Our Works of Charity / David Bethuram

Journey shows how Catholic Charities helps the homeless

Homelessness is caused by a multitude of complex factors.

At its core, it arises when individuals’ wages and incomes are insufficient to cover rent or mortgage costs, along with essential needs such as food, medicine, health care, transportation and childcare.

Contributing events include job loss, divorce, poverty, evictions, loss of support networks, serious illness or accidents, the death of a loved one and natural disasters like fires or tornadoes. While no single factor alone causes homelessness, a combination of these factors significantly increases the risk.

A large portion of the homeless population consists of the “hidden homeless,” who live doubled up with friends or family. This group is larger and more significant than previously thought.

Those at risk of homelessness include the extremely poor, who face multiple hardships such as falling behind on rent or mortgage payments, having utilities shut off, spending more than 50% of their income on housing, or going without food, clothing or medical care to stay housed.

Many challenges contribute to homelessness. Physical and mental health issues, disabilities, alcoholism, addiction, and experiences of domestic violence and post-traumatic stress disorder can make it difficult to earn a living wage and maintain stability. Lack of access to affordable health and mental health care, education and job training exacerbates these issues.

Jackie’s story illustrates these challenges. After suffering a heart attack several years ago, she and her family faced devastating financial losses due to lost wages and mounting medical bills. They were forced to move from their home to a motel, then to their car within 45 days. Jackie recalls, “I was truly lost.”

Their situation improved when they connected with Catholic Charities. Through case management, they created an action plan, found work and began to regain stability. Jackie noted, “Catholic Charities was the first place that gave us a chance to stop reacting to what was happening and start acting.”

With emergency rent assistance and wraparound services from Catholic Charities, Jackie and her family did their part by securing good jobs, using the food pantry and working with case management to identify and address problem areas, set goals and work toward stability. During the past five years, Jackie has regularly checked in, sometimes needing support and guidance, much like a friend.

Today, Jackie and her family are stably housed in a large rental home with a backyard and space for a garden. Both Jackie and her husband have good jobs with livable wages and benefits. Her older son and his child have moved in and contribute to expenses, while her youngest son is about to graduate high school with a positive outlook on the future.

The hardships of homelessness are now a distant memory. Jackie is thrilled to have all her “chicks” under one roof and cherishes the time with her grandson. With stability, she can better care for her family and enjoy life.

Jackie expressed her gratitude, saying, “Although things are better, without Catholic Charities’ ongoing support, I don’t know what we would have done.”
 

(David Bethuram is executive director of the archdiocesan Secretariat for Catholic Charities. You can contact him at dbethuram@archindy.org.) †