I posted the prayer I prayed on my way home from last night’s NightWatch. One of my prayers was for “my friend who sleeps at Grace who’s moving into housing and who needs to be encouraged.” Today, he sent me an email and asked me to forward it to the … > read more
The cold weather shelter programs at both homeless shelters ended yesterday, and Greensboro Urban Ministry Executive Director Mike Aiken and Salvation Army Major Paul Egan say they won’t reopen before next winter unless the weather becomes life-threatening. Salvation Army was providing emergency shelter for about 40-50 people, and Greensboro Urban … > read more
The Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County has released final numbers from the January 2008 point in time count of the homeless. But the totals counted don’t tell the whole story. » View official 2008 homeless count numbers for Guilford County According to the official count, there are 101 chronically … > read more
Armed with stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs, medical staffers from the HealthServe Community Clinic paid a visit to this week’s Winter Series at the downtown library. While diners enjoyed the vegan meal prepared by members of Food Not Bombs, they also had the chance to talk with a nurse and … > read more
Giving homeless people housing ends homelessness, but it’s just the beginning of the answer to the crisis of homelessness, because homelessness is not the real problem, it’s just a symptom of the problems that land people on the street. Recently, a number of my chronically homeless friends have moved from … > read more
I’m trying to better understand addiction and how to be a friend to my friends in recovery — how to help without hurting or enabling. This morning before church, I had breakfast with a friend who’s battling addiction, primarily to crack cocaine. I asked questions and wrote notes while we … > read more
Liz told me about a grassroots, self-governed homeless center in Milwaukee, called Repairers of the Breach, which aims “to bring forth homeless people to act collectively to change the present conditions under which they live, through advocacy/education and direct action.” I really like their mission and vision. So the other … > read more
My friend Liz lives in a collective house, which I find quite intriguing. I’m also drawn to the idea of Catholic Worker Hospitality Houses for the homeless. I’ve thought a lot about how to integrate serving the poor and homeless with collective living, intentional community and communal farming — from … > read more
Image source: Boston Globe » View photo gallery From The Boston Globe There have been rat droppings on the old, musty carpet and frequent mouse sightings near holes in the pocked, plaster walls. For months, exterminators have fought an infestation of bedbugs, which left at least one client with bite … > read more
We have homeless service providers and homeless advocates (like me) and a homeless coalition and a homeless task force, but – If you want to talk to an expert on homelessness… GO TALK TO A HOMELESS PERSON.