First, my deepest apologies to Martin Niemöller, a much nobler pastor than I’ll ever be.

But because of his inspiration, I share …

First, they came for those whom they deemed “illegals.” And I protested but a little, but not loudly. … Shame on me.

Then, they came for people who are transgender. And I protested not at all because I already felt too much burden on my shoulders. … My silence pains me to no end.

Then, most recently, they came for the homeless in a presidential executive order that seeks to punish, and possibly forcibly commit, those who are unhoused.

This time, I speak up, knowing that I owe a deep apology to others whom I maybe haven’t been an ally to strongly enough.

Friends, the facts are that America hasn’t built enough housing, most especially affordable housing, in decades. And we cannot escape that our failure as a society to address this housing crisis has contributed to the growing issue of homelessness in America.

While some want to make this an issue of moral failure and heap shame on those who are unhoused because of possible addictions or mental health issues or medical debt or past incarcerations, the facts are that homelessness is first and foremost a housing issue.

In our organization that operates an emergency shelter, supportive housing apartments and a food pantry, we have a front row seat to the many barriers that are in place and keep people out of housing.

And, trust me, most Americans’ ideas of who are homeless are wildly inaccurate.

Criminalizing homelessness, and sweeping people off the street, may initially feel good because the look of our cities may be prettier. But it’s only a placebo offered by desperate folks whose names appear on a ballot and who are feeling the pressure.

This misguided effort will do nothing to increase the number of housing units in America. Nor will it address the rising costs of living, while simultaneously the job opportunities that provide a livable wage diminish. Similarly, it will not address the catastrophic lack of mental health resources available in our country.

But what it will do is militarize our civil servants against our own fellow Americans; increase the costs of incarceration and commitments; fill our jails and hospitals and the few mental health facilities we do have; and clog up our courts and parole programs.

All the while accomplishing no more than making us feel better that the homeless have been swept out of view.

Make no mistake: There is an all out war on the marginalized and voiceless in America.

And while you may not be an “illegal,” or be transgender, or be homeless … most of us do not belong to the gilded class that are safe from persecution.

Just remember this: When they come for you, there may be no one left to speak for you. Amen.

— Devlyn Brooks is the CEO of Churches United in Moorhead, Minn., and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com.