Exploring the human stories behind homelessness, the challenges of rising housing insecurity, and how organizations like Joppa bring hope and solutions
If you’re not familiar with it, Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder tells the story of a wonderful man I had the good fortune of having as a friend in college, Dr Jim O’Connell, the doctor to the roughest of Boston’s homeless. It’s inspiring, but when I asked him how close we might get be as a country to “solving” the issue, he was not very hopeful: “It requires more resources than I can imagine we will be willing to commit.” The efforts of those willing to be involved are literally saving lives, and we need to be eternally grateful to them.
Related to homeless-ness is urban poverty, and this business of community. I would suggest people look at this web site that is working in the poorest most crime ridden neighborhood in Kansas City, https://theurbanfarmingguys.com/about It is a model for bringing back neighborhoods, and helping people get back on their feet, homeless people are part of this picture. Take a look and see the possibilities!
More from Abena: We lost contact with him for four years. During that time I'd gotten married, had two babies, moved to a new house. We had no idea where he was. When my sister finally found him, four years had passed. He never spoke about details of his absence...we didn't force the issue, just grateful we had him around again. He had a stroke a few years later and passed away due to those complications. My sister and I took care of him til his last breath. Prior to the stroke he'd been living with a "girlfriend" but Joppa still considered him homeless.
Very informative. Thanks for this interview.
Ed’s
This is an extraordinarily moving and inspiring podcast, one of Julie’s best and most urgent.
Thanks, Doug
If you’re not familiar with it, Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder tells the story of a wonderful man I had the good fortune of having as a friend in college, Dr Jim O’Connell, the doctor to the roughest of Boston’s homeless. It’s inspiring, but when I asked him how close we might get be as a country to “solving” the issue, he was not very hopeful: “It requires more resources than I can imagine we will be willing to commit.” The efforts of those willing to be involved are literally saving lives, and we need to be eternally grateful to them.
Related to homeless-ness is urban poverty, and this business of community. I would suggest people look at this web site that is working in the poorest most crime ridden neighborhood in Kansas City, https://theurbanfarmingguys.com/about It is a model for bringing back neighborhoods, and helping people get back on their feet, homeless people are part of this picture. Take a look and see the possibilities!
More from Abena: We lost contact with him for four years. During that time I'd gotten married, had two babies, moved to a new house. We had no idea where he was. When my sister finally found him, four years had passed. He never spoke about details of his absence...we didn't force the issue, just grateful we had him around again. He had a stroke a few years later and passed away due to those complications. My sister and I took care of him til his last breath. Prior to the stroke he'd been living with a "girlfriend" but Joppa still considered him homeless.