There are many reasons a person may become homeless. Clearly job loss, addiction, domestic violence, release from prison, mental illness, physical disability, and discharge from mental institutions can all result in homelessness. But all homeless persons have one thing in common - they are poor and have no other resources available to them. It is men and women in such dire circumstances who come to the homeless shelters in Chapel Hill.

From the time I was a child, I learned about a story in the Bible that has become known as "the good Samaritan." This is the story of a traveler who finds a man along the road in desperate need of help. While being ignored by many other travelers, the good Samaritan binds up the wounds of the man, carries him to a shelter, asks the shelter manager to care for him, and offers to pay for his lodging and all other care needs. I am not familiar enough with other faith traditions to say what might be found in other writings, but I feel certain that all faith traditions speak to our human calling to help the poor and the homeless.

I am an advanced practice psychiatric nurse. In January of 2008, following my move to Chapel Hill, I had the privilege of meeting Chris Moran, the executive director of the Inter-Faith Council. In that first meeting, Chris asked me if I would be willing to set up a mental-health clinic in Community House. Chris knew that one of the reasons men are homeless is because of unmet psychiatric needs.

Today at Community House we have a mental-health clinic that is manned by four psychiatrists, three pharmacists, and three clinic coordinators, all of whom volunteer several hours each week. Each man who resides in Community House is evaluated for medical, mental and physical needs, as well as provided with social services and access to job coaching. There has been a lot of community concern about safety issues with the homeless population. I have spent many hours each week at the shelter over the past two and a half years and have never felt threatened or uncomfortable while there. The men are respectful, even protective, of the volunteers, and very grateful for the help they are receiving. There has been an occasional resident who raised concerns, but we have access to medical and legal records that enable us to thoroughly evaluate our residents and to make appropriate referrals. And the shelter has strict rules regarding conduct.

Poverty and homelessness have been with us since life began. I believe that we all share a moral obligation to help one another. I would invite anyone with concerns about our homeless population to volunteer at Community House. The most effective way to dispel fear is to actively engage in getting to know our homeless men.