I have been thinking about and planning how to help the homeless (or even people on the edge of getting back from homelessness) for many years. This has been a dream and vision I believe the Lord gave me years ago. It delights me to see cities starting to fulfill this by purchasing hotel properties to get our homeless off the streets and into housing. I am not sure if any overall strategy has been developed for what to do after that step is done - so I am adding my thoughts here - in hopes that they will be helpful.

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To The Austin City Council Helping the Homeless with Hotels
(& Other City Councils buying hotels for homeless),

We must do more than move our homeless population to housing locations. 

There must be an overall strategy and plan for discerning the status of each person/family and assisting them with their goals to either maintain or improve their economic status and quality of life. I highly discourage just moving people off the street and into these...

Dear Austin Residents,

Yesterday, I heard that your City Council was taking action on buying hotels to try to solve the problem of homelessness in your city. I was overjoyed, as this has been a vision of mine for many years - that we would have a network of hotels nationwide that could be established as residences and rehabilitation programs for people who have found themselves battling homelessness.

This morning I woke up with this heavy on my heart. As a Social Worker graduate and fellow citizen who has lived in the "middle class" most of my life, I think I understand your concerns. However, as a Christian and someone who was temporarily thrown into poverty for at least five years, I also have a unique perspective I hope to bring to this conversation. 

When I looked up the news story last night, I was sad to find the videos of some of your residents protesting. I want to offer my response to the concerns raised in hopes that a larger understanding towards the homeless...