Hamburger Square park on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro is being spruced up. A DGI-led task force has made intentional design decisions to discourage homeless people from using the park. And they’re making that decision public: “Elizabeth Link, the city’s urban designer, created the landscape design for the park. … > read more
December 21st is National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Locally, AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness sponsored the Greensboro Homeless Memorial Walk from the Interactive Resource Center on East Washington Street to Grace Community Church on West Lee Street, where a Memorial Service was held at 6:15pm. On the stage were a … > read more
Each year since 1990, on December 21st, which is on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. This is a time to remember our homeless friends who have died … > read more
A traditional Christmas meal will be served to the needy at Bender’s Tavern, 4517-A W. Market St. in Greensboro, on Christmas Day, December 25th, from 10am until 3pm. On the menu: turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll. Shuttles will provide transportation for dinner guests. … > read more
Recently, a local weekly newspaper interviewed outgoing Greensboro City Manager Rashad Young and asked what he would have done if he could have played “dictator for a day” in our city. This idea got my attention: “[Rashad Young] said he would also find a campus setting for the homeless facilities. … > read more
Doing street outreach the past couple of weeks at homeless camps in Greensboro (and at a tent city with multiple homeless camps), I’ve seen long-familiar faces and lots of new faces. I’ve seen homeless camps spring back up in places that had emptied out for a while. I’ve seen homeless … > read more
I’ve long been a fan of I Am Now, a non-profit that serves homeless young people in Guilford County. And the news that they’ve opened a home for girls who are transitioning out of foster care makes me happy. It will help to fill a big gap in services: A … > read more
[video link] If you’re receiving government assistance of any kind: Be grateful! Spend it on what it’s intended for. It’s a blessing to be offered help when you need it (how well I know this — and I’m thankful), but the blessing turns to bitterness if you misuse it. Via … > read more
There is an age-old debate over alcoholism: is the problem in the sufferer’s head — something that can be overcome through willpower, spirituality or talk therapy, perhaps — or is it a physical disease, one that needs continuing medical treatment in much the same way as, say, diabetes or epilepsy? … > read more
UPDATE, 9/8/11: Thank you to those who responded! Lucy and Biscuit are going to the vet! My beloved dog, Bettie May, has helped me get through surgeries, medical procedures, depression, anxiety and lots of hard times! I can’t imagine not having her with me. Same with homeless people. They love … > read more