The Homeless: Degrees of Unmet Physical Need

Abstract

Human material need, as we have stated several times previously, consists of two central elements: physical need and the need for work itself. Poverty or economic hardship is a condition wherein economic resources in general are insufficient to meet physical need. Since need is a normative concept that reflects the values of the persons who use it and homelessness is a special type of unmet physical need, it is virtually impossible to achieve universal agreement as to the proper definition of homelessness.

As far as the church is concerned, the social message of the Gospel must not be considered a theory, but above all else a basis and a motivation for action. Inspired by this message, some of the first Christians distributed their goods to the poor, bearing witness to the fact that despite different social origins it was possible for people to live together in peace and harmony. Through the power of the Gospel, down the centuries monks tilled the land, men and women religious founded hospitals and shelters for the poor, confraternities as well as individual men and women of all states of life devoted themselves to the needy and to those on the margins of society, convinced as they were that Christ’s words “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40) were not intended to remain a pious wish, but were meant to become a concrete life commitment.

Centesimus Annus. chapter 6.