Lawmakers Say They Care About The Poor—Their Policies Prove Otherwise

The rain wasn’t a gentle sprinkle; it was a cold, relentless downpour that found every gap in the makeshift shelter. Under the overpass, Sarah pulled a thin, damp blanket tighter around her young son, David, trying to use her own body as a shield against the wind. Just a year ago, they were in a small apartment, a place she could almost afford. She remembers the smell of David’s favorite soup on the stove, the warmth of the radiator hissing in the winter, the security of a door that locked.

Then the rent increased. Again. Her job as a home health aide didn’t. The notice on her door was polite but firm: a 40% hike. She scrambled, applied for assistance, but the waitlists were years long. She looked for a new place, but her credit, damaged from a medical emergency years prior, was a scarlet letter no landlord would overlook. An eviction notice soon followed, a formal document that erased their stability with the cold efficiency of a court stamp.

Now, every day is a cycle of impossible choices. The shelter is full by 4 PM, and she can’t get there in time because the bus schedule doesn’t align with her shift’s end. Laws in their city criminalize sleeping in a car, so they move constantly, avoiding eye contact with police. She works full-time, yet her paycheck vanishes into storage unit fees, gas, and overpriced motel rooms for a single night’s reprieve. The system, she has learned, isn’t designed to help her get back up. It’s designed to make staying down easier.

Sarah’s story isn’t unique. It’s a quiet scream echoing in every city across this nation, a testament to a crisis that speeches and soundbites cannot solve. And as people of faith, we must ask: why do those in power so often speak of compassion while enacting policies that perpetuate this very suffering?

The Reality of the Crisis: It’s Not Just a Number, It’s a Neighbor

We see the headlines: “Housing Crisis Reaches New Heights,” “Homelessness Spikes for Third Straight Year.” It’s easy for these stories to become background noise, a sad but distant reality. But we must remember—these are not statistics. They are image-bearers of the Almighty.

They are the single father working two jobs but unable to find an affordable two-bedroom apartment. They are the elderly widow on a fixed income choosing between medicine and rent. They are veterans who fought for our country, now battling PTSD and a housing market that has no place for them. They are families like Sarah’s, trapped in a labyrinth of bureaucratic hurdles, discriminatory zoning laws, and a severe lack of truly affordable housing units.

Proverbs 29:7 tells us, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”

This verse draws a clear line. To be righteous, to be in right standing with G-d, is to actively care about justice for the poor. It’s not a passive feeling of pity; it’s an active pursuit of tzedek—righteousness and justice. When lawmakers prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy over housing vouchers for the struggling, when they block the construction of affordable housing in their districts to “protect property values,” when they fund punitive measures over supportive services, their policies reveal their true concerns, regardless of their words.

The Heart of G-d for the Homeless and the Oppressed

From the Torah to the Gospels, G-d’s heart for the vulnerable is not a minor theme; it is central to His character and His commands. He is not a distant observer but a fierce advocate.

Isaiah 58:6-7 rings out with prophetic clarity: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Here, G-d defines true worship. It’s not just about prayer and fasting (though those are vital). It is about actionable compassion. Providing shelter for the “poor wanderer” is literally listed as an act of worship that G-d chooses. It is how we make our faith tangible. When we advocate for policies that provide shelter, we are participating in the very fast G-d desires.

This heart is perfectly embodied in Messiah Yeshua. In Matthew 25:35-40, He identifies utterly with the marginalized: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Yeshua’s words are revolutionary. He doesn’t say, “I was poor and you felt bad for me.” He says, “You invited me in.” He equates our response to the homeless, the hungry, and the stranger with our direct response to Him. This should both comfort and convict us. Our faith, in its most authentic Messianic Jewish expression, must be one that actively invites in.

What Keeps People Trapped: The Systems Behind the Suffering

People like Sarah don’t lack willpower or a work ethic. They are ensnared by systemic failures:

· The Affordable Housing Gap: There is nowhere near enough housing that a low-income family can afford. Wages have stagnated while rents have skyrocketed.

· Discriminatory Policies: Laws that criminalize homelessness—ticketing people for sleeping in public or in vehicles—create a vicious cycle. A ticket turns into a warrant, which becomes a barrier to employment and housing, digging the hole deeper.

· Barriers to Stability: Poor credit, a prior eviction, or the lack of a co-signer can permanently bar someone from renting a home, even if they have the income for it today.

· Lack of Supportive Services: For those battling mental health challenges or addiction, a simple roof isn’t enough. Without integrated services that address the root causes, the cycle continues.

When legislation refuses to address these root causes, it proves that the care expressed is merely superficial. True compassion demands that we look beyond the symptoms and address the disease.

How We Can Respond as Believers: Faith Empowered by Action

We are not helpless in the face of this. Our faith empowers us to be agents of tikkun olam—repairing the world. Here is how we can respond with compassion and action:

1. Educate Ourselves and Others: Learn about the housing crisis in your own community. Who is working on the ground? What are the specific policy barriers? Share what you learn with your congregation and friends. Break the cycle of ignorance and indifference.

2. Advocate with Your Voice: The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom on speaking up. Proverbs 31:8-9 commands, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Contact your local and state representatives. Tell them you support funding for affordable housing, tenant protection laws, and supportive services, not punitive measures. Your voice, as a constituent of faith, matters.

3. Support Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Partner with ministries and non-profits that are doing the hands-on work. They need volunteers, they need supplies, and they need financial support. This is a practical way to “invite in” (Matthew 25).

4. Pray with Purpose: Prayer is our foundation. Pray for wisdom for leaders. Pray for comfort and provision for families like Sarah’s. Pray for the walls of injustice to crumble. Pray for your own heart to be broken by what breaks G-d’s heart and for the courage to act.

A Community Called to Compassion

This is not a call to a political party, but to a higher kingdom. It is a call to embody the values of our G-d, who is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5). It is a call to live out the gospel that Yeshua preached, one where the poor have good news proclaimed to them.

We are a community bound by covenant, called to be a light. That light shines brightest when we stand for those in the shadows.

If this message resonates with you, if you feel that holy nudge to be part of this work, we welcome you to join us. You are not alone in this burden.

Perhaps you can share this post to raise awareness.

Perhaps you cancommit to praying for the vulnerable and those who serve them every day.

Perhaps you feel led tosupport the advocacy work of organizations that are on the front lines, tirelessly working to change policies and build a more just system.

However you feel led to respond, know that every act of compassion, every prayer whispered, every voice raised, brings us one step closer to a world that better reflects the justice, mercy, and compassion of our G-d.

Together, as a community of faith, we can be a testament to the truth that love does more than talk—it acts.

Baruch ha'ba b'Shem Adonai. (Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.) May we be the ones who come in His name, bringing His love to a world in need.