Freezing to death in Minnesota

"Freezing to death? In 2015? Can that actually happen? Yes it has, and will continue if we don't stop it..."

Whenever I get into a spirited discussion with someone on hunger, I am reminded that hunger is a huge problem for many within our country. That being said, we don't have the same problems with hunger as some other countries do. In other words, nobody actually starves to death in this country. I dare say that if someone was found in any metro area who had starved to death, it would make the national news.

And why don't people starve to death in this country? The answer is quite simple. In this country, we are awash with food. We have enough food to not only feed our people, but also a good portion of the world's population. Even though we have many who do not get enough food, or the right types of food, everyone gets enough to live on. So as far as food is concerned, this country does not have a resource problem (like many countries do), we have an allocation problem.

Dying from exposure in this country is quite another matter. Yes, it does happen. In 2015, people in many cities are still dying from exposure. Living on the streets, hypothermia can set in and be deadly. Hypothermia is a condition where a person's core drops below 95 degrees. The longer the core stays below that temperature, the more deadly hypothermia can become. Confusion can set in. A person can actually start shedding clothes instead of adding clothes. If it goes on long enough, the body cannot sustain life. The heart simply shuts down.

How can someone die hypothermia just feet from a heated building where the temperature is a comfortable 72 degrees? Are there not warming centers for people who are homeless? Yes there are. However a nagging problem which plagues many homeless people is untreated mental illnesses. People on the street are extremely vulnerable. Not only to freezing to death, but also disease, robbery and violence.

My youngest daughter works in street outreach. The organization she works for is committed to finding people who need help the most. Getting these people off the street and lined up with the services they need. It is not an easy job - it is being on the front lines of combating homelessness. But she loves it. She is good at it. And she has a huge heart for people who have no home but the streets.

Nobody is immune from homelessness. There by the grace of God, go we. Our job is simple - to care for these people. To help these people. They are us - pure and simple, they are us. It is time to make a stand. Not one more person will freeze in our town. Period.