By all accounts, the 17th Annual Texas Homeless Network conference, Making Waves to End
Homelessness, recently held in Corpus Christi, was a huge success. We had keynote addresses by Shaun Griffin, Dr. Eva Eger, Nan Roman and Philip Mangano and 36 workshop presentations. People came from all over Texas to renew themselves, learn new skills and network.

Amidst all the learning, networking and sharing during the conference, USA Today released a study with findings that about 1 in 400 Americans are without a home. Of this number, 40 percent live on the streets and 60 percent live in emergency shelter or transitional housing, 53 percent are single adults, 42 percent are families and 5 percent are homeless/runaway youth. In addition, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are expected to add about 3 percent to the national homeless population.

Homelessness in America has become a national disgrace. The thing is, we know how to stop it, if we only have the will. The three main causes of homelessness are 1)lack of adequate income, 2)lack of affordable housing and 3)lack of healthcare. In Texas, 25 percent of the population does not have healthcare insurance (www.census.gov). Almost anywhere in Texas, a person would have to work 108 hours per week, at minimum wage, to afford a modest two-bedroom dwelling (www.nlihc.org) and still afford things like food, clothing and other necessities.

Like Andy Warhol said, “…you actually have to change them yourself.”

I can hear you now, “I can’t fix homelessness, I’m just one person.” I think that first, we must tell ourselves that we CAN promote change. Look at Ms. Rosa Parks—she sparked the civil rights movement! One thing we can do…..educate. Talk to people about homelessness and the causes of homelessness. Talk or write to your elected officials. Talk to your family. Talk to your neighbors. Talk to your friends. Write a letter to the editor.

If enough of us talk and write about homelessness, change will occur.

Isn’t it time for a change?