The homeless and hopelessly unemployed come to the trailer called the Malibu Labor Exchange hoping that someone will drop by and give them work to do. They are the modern day Lazaruses waiting outside the gates of the rich man, hoping he can spare some crumbs.
The Labor Exchange is a non-profit organization with a $70,000 annual budget. About 1/3 of the money comes from the City of Malibu, and the rest through private donations. Unbelievably, sitting in Malibu, surrounded by the rich and famous, a Christian university, and several sizeable churches – a grand collection of some of the more famous liberals and conservatives in the nation actually – the Labor Exchange is going to the City Council meeting this Monday with an emergency request for money. They cannot afford to even provide a spot for Lazarus to sit on.
There is a movement afoot in this country to shut down places like the Labor Exchange, what with the backlash against undocumented workers and such. I’m sure there are those that would smile if it closed up shop and sent the hungry and homeless out of sight and out of mind. But I find this tragic.
I continue to mourn for Haiti. But I also mourn for the suffering in our own hometowns.
Minutes to Memories 
I will keep that meeting in my prayers. I appreciate you bringing this need to our attention. It is good to be aware that people are trying to provide work for the homeless, and that there ARE homeless willing to work
I have heard it said the only way people can be homeless in our country is if they choose to be homeless. How often has that thinking been swallowed hook, line, and sinker, thus leading to withholding help for the needy because “they are not willing to work”?
Far, far too often I’m sure, my friend. Thanks for the poignant comment.