It does not seem possible, but Christmas will be upon us in just a few short weeks. Local churches will be filled with sights, sounds, and feelings of Christmas Cheer. As we all know, Christmas is a time for family, loved ones, and, most of all, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Imagine for a moment being homeless for Christmas...while many are rushing around buying presents and decorating their homes, over 750 individuals are unsheltered each night, according to Opening Doors Point in Time Count in 2023. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Pensacola, Escambia, and Santa Rosa, there were over 10,000 individuals living in a place not meant for habitation in Florida in 2022. These numbers are overwhelming to think about this Christmas, but sleeping on cold, wet concrete tonight is a sad reality for many.

**Show Kindness to the Brokenhearted.**

When you see a homeless individual sitting/standing in the median, make eye contact and smile at them.

**Small Actions can make a Big Difference.**

We recommend not giving money to panhandlers, but a snack/drink is a small way to let someone know they are not invisible.

**No One is Exempt from Addiction or Homelessness.**

We believe that addiction can affect anyone, from the businessman to the grocery store cashier.

Addiction is a sin problem, and we can all fall into the trap of believing a substance will cure something that only God can fix. Many believe that all homeless individuals have a substance use disorder...while this is true for some, there are a variety of other reasons why someone may be homeless this holiday season. We believe that most fall into one or more of these five causes of homelessness. 1) Mental Health Crisis: there is a lack of care for those with serious mental illnesses, and this can cause many losses in an individual's life. 2) Divorce: when a spouse is the sole provider or manages to gain control of many assets, the individual can become hopeless and end up in a desperate situation. 3) Distrust for the government, a typical result of chronic homelessness that often makes it difficult for the individual to take the steps needed to return to society. 4) Death in a family can leave an individual depressed and unable to do the things needed to succeed. 5) Addiction, which will steal everything from an individual faster than any of the other causes of homelessness.
It is important to note that only some people who find themselves unsheltered will fall into one of these five causes, and some may fall into more than one. The thing to realize is that a simple conversation with someone experiencing homelessness can answer many questions.