasons why my family chooses to live in the city, rather than one of the surrounding suburbs, is because of the socioeconomic diversity. This includes those among us that face homelessness and that means I am faced with answering big questions about it.
When explaining homelessness to a then four- and six-year-old, I wanted to make sure two points were abundantly clear:
- First, people that happen to find themselves without a home for whatever reason are no different than us, and are deserving of kindness and respect.
- Second, although life is unfair and unpredictable, my children will ALWAYS have a safe place in my home.
The Policy Perspective
If I were trying to explain why people experience homelessness to adults, chatting with friends at a dinner party, asking for funding at a presentation, or writing an article . . . I might start with the statistics. I might explain that in Detroit there are around 2,000 people experiencing homelessness, although it’s difficult to get an accurate count. With policies like COVID-era HUD relief ending, these numbers are likely to increase.
From a policy perspective, homelessness in Detroit can be boiled down to a lack of affordable housing mixed with an unsteady job market. Housing costs have raised while wages have stayed the same–and with slow growth in the job market and more layoffs. But my kids don’t care about policy. My son wasn’t asking about the group, he was asking about an individual.
The Personal Perspective
My son wanted to know why the man on the corner near our house was sleeping outside. And the truth is that it’s impossible to know, without asking him, what series of circumstances led to that man sleeping on that corner. There are many different reasons why someone might end up without a place to sleep. He may have had a problem with addiction or lost a job. It’s possible a relationship ended that also meant the end of his housing situation.
Homelessness might be related to issues with mental health or a criminal record that makes it difficult to secure housing. Someone may decide that a situation is so hard, dangerous, or miserable that leaving–even without anywhere to go–seems like their best option.
People experiencing homelessness are not a monolithic population. They may have arrived in that situation by a variety of different avenues. If you set aside the policy issues I mentioned above, a large portion of what causes homelessness is essentially chance. Factors including race, familial financial situation, and mental health status can set a foundation that impact the likelihood they experience homelessness. This is all broadly determined by chance (God, the cosmos, or whatever third party you believe in).
An Opportunity to Give Back
In the same vein, I share with my kids that much of our good fortune is also a gift of chance. Sure, their father and I work hard but at the end of the day, much of life is determined by luck. I’m humble enough to accept that. And I’m grateful to be in a position that I can share any excess.
If chance has similarly been generous with you, you may also feel inclined to give back. Consider donating whatever time, money or talent you have to offer. Some local organizations supporting populations experiencing homelessness, in addition to Pope Francis Center, include: COTS Detroit, Covenant House Michigan, and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.
