“Homeless people are just lazy. They have no work ethic. People choose to be homeless,” this is the myth that most people hold regarding the homeless. This stereotype is far from the truth. In fact, homelessness is a problem in Fairfax County, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation.
What does it mean to be “homeless”? It’s obvious, right? Maybe it’s not so obvious. Homeless, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, is anyone, who due to a lack of housing, lives in inadequate or temporary settings, such as: emergency shelters, hotels, trailer parks, cars, or doubled up with relatives or friends because of loss of housing or economic hardship. In order to tackle this issue, we must dispel any ignorance that people have regarding the homeless and become knowledgeable about the facts of homelessness.
Here are the facts:
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Most homeless people are single men. WRONG.
· Contrary to popular belief, not all homeless people are single men. Nearly sixty percent of all homeless persons in Fairfax County are in families and thirty-five percent are youths under the age of eighteen.
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Homeless people don’t have jobs. INCORRECT.
· In fact, sixty percent of adults in homeless families in Fairfax County are employed.
Homeless kids don’t go to school. FALSE.
· During the 2010-11 school year, 2,278 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students were identified as homeless.
There are no homeless people in my town. They only live in the city. WRONG AGAIN.
· Bet you didn’t know that Fairfax County is home to the second largest number of people without homes in the region, second only to Washington, D.C.
Homeless people choose to be so. NOT TRUE.
· The top reason people become homeless in Fairfax County is because their income does not keep pace with the increasing cost of housing. Other reasons include domestic violence, disabilities, and lack of basic life skills.
“Homelessness is such a big problem that I can’t do anything to help it.” That’s another lie. Now that you have the facts, it is time to take action.
One great way to help end homelessness in Fairfax County is by having a Food Drive. Get together with your business, church, school, family, or friends and hold a Food Drive! Not sure how to run a Food Drive? Food for Others can help! Check out their Power Pack Program Food Drive Planning Kit.
