Awareness Month Nomination: The Homeless


All around the world, there are thousands of people scraping together a life on the side of the road – living on alms and sleeping on cardboard. Homelessness is an international issue, an issue which is of the highest importance because it’s something that dramatically reduces the opportunities and quality of life available to those who fall victim to it. Homelessness is the bane of human society, leaving all those without a roof over their heads to fend for themselves, rejected and alone. This is why we need to raise awareness on the issue of homelessness; we need to support the homeless by showing them that we care.

How many times have we rushed through the train station or dashed down dirt-filled roads, noticing out of the corner of our eye somebody lying down on a thin sheet – someone who calls that station or road home? But for how long? At any moment, they could be ordered out into the cold night air again, with nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Can we let this happen? It is absolutely essential that we raise awareness to assist the homeless all over the world. Homelessness is an important issue which needs to be addressed, because we can’t just allow our brothers and sisters to go on suffering in this way! Every year, more and more people are reduced to a life on the streets, and with every new homeless person the call to raise awareness on homelessness becomes even greater.

Sadly, homelessness is an issue which can affect anyone and everyone. Sometimes it is caused by the rising cost of living, sometimes by debt – but whatever the reason for homelessness, it is a nightmare from which many will never wake. Homelessness destroys many of it’s victims for life. We must all agree that homelessness is an issue which needs to be attacked internationally, with the aid of government authorities, and is such a significant issue due to the fact that it – like a horrendous disease – claims so many and hardly ever lets go. It is our duty to help those in need by showing the world the plight of the homeless and supporting them by spreading the message.

Currently, very few organisations are supporting the homeless, and enough isn’t being done to raise awareness on this issue and encourage people to lend a hand. However, a few organisations (such as the Salvation Army, the American National Alliance To End Homelessness and the Australian group Homelessness Australia) are providing considerable support to victims of homelessness, by offering free food, shelter and raising funds via appeals. Yet, this is hardly enough, and the message to help the homeless needs to be spread internationally. Everyone can join in, albeit in different ways and on different levels. Firstly, those who do not have the means to donate financially to appeals for the homeless could spread the message via posters (in their school, workplace, etc) and online posts on various blogs. By doing this, we could tell the world about homelessness and explicitly show our support for the homeless.

Another way of spreading the message to help the homeless is by having an International Awareness Month For The Homeless, during which youth and teenagers could donate some of their time to join organisations which support the homeless (as volunteers for Salvation Army, etc) and governments could encourage people to donate to the cause. By internationally combining as one to assist the homeless, we could help all those without a home to find shelter and rebuild their lives.

Homelessness is an issue which affects many all over the world. With an International Awareness Month For The Homeless, we could aid those who are homeless – wherever they may be – and help shout out the call to help them around the world. Together, we can significantly reduce the number of kids and adults who have to sleep on the streets. Together, we can help the homeless!