Hidden from sight

Homelessness in Cape Girardeau?

Not in the City of Roses, the city of murals, this city of shopping malls and multitudes of churches.

Where could our homeless be?

Homelessness looks different in Cape Girardeau than it does in a big city, where housing for some is a cardboard box on a sidewalk.

Our homeless sometimes sleep on friends' couches or in a car. They're often embarrassed about being homeless.

The Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau still spent $40,000 providing shelter for homeless people last year.

Last week, Roy Jones, housing coordinator for the Community Caring Council, got the mayor to sign a declaration recognizing homelessness in the city.

Oak Ridge Elementary School constructed a "homeless village" to teach its students how being homeless might feel and how malnutrition can affect people. They also learned how difficult it would be for someone making minimum wage to buy a house. They learned that most of us are a job loss or an injury away from being that someone.

This time of year, everyone dreams of being home for Christmas. Let's do whatever we can to ensure that no one is homeless for Christmas.

If you'd like to do something for the homeless in our area, please contact the Community Caring Council or the Salvation Army. They will appreciate your interest and your willingness to help.