ChosenFast.com

The Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County has released totals from its annual Point in Time Count of the homeless, conducted last month. The total number of homeless people counted in the county was 981, which was 33 less than last year’s count of 1014. But there was a dramatic drop in the count of unsheltered homeless people.

Read more on Guilford County’s 2008 homeless count shows drop in number of unsheltered homeless people…

On Monday evening, Moses Cone Executive Vice President Tim Clontz joined in a discussion with homeless Greensboro residents at the Winter Series at the downtown public library, along with Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson and directors and staff from various County departments. One man asked Clontz why HealthServe (a clinic operated by Moses Cone) charges a $6.00 co-pay for homeless clients who have no income and no way to pay the fee. And most of the homeless and formerly homeless people in the room raised their hands in response to the question, “How many have had difficulty accessing services at HealthServe?” Clontz listened respectfully and responded to the questions and concerns on Monday night. But he didn’t stop there.

Read more on Moses Cone VP offers solution to help homeless at HealthServe…

From an email conversation with Mike Aiken, executive director of Greensboro Urban Ministry:

“GUM is exploring the feasibility of establishing a Housing First for Homeless Families to help with the long waiting list of families at Pathways… [and] looking for other agency partners as well. As we all know, we must work together to end homelessness.”*

Read more on Greensboro Urban Ministry explores Housing First for families in Greensboro…

Serving Greensboro Together is an annual, all-day community event that supports Greensboro Urban Ministry. Participating restaurants will donate 10% of their total sales on Tuesday, May 6th to help Greensboro Urban Ministry fight hunger. In 2007, 120 restaurants participated and raised $25,000. Dine out on May 6th and help raise even more for hunger in 2008!

Read more on Serving Greensboro Together 2008…

Now that a number of our homeless friends are moving from chronic homelessness to permanent housing, I’ve discovered an interesting conundrum: Many of them are losing access to the internet. Most of them were previously sleeping and spending their days in the vicinity of downtown and UNCG, where they had access to computers at the public and university libraries.

Read more on Help wanted: Computers and internet access for formerly homeless people…

A social work student writes a very optimistic letter to the editor of the News & Record:

“Guilford County has moved forward with a 10-year plan… efforts are solidifying.”

Really? Please tell me more, because I’m actually on the Task Force and I haven’t heard a thing in months.

Read more on Letter to the Editor: Progress on Ten Year Plan?…

Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson returned to dine and dialogue with homeless folks at the downtown library on Monday evening, and this week, he brought along a team of folks to join the conversation — Director Merle Green and Asst. Director Ken Carter from Public Health; Exec. VP Tim Clontz from Moses Cone/HealthServe; Transportation Director Mark Kirstner; Asst. Directors Debra Moore, Steve Hayes and Jenise Davis from DSS; Brenda Spach from Veterans Services; and Joe Fortin from Guilford Center.

Read more on Commissioner Gibson brings County department heads to hear from homeless residents…

News about the next Really, Really Free Market, from Liz:

When: Sunday, March 2, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Where: The HIVE, 1214 Grove St. (corner of Grove and McCormick streets; map)

Read more on Really, really free market…

During a recent conversation, Liz Seymour commented on the practice of holding meetings about housing and homelessness at times and in locations that exclude the homeless:

“It would be like having a meeting about disability services on the second floor of a building with no elevators.”

Read more on Liz: Think before you meet…

“Lost Soul”

Jagged, lost…Out of place.
So glad to see a smiling face.
Walk in my shoes…A soilder lost in the night,
Just another face in the crowd…again?
Her wings were burned,
the fire destroyed them.
But what does she do?
sit in her pity-
hands over her face,
asking the lord to take her to a better place.
Steam rising from her body,
shes confused,
doesnt know which direction to go..
the pushing and pulling..
Does she want to stay and grow,
or just let go?
Shes been burned,
was it her turn?
She reached for people passing,
but no one seems to understand,
The corwd keeps passing her,
ignoring her open hands.
No one hears her cries,
shes been dragging that body around,
trying to escape those streets,
but no one still hears her sounds.
Scars all over,
open wounds,
she needs healing.
Why is she depending on people passing by?
Her hands have been bruised from the shackles and chains,
The devil Tied her down,
and she was drowding but broke free,
She decided in the fight,
that she was tired of suffering.
She climbed to her depths,
to escape her misery,
when she turned to tend to her sore shoulders…
what did she see.
Those wings she once had…
were smuthered from the burning,
they floated through the air…
Was God trying to say something?
Her soul was bleeding out,
and crying at the same time…
She came out of the darkness…
But whats going to change this time?
She cries in pity,
as she understands now..
Still not understanding,
how shes supposed to stand now…
Out of the ashes, shes here,
Broken down into pieces,
But its as if no one believes shes really here,
back from the firery pits of hell…
No one seems to care..
about her welfare.
She throws her hands up,
asking for forgiveness..
She only wants to be healed and loved,
not forgotten and mis-treated.
She knows where she comes from,
and she knows where she wants to go…
This time she wont fall for the devils tricks,
or be blinded by his wolves…
she knows she has a future somewhere,
just not on those streets.
Shes slowly escaping..
But it seems no ones helping..
Is she alone again?
Or has she finally made it home..

Read more on A lost soul finally makes it home…

From my friend Audrie, who lives the Gospel:

[video link]

Read more on we must go…

Some significant relationships in my life have recently come to a close, and while it’s been a difficult time and I’ve struggled with it, I’ve seen God’s hand at work in my life through it all — disciplining me, teaching me, recreating me.

I’ve been praying for a while that God would strengthen and deepen my relationships with friends who share His heart for the poor, and that He would bring more of them into my life… and He’s doing just that.

I thank Him for what’s been, for where we’ve been together, for His faithfulness to me even when I stray from Him… and for what’s to come. I thank him for summer, autumn, winter… and for the spring to come.

[video link]

Read more on Seasons…