Without any doubt whatsoever, two of the greatest concerns of the modern era are those of homelessness and poverty - both intimately connected.
Those who are old enough to remember the early 1960s will recall when Australia had the highest living standard in the world, with nearly everyone having an affordable home and a job.
Today, nothing could be further from the truth, and depending on which index you consult, our national living standard has fallen to anywhere between number 6 and number 25, with over three million Australians struggling to survive below the poverty line.
The situation has now become so serious, according to the Australia Institute, that we have now lost 14 years of progress to our standard of living, with no real remedy in sight.
With the arguably out-of-control increases in the cost of basic housing and other necessities, we are now seeing hardship and poverty in our own country, the likes of which have not been seen since the great depression, apparently with very little incentive from those in government to act in response.
In a news report from Queensland in June 2024, a representative of the Ozharvest charity quoted, “What sort of society have we created where people can be working full time providing essential services on minimum wages and yet not be able to make ends meet?”
This is a totally valid question, and one which absolutely demands an answer.
According to a report from the Oxfam charity about the clothing industry, “a system of entrenched Exploitation and the widespread payment of poverty wages is denying the workers making our clothes the opportunity for decent lives.”
It would not be difficult to extend this conclusion across a wide range of industries, and can only be interpreted as widespread greed and self-interest among those who wield the power in Australian society, with absolute disregard to the plight of the poorest and most vulnerable.
In the Bible book of Proverbs, the writer says, “the righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
Sadly, it is now easy to make the argument that that is the situation of today.
The same writer also said, “the generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
As a Christian society, we are taught that it is right and proper to support those genuinely in need.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus taught His disciples that caring for the poor and homeless was alike to caring for Him directly.
He said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, said, “you cannot warm the hearts of people with God's love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”
How well this reflects the mission of the church, striving to offer both physical as well as spiritual care to those in need.
Sadly, the problems of poverty and homelessness that we are now seeing in this country do not look like going away any time soon.
The challenges that we are all facing are considerable.
Let us all be in constant prayer for the poor and homeless, as well as for strength and support for those whose work it is to help them, and wisdom and a desire to do right among our leaders and those in positions of power and influence.