Campaign: Homelessness in NYC

New York City: The Ahmadiyya Post will be looking at the sudden increase in homelessness across the world, going from city to city and highlighting the problems that citizens face. In “mega” cities many people are unaware of the situation of their fellow citizens because they are somewhat hidden and live separate lives. However, now is the time to become more socially conscious and tackle these issues contributing to society and its needs.

In this article we will be looking at the epidemic that is rapidly increasing in New York City and how we can become more aware of it. As we walk through cities in the developed world we are in awe of the wealth and luxury that is pumped through the media and businesses. It may seem farfetched to think that in one of the financial capitals of the world there are more than 40,000 people including 16,000 children experiencing homelessness each night. These statistics are shocking and alarming for people living in the city and around the world who flock to the US.

No person would believe that with the benefits and health system that the US has there are still so many children living in terrible conditions with almost no hope of a future. Each year more than 113,000 different New Yorkers, including nearly 43,000 children sleep in the municipal shelter system. The number of homeless families in NYC has doubled over the past decade.

We all know that Mayor Bloomberg has set up a few initiatives which have tried to help the poorest citizens of his city. This issue is deep-rooted in the history of New York and for any initiative to succeed it needs to change the mentality and attitude of its people because many homeless men and women are sufferers of violence, abuse and depression. Homelessness in New York is now at an all time high.

A recent survey showed that New Yorkers have an awareness of the poverty and homelessness around them but now we need to turn that awareness into action and take practical steps to tackle this problem. An organisation in the city which is at the forefront of the fight against homelessness is Homes for the Homeless.

Homes for the Homeless recognizes that homelessness is not merely a housing problem, it is an education problem and a family problem, and predominantly, it is a poverty problem. Homes for the Homeless aims to alleviate the problems of poverty by providing families with the tools necessary to move families out of the shelters and prepare them to live on their own. These include educational resources, job training resources, health services, and summer camps for children. I urge all the readers of this blog living in New York City to get involved with this organisation for the betterment of the needy.

The Holy Quran says:

"If you give alms openly, it is well and good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you" [2:272]

Click here to get involved with Homes for the Homeless




Zubair Ahmed - Founder THE AHMADIYYA POST