101: Welcome Strangers into Our Home (2)

【Anywhere But Here】
We must not lose sight of the deeper importance in opening our sanctuary--our place of peace and comfort--even to a stranger, because they’re in real need of help.
 
In many ways, this idea becomes clearer when viewed through the lens of affordable housing crisis in the US.
 
Today, we quite regularly come across people living in tents or cars--individuals who’ve become homeless and displaced. When we do, it’s imperative to remind ourselves that many have fallen into these circumstances through misfortune; often born into abuse/violence/poverty and never had a fair shot to learn basic life skills or access quality education.
 
What’s more, America faces a historic shortage of affordable housing--a problem decades in the making. We simply haven’t built nearly as enough homes, especially for the lowest-income renters. To make matters worse, basic housing is increasingly out of reach for many as rents have risen faster than wages over the last few decades.
 
For this reason, today's affordable housing shortage is staggering, estimated at more than 7 million units.
 
Even so, a glimpse of optimism can be found. Through public/non-profit programs, along with donations and tireless volunteer efforts, America today is housing more people than ever before, and faster than ever in the past.
 
In fact, voters in some states/cities have been asked in recent years to approve more spending for affordable housing. In some communities--often those with more liberal constituencies--voters have supported these measures even when they require tax increases.
 
Many of these places have already drawn up plans to construct new affordable housing. While the progress is far from sufficient and we still have long ways to go, these compassionate actions offer genuine hope for a better tomorrow.
 
Unfortunately, a regrettable observation is that significant hurdles often arise just as these plans begin to move forward.
 
Despite swallowing a bitter pill on higher taxes, the local opposition frequently surfaces when proposed construction sites appear close to home. Neighbors may object, saying, “I don’t want homeless people and refugees here; I’m just trying to protect the safety of my neighborhood. Build it anywhere--but not here.”
 
As this opposition gains momentum, the projects stall or collapse altogether.
 
Sadly, some people are quick to dismiss this as a classic pattern of “Agree in principle, but disagree on the details.”
 
That is, fully agreeing with the principles of “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--yet retreat from those principles when it comes to welcoming strangers into their own neighborhoods, saying, “That’s a different story.”
 
And just like that, we end up with many saying, “I’m in full agreement with building more affordable housing only if it’s anywhere but in my backyard.”
 
The consequence is predictable. When people try to shift the responsibility onto others, even with sufficient funding and a skilled crew ready to proceed, there's nowhere to build; stifling the plans for more affordable housing.
 
In the next post, let’s explore how this reality sheds light on the deeper importance of opening up our own homes--and our hearts.

Read Next: Welcome Strangers into Our Home (3)【Stay with Us?】
Read Previous: Welcome Strangers into Our Home (1)【The Reason】

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