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It’s been just about two weeks since Michael Brown (”View From the Sidewalk“) began blogging about his experiences as a newly homeless husband and father. In that brief period, Michael has brought a first-person perspective to the reality of homelessness in Greensboro, and issued stinging critiques of some available services, while expressing gratitude for the kindness of strangers in another program.

Read more on Homeless Blogger’s Voice Is Heard, But Still Only Silence From The “Unworthy Poor”…

Amy Dominello’s article about blogger Michael Brown (Cyberdancer) of “View From the Sidewalk” is in today’s paper.

“The blog, called View from the Sidewalk, has become a way for Brown to vent, rant and reflect on his problems. He reveals the day-to-day travails, his guilt and anger about the situation, and his depression.”

Read more on “View From the Sidewalk” Makes The Papers…

“…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

There is no salvation without repentence.

Repent: “to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins”

Read more on Repent…

At midnight last night, the NightWatch team went to Ricky’s house for a birthday party, complete with cake and ice cream. Ricky turns 50 today.

Ricky is one of our friends who lived under a bridge for four years, until recently. Then one of the Night Watch team members, who is also part of a ministry called MOVE (Men of Vision & Excellence), helped him and a friend move into a house. They are now working on the issues that caused them to be homeless.

Read more on Night Watch: Birthday Party…

At Night Watch last night, we met a mom with three young children at the train station. They were traveling from eastern North Carolina to Alabama to see her mom. They faced a long wait for their train. So we decided to wait a while with them.

Read more on Night Watch: Uno Olympics…

I went on Night Watch last night for the first time in a few weeks. If you read my blog, you already know I’m dealing with arm and shoulder pain right now, which is limiting me in what I can do. But my heart is with my friends on the street, and with our team, and I needed to go, so I went.

Read more on Night Watch: Doing Less, Seeing More…

The Winston Salem Journal has an ongoing series about the impact of the state’s mental health crisis. The first article (12/4/05), with a list of subsequent articles, can be accessed here.

Read more on State Increasingly Discharging Mentally Ill to Homeless Shelters…

Just a quick post to encourage you to read Amy Kingsley’s article in YES! Weekly: “Homeless find day shelter where they can.” Amy interviewed me and the amazing Liz Seymour (from Greensboro Food Not Bombs) about the need for a day center for the homeless in Greensboro. Read it and pass it on!! Please.

Read more on Greensboro Needs A Day Center for the Homeless: Read It!!…

I haven’t been posting much lately, and yesterday I decided that I might need to take a real break altogether. I’m dealing with continual pain and lack of function in my neck, shoulder and arm, from an injury a couple of years ago. It’s limiting me and bringing me down a bit. Today one doctor cleared me, but sent me to another, so the journey (and the pain) continues. I would appreciate your prayers. I’ve been unable to do Night Watch (or much of anything else) for the past couple of weeks, and I long to be back out on the street, ministering to our homeless friends. So I’m trusting the One who made me to heal me.

Read more on Blogging Break Update…

I will be taking a break from blogging for a while. If you need info on homelessness in Greensboro, please check the web site for the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County at www.hpcgc.org. Peace to you!

Read more on A Blogging Break…

From “Cyberdancer,” a homeless husband and father from this post in his blog at View From The Sidewalk:

“See, in Greensboro, NC, the homeless shelters are putting people on waiting lists instead of trying to find them someplace decent to stay the night or the week.

There are at least three times as many homeless folks in Greensboro as there are shelter beds. Respectfully, Cyberdancer, when the shelters are all full, the shelter workers have no other options. (More options cost more money.)

Read more on Homelessness in Greensboro: More Need Than Resources…

Check out View From The Sidewalk, a blog from a homeless husband and father.

View From The Sidewalk says:

“See, in Greensboro, NC, the homeless shelters are putting people on waiting lists instead of trying to find them someplace decent to stay the night or the week. The city Housing Authority is putting people trying to get into public housing on waiting lists, and they aren’t even taking Section 8 anymore. What this means is anybody in Greensboro without some sort of income, or family in town, or even a car is boned. Meanwhile, the agencies and organizations dedicated to combatting homelessness are busy talking at each other and talking around the people that actually need the help.”

Read more on A Homeless Blogger Speaks…