Reply #24: That is one of my very favorite quotations, and the chapter from that book on

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"Listening To Those Closest To The Problem" is one of THE most important chapters for everyone to read! In fact, thank you for mentioning it... I haven't thought of it for a long time, and it needs to be repeated. The last time I saw Jim Wallis in person, I mentioned that chapter to him, and he said, "You are right.. it is a very important piece. We have a very hard time getting people to hear that, but when they do, they find out just how right it is." (I am paraphrasing... I don't remember his exact words, but that is the exact spirit of what he said, and he was quite emphatic about it.)

I am assuming you are sincere in listening to what *I* am saying, too. So I will go forward on that assumption. Yes, there is merit and even need for both.

Here is the problem...

First: This society is so besotted with charity, and that is the desire of the libertarians and TeaPartiers (I hope you digested what I was saying about that!), and by continually reaching for charity, "progressives" are giving them exactly what they want.

Second: As I keep saying, we have relied on charity to solve homelessness now for over 30 years, and it just keeps getting worse. Why keep doing what is not working? Because it then leaves us free to keep blaming homeless people for the failure?

The only time I actually will see the value of charity is when it is coupled with a STRONG (dare I say "robust"?) push for systemic ACTION.

THIRD, and probably Most important... Homeless people don't WANT charity... they WANT to be able to house ourselves decently, to feed ourselves decently, and to use our gifts to the benefit of society, rather than chasing from one charity to another just to survive.

I really don't think that is too much to ask in the richest country in the world.