A News & Record article about homeless camps in the path of the Downtown Greenway elicited the usual negative comments about homeless people. One of those who responded with truth (and grace) was a friend of mine, who’s been homeless in the past. The only experts on homelessness are people … > read more
“Whether they go is not an option; how and when they go is up to them.” A source tells me that construction on the next phase of the Downtown Greenway could begin as soon as mid-November. Installation of traffic lights on Lee Street could be completed by the end of … > read more
 The opening of Greensboro’s new homeless day center, tentatively scheduled for this fall, has been pushed back to allow board members to raise additional funds. In March, the Strasser family donated the Southern Plate & Window Glass Co. building at East Washington St. and Murrow Blvd., but the building … > read more
[video link] From Mark Horvath at InvisiblePeople.tv: “Brutal and senseless.” This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I’ve heard in a long time. Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that’s not bad … > read more
Jimmy is 69 years old. He’s worked all his life, and is a military veteran, but now, at retirement age, he is living in a tent in the woods. [video link] Jimmy says that he’s eligible for Social Security, but doesn’t have the identification he needs, including his DD214, to … > read more
On Saturday, June 27, 2009, my ministry partner, Audrie Keen and I, along with our friends Lavaughn and Lee, participated in an Americorps homeless camp cleanup. The camp we cleaned was one of several in an area that lies in the path of Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway. I recently learned, through … > read more
Via email, from Action Greensboro: “… As you may know, Action Greensboro is spearheading a public/private partnership to create a Downtown Greenway… Construction… will displace those living in this area…” This is Keith. He is homeless and lives outside in a wooded camp in downtown Greensboro in the path of … > read more
On Tuesday, April 7th, the Greensboro City Council will consider a proposed change to the panhandling ordinance, limiting the hours to 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The current ordinance doesn’t specify hours, it prohibits panhandling after sunset. If Council approves the change, panhandlers will lose some hours of begging time … > read more
Today on my way home from church, I saw one of the many U.S. military veterans that I know who are or have been homeless in Greensboro. He was flying a sign at his usual corner. I stopped to say hello and asked if I could take a picture of … > read more
From the web site of the Greensboro Police Department: Helping the Homeless — The GPD’s Center City Resource Team is collecting winter coats, hats, gloves and boots for the homeless. If you would like to donate any of these items, please deliver them to one of the Police substations: 1106 … > read more