Tents Are a Symptom, Not the Problem

You’ve seen them.

Rows of tents tucked beneath overpasses. Makeshift shelters lining sidewalks. People sleeping out in the open, surrounded by what little they still have. If you work with the homeless community, like I have, this is more than a passing news headline. It’s become a daily reality.

But let’s be clear about something:
The tents and camps are a symptom, not the problem, of homelessness. Moving tents simply relocates the suffering.

It’s tempting to think the solution is to “clean up” the visible signs we associate with homelessness. But homelessness doesn’t start with a tent. It starts long before that, in broken systems, lost relationships, and untold trauma.

Homelessness is not a new reality.

The root issues are harder to see:

Mental illness left untreated
Addiction fueled by despair
Rent that’s outpaced wages
Absent safety nets
Cycles of abuse, neglect, or abandonment
Isolation so deep that no one is left to call for help

Inside every tent is a human story. Behind every camp is a soul trying to survive.

As followers of Christ, we’re not called to ignore what’s uncomfortable. We are called to move toward it in love.

Jesus didn’t walk away from the hurting. He walked toward them.

Psalm 34:18 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

If we want to reflect the heart of God, we have to move beyond superficial solutions and listen to the deeper cries. We must become people who see, not just the tent, but the person inside it. We must see beyond the need and learn their names.

We don’t fix people. We love them.

We don’t erase symptoms. We address causes.

Most importantly, we don’t do it alone but through the power of Christ, who reminds us that no one is beyond hope.

So the next time you see a tent, don’t look away.
Pray.
Listen.
Engage.

And remember:
That tent is not the problem.
That person is not the problem.
They are the mission.

I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments!