Myth-Buster statistics
Breakthrough Ministries seeks to serve the Twin Cities homeless. That number is staggering. Research indicates that there are well over 10,000 homeless people in Minnesota. Of that, over 2,000 are sleeping in places that are considered uninhabitable. Places like under bridges, abandoned buildings, cars, etc.
The stereotype for homeless people tends to be that they are drunks. While this is true for about 1/3rd of the population of homeless the fact is that 1/3rd also deals with a drug addiction and 1/3rd deals with mental health issues. Over two thirds are dealing with multiple issues in that regard with mental illness leading the way.
You see, alcohol and drugs are not always the problem. Alcohol and drugs are the answer to a problem. This leads to asking the question – what is the problem?
That is a great question that should lead to dialog with homeless people. The problems are not always the same. Mental illness, loneliness, hopelessness, lack of self worth, rape, incest, neglect, abuse, hurt, just to name a few.
What I have found is that homelessness is so often the result of these issues.
This is the mission field. It is right here in the Twin Cities as well as all over the world.