Pray for Women Experiencing Homelessness
by Sister Alicia V. Torres, FE
“What is your name?” I asked.
“Eda,” the woman replied, sitting Indian-style, back against the Pearle Vision facade.
Our conversation revealed she was HIV positive, and received sporadic care at a south-side Chicago health clinic. Eda is just one of an estimated 650,000 homeless Americans. About thirty percent are women. Of that total, anywhere from one third to one half have substance abuse issues, and one in four report either domestic abuse or mental illness as the reason for their status.
The poor are truly among us, and they are homeless. The biblical “preferential option for the poor” directed the Jews to provide for the most helpless in Hebrew society--the widow and the orphan. Today, we as Church and as a country must allow our hearts to be softened to the needs of today’s anawim, particularly women. No matter what circumstances brought them to the street, Jesus calls us to seek out the lost in his name.
Both Catholic Charities and Catholic Worker communities have local programs that meet the needs of the homeless, including housing and rehabilitation programs.
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has an online database for resources to address homelessness among women, particularly focusing on shelters:
The Citygate Network (formerly the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions) has a book called Invisible Neighbors.
Lord, We Pray:
*For homeless women, that the resources they need may be made available to them so that they may live their lives with human dignity;
*For those who have homes, that they may be aware of the needs of others, and open their hearts, minds and even doors to the homeless and their needs;
*For those who struggle with mental illness and lack shelter, that compassion may inspire those who are whole to share both emotional and physical shelter with Your daughters;
*For government and health organizations, that their efforts would prevent others from victimizing homeless women physically, emotionally, socially, and sexually;
*For women who are driven to homelessness due to domestic violence and abuse, that those who sin against them be brought to justice, and that these women be brought to healing;
*For those in a position to offer education and job training to homeless women, that they would empower women to have confidence in their skills and empower them to leave behind cycles of poverty and despair;
*For those women among us who may have a home and family, but feel spiritually homeless, that they may put their trust in the Lord, knowing that our home is with God, and as long as we hold God in our hearts...we are home.