Trauma and homelessness

When you hear someone say something rude or judgmental about a homeless person they see, here are some facts to share with them. A recent study by Green Doors highlighted by RESCUE magazine found that 92% of homeless mothers have experienced abuse. 83% of homeless children by age 12 have been exposed to an violent event. 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused by the time they are 18 and 1 in 4 men have experienced physical violence from a partner. This is horrifying, but these are just statistics. Each “stat” is a story, a human being, a child of God with an identity and a future. We serve these individuals every day and partner with them in their recovery. However, we can all take action to make sure the narrative about the homeless is changed by speaking up to our family, our friends, and our neighbors about the "rest of the story" for many people experiencing homelessness.