My Shack

This fictional account is part of a struggle that goes on throughout the major cities of our country. Those who do not make it by society's standards, those unable to meet basic safe living requirements, number somewhere near a million of our fellow Americans. We use the standard of homelessness, but the statistics on hunger in America reflect the same dire situation for those who fall beneath the safety net every day. Their situation is complex to say the least. Men, women and children fall through the measures meant to be their security from such difficult and dangerous experiences. Food pantries and soup kitchens and homeless shelters have tried to form a network that responds to the desperation of the people suffering from dire poverty in America. Charitable organizations, religions, and government agencies are all reaching out to this large and unmanageable population of street people. So far, we do not have a magic solution that combines respect and self-dignity with support and basic human sustenance. The tragic story of Jacob Olmsted may serve to put some perspective and understanding to this challenge we face.