| 612 | The look and feel of a community | Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 2007
UPDATED TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 2007
In 2006, Loudoun ranked No. 1 as the nation's wealthiest county. Despite that, some people here find it difficult to believe that the homeless not only call Loudoun home, but also Ashburn.
A homeless facility that would allow some of Loudoun’s homeless to feel a little more human -- giving them opportunities to shower, eat, wash laundry and use computers -- has had some Ashburn residents steadfastly shouting, “Not in my backyard.”
These Ashburn residents do not want the homeless of Loudoun traipsing through their community because, in their view, that would facilitate an unsafe environment for their children and cause property values to drop -- also bringing what they believe is a "foreign problem" to their cozy neck of the woods.
Some residents, if they didn't close their eyes to what is happening in the world, might realize that everyone isn’t as fortunate as they are -- able to afford $500,000-plus homes and drive gas-guzzling SUVs.
Yet, with the recent real estate market and loss of jobs at AOL’s Ashburn campus, those living this lifestyle may not be immune to a financial crisis in the coming years.
The status of more than just a handful of Loudoun residents has changed, and not for the better. Foreclosures are at a record high and more people than ever are seeking help.
Thus, the face of Loudoun’s homeless could change from an unknown passerby to a neighborhood acquaintance or friend.
The time is now to reach out and help those in need. While our children's safety is paramount, something also needs to be said for taking the blinders off on how we teach our children to perceive the world. It's time to let them learn a little about reality, so they can learn to help those in need.
Since 1983, Good Shepherd Alliance and its staff of volunteers have given countless hours to help those less fortunate in this county. While doing so, they have tried to integrate surrounding community members to further the organization's mission.
In the recent case in Ashburn, GSA might not have done the best job in reaching out to the surrounding community and broadcasting the drop-in service, but it is trying to appease its new neighbors by removing this hotly contested component from the project. GSA has asked the county to take over this much-needed homeless drop-in facility.
But will some of the services be lost in the shift? Will the already hard-working county staff be able to put in the dedicated man hours to do what GSA volunteers have done for years? Or, will the homeless who come to the facility for help be lost in the bureaucratic shuffle of paperwork and government timetables?
Isn’t it time to step back and take a look at what is really at stake here. Who are the people who are losing out because of this outcry? |