We use the term "poverty" to refer to such a wide range of human suffering. Some situations strike like lightning. For example, a family who just lost everything in a house fire. Many struggles, however, don't arrive in one terrible moment but build over time, like a single mom with two children who is barely surviving on government assistance. She doesn't have the education or skills to earn more than minimum wage and every month she struggles to pay rent and feed her children.
There is great suffering in both situations, but the needs are very different and how we respond matters. When true emergencies happen like the house fire, our compassionate response is to swoop in with immediate temporary assistance, no questions asked. This RESCUE response focuses on meeting unexpected, acute, material needs.
The single mom's struggles are not an emergency
. She faces long-term, chronic challenges that can only be resolved through coordinated resources that build her stability and capacity. To compassionately help this mom requires time, relationships, accountability, and participation. She needs DEVELOPMENT, not a RESCUE response.
80% of today's families living in chronic, ongoing criss receive RESCUE charity: one-way handouts of material goods with no questions asked. Rescue is intended only to halt a person's free fall, not to become a way of life. So why do we respond like they are in acute crisis? How many come back repeatedly in need of the same relief? Statistically, only about 20% of the need for charity help fits into the relief or resuce bucket
.
So what is DEVELOPMENT? This category of support is where 80% of our focus should be. This is where the recipient works or is challenged in some way
.
Development resources focus on reducing barriers to success like education, job skills, access to childcare, housing, life skills, transportation, and physical/mental health. In this category, the client recognizes and retains his/her personal worth and dignity while receiving the assistance needed to get back on their feet.
If someone is unable to keep a job because of addiction, lack of skill, or mental or physical health problems, but they ARE willing to work, they can benefit from goal setting, skill acquisition, recovery or wellness programs, education, and mentoring. These individuals need a challenge to take control of and improve their situations.
The key to this category is a willingness to work
.
And it will take multiple resources provided by different organizations collaborating to support these individuals as they work to get out, and stay out, of poverty.
And we must address a third category of care
: THE HEARTBREAK. This category is about individuals who are chronically in need but do not show a willingness to change or work. This is the hardest category of need to respond to.
We don't abandon people in this category of care, but we also cannot allow our "charity" to enable them to continue living harmful and toxic lifestyles. To do so is not loving or kind. This is when we tell them: "This is not a 'hard no,' it is just a 'not now.' We stand ready to support you when you are ready for change."
True compassionate help must ask, "What are we hoping for in the lives of those seeking our help?" Challenging our generosity to change from a mindset of "RESUCE" to "DEVELOPMENT" is foundational to Charity Reimagined's work, and it starts by rethinking charity in terms of a person's capacity rather than poverty.
