Book Review: Neighbors with No Doors

Neighbors with No Doors:

The Truth About Homelessness & How You Can Make a Difference by Josiah Haken

“Up until my mid-twenties, I judged people living on the streets. I had the typical stereotypes, thinking that people were lazy or that they wanted to be homeless. Josiah Haken’s book is something I wish I’d read back then. It would have been an eye-opener for me.” - Bob Dalton, podcaster and founder of Sackcloth & Ashes

As my kids and I drove away from the old house we had called home for eight years, I faced very stark facts: We have no home and no foreseeable income. My husband had left for Michigan the week before to search for a job. It was 1997, and the word “homeless” was not commonly used, but that’s how I felt... we were headed back home to stay with my gracious parents until we could figure out what the future held. An acute sense of failure, despair, and fear overshadowed my mental checklist of positive outlooks: We are capable, we will get jobs, we will find housing, and we will survive. In our case, those things did happen, but with over half a million homeless people currently living in the U.S., it’s clear that not everyone gets a happy ending.

Josiah Haken is the CEO of City Relief, a not-for-profit organization in New York City that aims to transform the lives of the unhoused. In this 150-page book, several myths surrounding this group of people are debunked: They are lazy and dangerous. They are mentally ill. They are drug addicts. As a person with many years of street experience and wisdom, Josiah has a compassionate approach for those of us who feel helpless in the face of this seemingly hopeless situation. He advocates that we treat them with respect and dignity, even if there is nothing of monetary value we can offer, by looking each one in the eye and greeting them. He elaborates on this in his second section, “Becoming a Good Neighbor”: “Over the past ten years, I have worked with homeless people, and I have learned that asking for names is important, even if you don’t get an answer. It is always a good feeling to show interest in someone’s identity as a person. But I have also learned that assuming someone’s name before offering mine is presumptuous.” In addition to his beneficial and insightful narrative, he provides engaging anecdotes about the people he helps, such as how they have been assisted in getting jobs, finding housing, and finding social service organizations that are tailor-made to their needs. I enjoyed the closing section, “My Neighbors,” which featured full-page photographs and stories of ten of Josiah’s friends.

Having been challenged by Neighbors with No Doors, my holiday plan begins at Thanksgiving. In addition to a conversation around the year’s ups and downs with our guests, I am committed to a discussion on “Who can we bless?” To help them better understand the myriad of feelings our homeless neighbors go through daily, I would like to describe my emotional journey as someone who has been briefly “unhoused.” Will you join me in this singular endeavor? Read this book! It’s time to show the Kalamazoo Homeless Community we care - with our gifts and service - by bringing our MOXIE.

Marlita Walker

Marlita is a native Michigander, who returned back to the area after 18 years spent in IL and PA. When she is not on cruising adventures with her hubby in their vintage Roadtrek camper van; she relaxes by re-arranging her home decor, walking with friends, and connecting with her 10 grands who live in TN and CA. Read more book reviews at litaslines.blogspot.com.