Rethinking Homelessness in Santa Monica… and in Greensboro
This article in the LA Times discusses Santa Monica’s efforts, spearheaded by City Councilman Bobby Shriver, to rethink their strategies for serving the homeless. Santa Monica has moved toward a “housing first” model which is showing success in other areas of the country, like New York. [Example: Pathways to Housing, a nationally-recognized model, here.] This is an excellent article, and it touches on issues such as: the link between mental illness and homelessness; chronic homelessness; and the cost of homelessness to a community.
Greensboro and Guilford County have just begun a process called “The Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness,” during which we, also, will look at issues surrounding homelessness and make decisions about how best to serve the needs of those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Watch for news in local media about a TYP Task Force, which will be announced by Greensboro and High Point mayors and the County Commisioner chair, most likely in January. Also, watch the web site of Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County (http://www.hpcgc.org/) for more details. You can visit this page of HPCGC’s site now for TYP links.
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Profiting From The Poor
The WS Troublemaker recently blogged about folks profiting from poverty. The Bible has a lot to say about God’s heart for the poor and His thoughts on oppressing the poor:
“But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14
“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” Psalm 140:12
“He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.” Proverbs 22:16
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” James 5:1-4
And now, for those who share God’s heart for the poor:
“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17
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Homeless Folks In Greensboro Help A Haitian Child’s Family Escape Poverty
Pastor Will had a big announcement to share with folks at this week’s Wednesday Community Fellowship Dinner at Grace — the child from Haiti that the dinner guests have been sponsoring no longer needs a sponsor! Praise God, how exciting!
First of all, it’s so cool that a group of mostly homeless folks has been donating money to sponsor a child in even more difficult circumstances than their own, in another country. When the group first began sponsoring their child, they each received a photo of him, which many proudly carry in their wallets.
And how awesome that through their sponsorship, this child’s family has been able to better their circumstances and now is no longer in need of sponsorship for him! So it’s a two-part miracle. 
Soon, the Wednesday night friends who gather at Grace will have a new child to sponsor. And hopefully, the child they formerly sponsored is on his way to someday being able to sponsor a child himself.
Want to be a sponsor, too? Visit Compassion International, here.
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Homeless Memorial Service Wed., Dec.21st
National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is tomorrow, Wednesday, December 21st. Please join us for the observance of the deaths of those who’ve died while experiencing homelessness in our community in 2005.
Meet in front of Grace Community Church, 643 W. Lee St. (the old McIver School building beside the Freeman Mill Road overpass) at 5:15 p.m. for a candlelight remembrance time. (Some folks will do a candlelight walk from the nearby Greensboro Urban Ministry, and meet us at the church.)
Memorial worship service begins at 6:00 p.m., with Pastor Will Dungee. Dinner immediately follows for our homeless friends. You are welcome to stay and help serve the dinner, and just spend time talking with folks and getting to one another.
This event is sponsored by the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County, and is hosted by Grace Community Church.
UPDATE: Almost forgot… Mayor Keith Holliday has, again this year, signed a proclamation declaring December 21st Homeless Persons’ Day in Greensboro. I’ll be picking that up tonight prior to the Council, and will probably speak and thank him for it during the public comment period, and also invite Council to the Memorial and the upcoming Point-in-Time Count.
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A Different Kind of Family
Community dinner at Grace. Tonight. 150 (or more?) folks. Most of them homeless, and many of them sleeping outside, under bridges, in cars, in abandoned houses and buildings, in the woods, wherever. But for an hour or so a week, there’s this oasis of warmth and light and family. It’s a beautiful thing. You should come sometime. Serve a plate. Shake a hand. Sit and talk. Hear someone’s story. Make a friend. See the other side of mirror. On the inside, it looks just like this one.
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