Local Homeless Community Responds to Cyrus’ Act at V.M.A.s

Dumping buckets of ice water on our heads has shifted the way we look at charity fundraising. Sunday night, Miley Cyrus shocked the world during the Video Music Awards (V.M.A.s), but not for what you might think. She drew the world’s attention to homelessness in Los Angeles by having a homeless person accept her award.

Richard Eskew has been struggling to get by after a car accident left him with nothing back in January. He says homelessness is a real issue in our country that doesn’t get enough attention. Eskew says, "I don’t think it’s put out there as much as it should be. A lot of people don’t see it as a problem because it’s not brought to them. If it’s brought to them more and more, people would realize it is a big problem."

Cyrus used a world platform during the V.M.A.s Sunday night to bring homelessness to light. She had a member of the homeless community give her acceptance speech. Jesse, the homeless youth who accepted Cyrus’ award, says, "I’m accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million run-aways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving lost and scared for their life right now. I know this because I’m one of those people."

Mary Francis Ford has worked with the homeless for more than 30 years at St. Vincent de Paul in Bilxoi. She believes media attention isn’t enough to make a difference. Ford says, "Until people on the everyday level, everyday normal, not normal, but everyday people do something on a regular basis, it’s not going to change."

Ford says there is no one cure for homelessness, but a big part of her work at the church is giving individuals the tools they need to help themselves, like transportation to work or school. Eskew closes, "It really helps. It gives me a place to shower and get clothes and shoes. That’s extra things I don’t have to worry about while I’m trying to get back on my feet."

If you’d like to help, you can donate clothing items, toiletries, and bus passes to places like St. Vincent de Paul, which is located behind Our Lady of Fatima on Pass Road in Biloxi.