Body of homeless man found in Greensboro
posted: August 20, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: homeless news
On Tuesday morning, Duke Energy workers found the body of a homeless man, Michael Keith Cooper, 50, outside of the old Ethan Allen furniture store at 4710 High Point Road. There are no indications of foul play, but the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Cooper’s death. The News & Record printed an undated booking […]
Read More..>>Bloggers and readers: I need your help, please
posted: August 11, 2008 | category: community, homelessness
tags: free meals, homeless news, hunger, you can help
Update #3: Breakfast will be served on the “front deck” at Grace Community Church at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday (8/14 and 8/15) and dinner will be served by the picnic benches at the downtown library on Friday (8/15) at 6:00 p.m. To my friends on the street who read this blog (and to […]
Read More..>>My church struggles with how to love our homeless neighbors
posted: August 4, 2008 | category: community, faith, homelessness
tags: alcohol, crack cocaine, homeless news, housing, policy
Blankets, clothing and other items left out in the open by homeless people who sleep outside at Grace Community Church are stacked beside the dumpster a few days before it’s scheduled to be emptied, giving them a chance to retrieve their things.
My church, Grace Community on West Lee Street, is struggling with how to answer […]
Picture this: DayWatch at the Central library and Coliseum Inn
posted: August 4, 2008 | category: community, faith, homelessness
tags: downtown, Greensboro, homeless news, hunger, photos
This past Saturday, Deb and I did DayWatch (street outreach to the homeless and others) at the downtown library and Coliseum Inn, with members of her church, Mosaic. Please click on the photos below for descriptions and details about what we did, who we served, and more.
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Post about the DNC and Denver’s homeless gets a response
posted: July 22, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: homeless news, politics
A couple of days ago, I wrote a post about the reaction to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ plans to give free movie tickets and bus passes to homeless people during the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver. The next day, I received an email through my web site’s contact form, which begins:
“We […]
The DNC & Denver’s homeless: hiding or helping?
posted: July 20, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: Food Not Bombs, homeless news, politics
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless says that free movie tickets and bus tokens won’t be used to hide Denver’s homeless during the upcoming Democratic National Convention, but will instead be offered as “an escape from the heat or the activities of the convention or the security procedures.”
But some folks remain unconvinced:
“It just sounds like […]
You can go home again: Kimberly finds her dad
posted: July 13, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: homeless news, lyrics, music, stories, video
Sometime in May, a homeless man named Mark Hoffman left his park bench near Friendly Shopping Center and Centenary United Methodist Church in Greensboro. His absence caused much concern to the many people who had grown accustomed to seeing him over the years, sitting on “his” bench or attending services at the church or […]
Read More..>>July 10th news update: homelessness, day center, cops and more
posted: July 10, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: day center, downtown, Greensboro, homeless news, housing first, police
Random thoughts and updates for this week:
1.) I’m very thankful for the “housing first” initiative that is moving chronically homeless people from the street to permanent housing, but… I’m growing increasingly frustrated with the all-too-frequent staff and program changes among community support providers, as well as the limitations of available mental health services. […]
Council to consider setting aside $200K for homeless day center
posted: June 17, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: day center, homeless news
Amanda Lehmert at the News & Record writes about the efforts of homeless residents, advocates, politicians and providers to create a homeless day center in Greensboro. City Council member Dianne Bellamy-Small, Liz Seymour and Tim Hutchinson from Food Not Bombs, Jehan Benton from Partnering to End Homelessness, and I discussed with Amanda our convergent […]
Read More..>>That guy on the bench at Friendly
posted: June 16, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: homeless news, stories
When I go and speak to groups about homelessness, one of the first questions I’m asked is:
“Do you know that guy on the bench at Friendly?”
His name is Mark, and he’s been called “the true face of homelessness” and “the most visible homeless person in Greensboro.” For residents who live, work or shop on the […]
