Job losses, forclosures, recession, financial crisis and many other phrases seem to be part of our daily language. Data about the unemployment rate, housing values, the stock market and so much more are thrown our way quantifying how troubling these times are.
Many of us have someone in our family or one of our neighbors, friends or co-workers who is affected in some way by this economic turmoil. The stress of not being able to make ends meet financially takes a great toll on those struggling through this challenge. Many families today never would have envisioned that they would be the ones struggling.
Among some people, there seems to be a need to look for a place to assign blame. I am confident that no one enduring this unimaginable nightmare is looking for sympathy, but I do suggest that what is needed is empathy. Empathy is understanding, being aware of and being sensitive to the feelings or circumstances of others. I hope that each of us can exhibit a degree of empathy for everyone who struggles today, not only those who are affected by the financial downturn, but also those who have been carrying the weight of poverty on their shoulders for years.
Absolutely no one wants to be poor. Many people who are living in poverty work incredibly hard each and every day. We need to be sensitive to the reality that, over time, the challenges of being poor simply can wear down a person. We should understand that children living in poverty have every aspect of their lives affected negatively by their circumstances. We should be sensitive not to let one more life tragically end because of our unwillingness to make alleviating poverty our top public policy item. Finally, we should know that poverty does not have to live and flourish in this region.
Some efforts have been underway for many years to make a difference.
Since 1975, Beyond Housing has been carrying out programs that address poverty one family at a time through homeownership provisions, innovative social-service enriched rental housing, foreclosure intervention and home-repair programs. Also, since 2001, we have been working with the residents and leaders of Pagedale in providing an intentionally integrated series of programs designed to alleviate the consequences of poverty.
New homes have been built, existing homes have been rehabbed, a Family Support Center has been opened to serve a wide variety of community needs, targeted foreclosure prevention efforts have occurred, economic development work has just begun and, we hope, a community-wide asset-building program will launch in the near future. Even more exciting is the burgeoning partnership with the Normandy School District to link our work with that of the school system and expand our efforts throughout the district. Finally, the advent of Washington University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis joining the work truly will create an effort that is transformative.
We can and should understand; we can and should be aware; and we can and should be sensitive. But, most important, we must be resolved to alleviate the consequences of poverty in our region. Empathy alone will not make this happen. Courage, commitment and action will get it done. This is not a dream and not a hope, but a mandate for our collective humanity.