Chances are you have seen a homeless person on the street in your lifetime. But do you ever stop to think what led that person to less than desirable situation? More often than not when someone sees a homeless person they pass them by without a second look and do not offer their help. Some passersby may think that the homeless is an alcoholic or addicted to drugs. Others may think they are simply lazy a do not want to work. But assuming a homeless person’s situation before you know their story can lead to animosity toward homeless people. There are multiple reasons for homelessness including the high cost of living, addiction, abuse, or the loss of a family.
Every case is different and no one can truly know they someone is homeless until they know their story. Many do not realize just how common homelessness is in America. As of 2015, 564,708 people were experiencing homelessness including sleeping outside on the street or in an emergency or transitional shelter or housing program. Put of that number 83,170 people or 15% are considered chronically homeless. 47,725 or 8% are veterans. This is a shocking statistic considered that The United States government has resources that are supposed to be allocated to veterans. Unfortunately, homelessness affected the lives of two Vietnam veterans in July of 2017.
These twins who are 84 are an example of how homelessness can affect anyone at any age. The twin brothers Gary and Clifford Koekoek have lived through two wars, the trauma of losing family members in the Holocaust, and now at the age of 84, homelessness. This tragic but uplifting story highlights the problem of homelessness in America and how the kindness of strangers in necessary in order to help people who are struggling.
[post_page_title]Fleeing World War 2[/post_page_title]
Twin brothers Gary and Clifford Carol Sietze Koekoek were born and grew up in Belgium until their childhood was cut short due to the start of World War II. To escape Nazi persecution during the war, the brothers along with their family moved to Holland because their enlisted in the army. Unfortunately, many of their family members did not survive the war and were murdered in the Holocaust.
