I’ve long had the opinion that we don’t face much in the way of extreme poverty here in the United States, which is why the One5 Foundation has focused on the problems in Africa and Haiti.

But, I never really found out the facts first-hand about domestic poverty, so I decided to do some exploring. I recently sought out homeless shelters in Kansas City and places where the homeless go for meals.

What I discovered was eye-opening and the implications will certainly influence what we do within the foundation. We’re not going to abandon anything that we’re doing in Africa and Haiti, but we will probably augment that work right here in Kansas City because there certainly is a need.

I saw people living in creek bottoms and in wooded areas near downtown. It was well below freezing, but they were living in outdoor camps. I always felt that people didn’t really have to live in such conditions, but it was their choice. I discovered something very different. The ones that I talked with seemed to be normal articulate people; but something happened in their lives that put them there.

These individuals have no identity in our society. They are without Social Security numbers or birth certificates. They have no hopes of finding a place to live, let alone a job. Consequently, they are in desperate straits that they can’t escape without outside help. And the limited help that is available is often difficult to access.

I visited with one group that is trying to make a difference for homeless individuals in the Kansas City area – the Hope Faith Ministries.  The Hope Faith Ministries attempts to help these desperate people obtain an identity, set them up in apartments with a mailing address and give them clean clothes so they can ultimately start the process of qualifying for jobs.

These are people who deserve compassion; it is unfair to say that they are where they are because of their own choices. Obviously, many are struggling with addictions and alcoholism and the Hope, Faith Ministries is also working to get them into programs that address those problems.

So in the future look for the One5 Foundation to develop strategies to fight homelessness and poverty right here in our own community. Our overall strategy will be the same – not to give a man a fish, but teach him how to fish. Our focus will be on promoting health, so they can eventually feed themselves.