image credit: Audrie Keen, StreetWatch

As one who has been homeless, I can truly understand just how complex this issue really is. I do not get upset with those who make disparaging remarks about the homeless, not do I blame them, because it is in ignorance that most comments are made. Not only have I been homeless, I also grew up middle class, attended a private school for 12 years, and the product of a wonderful, loving and well-educated family. My father has a doctorate! I am far from what many would thing of a homeless person, but nonetheless, I ended up there. If it were not for people like those involved with StreetWatch (of whom most I know very personally), the local church and a minority of extremely loving people who were willing to look past ignorance and prejudice and into the life of a wounded and hurting person, I might still be homeless.

I never chose to be homeless. It was never an issue of choice. Like many of our friends it was due to struggles with addiction and mental illness that led me there, neither of which I just randomly chose, but both of which contributed greatly to my homelessness. However, people who loved God also loved me. Men invested in me and many never gave up on me. My last homeless episode was probably 4 years ago, honestly, I have lost count. But I have a sensitivity to the issue because I have been there and done that as they say.

No one can truly comprehend what these men and women feel until they have been there. The bottom line is that NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE IS FOR THEIR HOMELESSNESS THEY ARE STILL VERY PRECIOUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO ALSO DESERVE MULTIPLE CHANCES IN LIFE. For those who attack them as being there by choice, why not be a part of the solution and build relationships with these beautiful people in a way that helps them prevent making poor choices in the future. My mental illness issues were not my choice yet I am so thankful that people loved me enough to help me see my way through all of that so that I could be able to be successful in my life today.

It is so easy to sit back and attempt to make ourselves feel better by looking down on those less fortunate, but that is 100% indicative of a tremendous lack of self esteem on that “down looker”. A person with a true and healthy sense of self will see themselves as a recipient of grace and recognize that because they are in a better position that they can THEN reach down to others rather than look down at others. A healthy sense of self is one that seeks to meet the needs of and build relationships with, those who are less fortunate.

Please do not just take shots at these men and women if you have never been there or been a part of their lives. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! Look for chances to help. Stop sitting in the back row and talking trash about people you don’t even know and get out on the front line. Do not contribute to the problem but be the better person as you are a part of the solution. Love people! A person who cannot love others has no real love for self. Please, these are wonderful men and women. I know most of them well, have had some of them live with me and I would not take all the money in the world in exchange for the lessons that I have learned from them!

~ pbfidler

Thanks, my friend, for your words, your wisdom, your grace and your heart.

I went to the annual ConvergeSouth Barbecue at David and Jinni Hoggard’s on Friday night. It was great to see my blogging friends.

At the end of the evening, Hogg asked if I wanted to take the rest of the food (there was lots left!) to feed some of our homeless friends. Since it was Friday night, the NightWatch team was already out, so I called and they sent the van by to pick up the food. I’ve since heard from the night’s team leader that the barbecue was a big hit with our friends and much appreciated!

Thank you, David and Jinni, for your warm hospitality, and for sharing that hospitality with our homeless friends. God bless you.

>> Visit Hogg’s blog.

Update: Sue comments and says that JW took the extra ConvergeSouth lunches to Greensboro Urban Ministry. Yay, JW! A big “thank you” to ConvergeSouth for helping feed homeless and hungry people!

Update #2: Just got an email from NightWatch team member Erik R., who was on the truck Friday night. He says:

The BBQ was well received last Friday… This week could we get ribs???

LOL, Erik. And thanks again, Hogg.

“Often, agencies providing shelter to the homeless don’t realize that they fall under the Fair Housing Law or the American Disabilities Act. But in fact, whether you are providing short or long term shelter, chances are one of these laws apply to you.”

In order to be compliant with the law, shelter staff must give disabled persons access to programs, and cannot use questions about disability (physical or mental illness, including alcoholism) during the intake process to screen a person out of the program — but, after accepting the disabled person into the housing program, shelter staff may then ask questions about disability, in order to determine service needs and offer reasonable accommodations. The article also discusses the difference between “reasonable accommodations” and fundamental program changes. Much more in the article, including links to further resources. (Article no longer available online. NCCEH deleted their blog.)

“A new dimension is creeping into the role of religious leadership in America: blogging…

… podcasting sermons doesn’t require a change in the way religious leaders lead. They’re just recording the sermons they’re already giving.

Blogging, on the other hand, requires a whole new kind of voice. And link-ability makes blogging a lot more risky for pastors…”

Much more. Good stuff. Read it all.

(No, my church’s pastor doesn’t blog yet. Yes, we podcast. And yes, I already emailed him the link to the post. )

An excerpt:

“…The Tiny Mom Lady meets me at the kitchen door and tells me that there’s a guy in the dining room who had been convicted of molesting her daughter. I explain to her that as long as he’s well-behaved here, there’s not much I can do about it. They decide to leave and I can’t say I blame them.”

“Okay, so… The goal is to share a meal together, to share something of the love of God in a tangible way, to welcome folks in and make them feel loved, valued. We’ve created a very safe environment and although we sometimes see expressions of pain, they are rare. But how does grace translate into the fact that the criminal stays and has dinner, and the victim leaves in fear? How does that work? This is, of course, the dynamic tension that exists between God’s grace and justice. Now, “dynamic tension” is a really cool expression, one that neatly summarizes the concept and makes you sound kind of, you know, halfway smart when used in a conversation. It’s another thing altogether when it’s a mom and her grown daughter, and you can see the little girl’s pain in the adult woman’s face who is standing right in front of you. All the theology about grace and justice isn’t worth a tinkers dam now, is it? How do you live out grace in the face of such pain?…”

>> Read all of the post “Had Enough?“

Thanks to Jackie Dowd for the link.

Michael, I really appreciate your voice!!

[Read my previous posts on the subject here, here and here.]

Jamie’s perspective on how homelessness is handled in the U.K. is extremely interesting to me, as I’ve attended presentations on the “Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness” in the U.S. that reference England’s bold initiatives to handle its problems with “rough sleepers” (homeless persons.) After reading some of Jamie’s posts, it seems to me that the early good results there have given way to new problems, which I hadn’t heard about before reading his blog.

I’m going to suggest to my friends on our local “Ten Year Plan” Task Force that they have a look at Jamie’s blog. I encourage you to read it, too. I am hopeful that by following the story of homeless initiatives in England, we might learn which efforts to implement and which to avoid.

“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.)

“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.”

GHA has 2,105 public housing units and 2,634 on the waiting list. GHA administers 2800 Section 8 vouchers with the waiting list capped (closed) at 1,785. (More housing units costs more money.)

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.

Cyberdancer, as a homeless outreach team member, I can tell you that I sometimes get frustrated myself at all the committee meetings and the talking, but the reality is that homeless service providers have an almost impossible task. The need for homeless services outstrips the available resources. So providers have to plan and partner and work hard to do as much as they can with the resources that are available. It’s always seems that there’s just never enough to help everyone.

My dream would be to do all the things we need. Permanent housing with supportive sources for the chronically homeless. A day center for homeless folks. A single portal of entry for those seeking assistance of all kinds (homeless, low-income, mentally ill, substance abuse, domestic violence, unemployed, etc.) Volunteer programs for those disabled by mental illness and medical issues. Good jobs and job training for former offenders. I could go on and on. But all of those would cost money. And I don’t know where the money would come from.

But I’m still dreaming. And praying.

God bless you, Cyberdancer and others experiencing homelessness. Just because we can’t fix it all yet doesn’t mean we don’t care. And we never give up hope! God can make a way where there is no way.

PS, I should have added that there’s a new Task Force charged with developing a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Greensboro. I’m looking forward with hope to see what the Task Force will learn and propose and implement in our community.

PS, again, sorry. The Community Foundation’s Comprehensive Housing Report is a must-read. It continues lots of info on conditions and needs regarding homelessness and affordable housing in Greensboro. Do check it out.