To the editor:

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “homeless men”? Some think right away they are lazy, maybe a drug addict, dirty, not willing to work, or just worthless. But do you ever stop to think: what does God think of them?

I would guess not, because general society doesn’t usually stop to think of them as God’s children.

However, here’s what we see at the Beacon. Men smothered under the weight of addiction, stranded in a desert of mental health issues that they can’t get a handle on because they can’t get the treatment they need. Maybe it’s both.

Some try to treat their mental health symptoms the only way they know how, with the street drugs they are accustomed to, and that leads them to spiral into a pit they have no idea how to escape. Yet, others are heartbroken over another shot they took at love that left them broke and alone. What about the men who did “everything right” and a sickness, disease, injury, or accident rendered them penniless and nowhere to turn?

People make mistakes in everyday life, and things happen, circumstances beyond control come at you, and then what? Not everyone has the luxury of family or friends to fall back on.

62 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so unless you are in the minority or have someone to help you financially, it doesn’t take long for life to take a hard turn downward. You see, homelessness is not a “them” or “those people” thing; it hits all kinds of people in all walks of life. But what to remember is that no matter how they get there, they are still people. God’s children, his creation, fearfully and wonderfully made, is what the Bible says.

So, what do we see at the Beacon? We see men who are masterpieces that have been broken into many little pieces. Pieces that it takes time to figure out how to put back together. We must consider each piece of them, and by the way, there are no directions that cover them all. Each masterpiece (person) must be put together differently, with different needs and at a different pace. This takes time, effort, and especially prayer, along with the food, shelter, and showers we provide, to help them get put back together. That’s what restoration looks like when someone has been paid attention to individually.

None of this happens without your prayers and support. Reach out to us and ask how you can further be a part of the Beacon of Hope Shelter – a men’s restoration center.

Board of Directors

Beacon of Hope

Fort Dodge