Homeless News Update, 04/25/08
I’ve been busy doing instead of writing lately, so here’s a little update on local homeless news.
Last night, I attended the third of four planned registration dinner meetings at HealthServe for homeless people without income or health benefits. These have been going really well and a number of those who have attended and registered have already seen a doctor and received medications. Because they are homeless and without income, and they attended a registration dinner, they qualified to have their appointment and prescription fees waived. Awesome. A big “thank you!” to the HealthServe staff and to Moses Cone for making this happen.
Various homeless day center meetings and discussions continue. Greensboro City Council member Dianne Bellamy-Small is leading a group of providers, pastors and advocates who’ve been meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church, along with Council member Goldie Wells. Homeless folks have held a series of meetings at the downtown library, the HIVE, and Grace Community Church. Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson has attended some of these meetings, as well, and is hoping to bring all interested parties together soon. Stay tuned…
The Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County recently held a press conference in High Point to announce that a leadership committee is moving forward with implementation of the Ten Year Plan to end chronic homelessness. (Finally!) I skipped the pomp and circumstance. Necessary, I’m sure, but I don’t love PR. My friend Audrie went and reported that there were no homeless people, just lots of “fancy people” and back-patting. Figures. 
Bright note: Jehan Benton of the United Way of Greensboro has been hired as the implementation director for the Ten Year Plan.
The housing support team has moved about 50 chronically homeless people off the street and into housing. It’s ironic that you can sum it up in one sentence like that — “The housing support team has moved about 50 chronically homeless people off the street and into housing.” I could write 50 books, 50 films, 50 songs — at least — about those 50 people. Each one has an unbelievable and compelling story. And each move off the street is complicated, messy, hopeful, chaotic, crazy, real. I want Mitch (program director) to write about it all someday. Maybe he will. Maybe the people in the program will write their stories. This housing program is a good thing. It is not so simple as “people are moving into housing.” Oh no, not at all. I never imagined how complicated and messy it would be, for every person. Or how beautiful. Thank you, God, for this program. And for my friend, Mitch McGee.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
[...] said, hoisting the bag. “A pot of beans.” Danny is one of the people participating in the new Housing First program—he’s living in his own apartment again for the first time in a couple of years. He sat [...]
April 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Hello Cara,
Thought you might like to read about this family:
http://www.joshuasvineyard.org/
They had their home and a community house built in Albuquerque by Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. Jeff and I cried when we watched the tv show because that is what our dream is, too. The father in the family has a similar story to Jeff’s experience with homelessness and drug/alcohol addiction. We know what they (and you!) are doing is a beautiful act of worship!
Blessings,
~Anna
April 26th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Beau, read the comment above yours. No smoke.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Somehow I wish this were true but I think there’s a lot of smoke being blown here. I know homelessness “you DO NOT” so lets hear a true report, without the BS. I want to hear a progress report in 30/60 days, I hope it will be still just as beautiful!
[Quote marks added by editor.]
April 25th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Thanks CM for this posted message! Mitch McGee is a champ in my book. His professionalism can not be measured. I can’t thank God enough for Mitch and this program. A opportunity to turn my life around for the better, I may never receive a chance like this again, but I can assure you this, I will make the best of it!