GUEST COLUMN: "Surrounded by Abundance"

"A society shall be judged by the manner in which it deals with its most vulnerable people." -- Mother Teresa · November 16 to 21 is "Hunger and Homelessness Week" at the University. All members of the University community are invited to attend one or more of the events scheduled for this week in order to find out more about these twin problems, as well as efforts to cope with them both in West Philadelphia and in the larger world. Hunger is a grievous and difficult problem, but it is by no means unsolvable -- at least not in this affluent society. It has been estimated that $2.5 billion of targeted expenditures -- about one percent of our yearly national defense expenditures -- could end hunger in the United States. It is readily within our means to feed the hungry, but we have not done so. Similarly, homelessness is both a heart-wrenching and gnawing problem, but not an intractable one. For example, there are about 35,000 homeless people in Philadelphia. There are also some 35,000 abandoned -- but potentially viable -- buildings. The possibilities are evident. Some relatively poor Third World countries are doing better than we are concerning hunger, homelessness and health. In Chile, for instance, despite rampant poverty, people are assured they will have adequate health care and enough to eat in times of sickness. Can we do less? Can we allow our citizens to go hungry and homeless, while surrounded by abundance? Is it not affirmative of "family values" to provide food, a place to stay, and health care for adults and children? We privileged people take a lot for granted. How does anyone look for a job when he has no access to a telephone, and no place to do resum s? How does one avail himself of medical care, if he has no money for transportation to get it. David Lynn is the executive director of the University City Hospitality Coalition. A schedule of event for "Hunger and Homelessness Week" will be published next week in The Daily Pennsylvanian.

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