Personal Challenges
Homelessness is traumatic. People experiencing homelessness often live with a multitude of personal challenges, such as the sudden loss of a home or adjusting to conditions of shelter life. Some people, particularly women, may have histories of trauma, including sexual, psychological, or physical abuse. Most families who are experiencing homelessness are headed by single women, and these women experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse at a rate higher than the national average.
Impact in Society
Within the larger society, people experiencing homelessness often are marginalized, isolated, and discriminated against. Additionally, they are highly vulnerable to violence and victimization, and re-traumatization becomes a distinct possibility.
Making a Difference
We see this trauma and the effects of this on a weekly basis. The homeless lady sleeping on the sidewalk had become one of those statistics. This past fall she was sitting on a bench when she was attacked by another mentally ill woman for no apparent reason. Donna, who is in her 70’s, suffered a broken finger, multiple cuts and bruises, along with a contusion on her head that needed several stitches. It isn’t just the physical damage she suffered, but also the emotional damage and fear of it happening again. Thankfully by helping her during this time it has allowed us to build a friendship with her and to gain her trust. We are now working at finding her a safe and supportive apartment to live in.
