Homelessness in Kansas City - A Crime or Natural Disaster?
Most emergency assistance organizations treat hunger or homelessness as a natural disaster by providing much needed relief to people in need. "It is a tragedy that poverty continues to increase in the United States, now one of the wealthiest nations in the world," stated Rev. Larry Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA. Yet each organization clearly underscores the need to permanently solve the problem, showing we need to address the problem as if it were a crime, not a natural disaster. Leading service organizations in Kansas City articulate the central need to eliminate hunger, homelessness, or poverty, not just to relieve the condition. The Homeless Services Coalition works to "eradicate homelessness in our community." reStart, a homeless shelter, focuses on "ending homelessness in our community." Harvesters food bank "feed[s] hungry people today and work[s] to end hunger tomorrow." United Services Community Action Agency's goal is...