During our first few trips to Anchorage… we observed many homeless people on the streets. Articles in the news brought the issue of homelessness to the public arena. City officials were pressured by businesses and home owners to deal with this ever-increasing dilemma. No clear solution for the problem seemed to exist. From my understanding… the city did not have adequate resources to approach the problem at hand. The crisis of homelessness and/or homeless camps throughout the city has been passed back and forth like a hot potato.
As we followed our hearts to help the homeless, my mind could not escape the question “What are the homeless doing here?” I can understand some of the circumstances that create homelessness. For some… homelessness was beyond their control. Some are homeless because of jobs lost and/or income reduction. Some are homeless because of poor choices made repeatedly… over long periods of time. Whatever the circumstance… I had difficulty understanding why, if one is homeless, he would stay in Alaska. GET OUT! Certainly Alaska would be one of the last places any individual should be homeless… particularly during the long winter months. Weather conditions, even in southern Alaska, can be brutal. Food and shelter is limited. The attempt to stay alive is a daily, even moment-by-moment fight for survival.
So why do the homeless stay in Alaska? After much thought concerning the matter… I came to a few conclusions of my own. Some simply choose to stay in Alaska… period. Others have roots in the land and their family and/or support system is there. Sadly, others are ruled by their addiction(s). MOTIVATION. The heart must be motivated in order to produce change. The Jesus we present is the only One who can draw the human heart to Himself. The Jesus we represent is the only One who can produce lasting change. However, since the beginning of time… accepting Christ’s deliverance has always come down to personal choice.
If one would be motivated to leave… there are very real obstacles that stand in the way. FINANCES. How do the homeless procure the dollars needed to “get out”? If an individual attained the money for flight… how does he secure ID required by TSA in order to travel? Say the individual purposed to walk and/or be driven to the lower 48. That decision would require passage into Canada… then route through British Columbia. A passport would be required… to enter Canada and to re-enter the United States. To make this journey by foot would be a formidable, daunting task. The distance from Anchorage to Seattle by road exceeds 2200 miles. The risks… great. The dangers… too many. If the motivated individual were to arrive in Seattle… he would still be far from winter’s grip.
The obstacles that stand in the way of escape for the homeless on the streets of Alaska are threatening. Fear can easily paralyze keeping the most determined, motivated individual from moving toward change which leads to success. For The Bride Ministries’ Alaska Mission encourages the homeless we encounter to seek service, comfort, counsel, and Christ at Downtown Hope Center and Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission.