“…So instead of doing laundry, I spent the morning putting together hygiene bags and snack bags and then went out with Michele & Melissa, two of the incredible members of Streetwatch, and visited some of their homeless friends in a tent city. I was beyond bummed when I had to cut out early in order to pick the kids up from school.

And guess what happened while we were out? Something crazy amazing. I knew I wouldn’t be super-helpful today. Most of their focus is on the relationships they build with the homeless people in our community and since I’m brand-spanking-new, it was just my first chance to start those relationships. I guess God knew how much I wanted to be of service today. There was one man at one of the tent cities who only spoke Spanish. He’d only just moved to that particular location three days ago – the only place I was able to visit today. The Streetwatch folks have known about him for much longer and had been really wanting to talk to him. I had never told them I spoke Spanish when I volunteered. It only came up when I was standing right in front of him.

Turns out he’d been wanting to talk to the leader of Streetwatch for awhile. I was brought to tears as he went on and on thanking her, sending her blessings, telling her he prays for her family, how he can tell she has a strong and noble heart. We talked with him for awhile, listening to him. I can only imagine how often he actually gets to have a conversation, given that he’s homeless and we found him today in a tent city where no one else speaks Spanish. Streetwatch provides snacks & basic supplies but also asks people what they need specifically. Guess what he wanted? A Bible in Spanish. He only has an English one. A man living in a tent city when given the chance to ask for something, asked for a Bible in his own language. That’s all. Humbling…”

>> Read all of “Better Than Dirty Laundry” by Kirstin at Our Journey to Africa.

The women’s winter shelter closed at the end of March. The Greensboro Urban Ministry shelter is full. She’s applied to the Salvation Army’s shelter program, but hasn’t gotten in there, either. There are no other shelters in Greensboro.

A nurse at the IRC (a friend of mine) suggested she call me. Our StreetWatch ministry provides tents and sleeping bags for homeless people who sleep outside. She asked me for blankets and she wanted to know where would be a safe location for her to sleep? And quite honestly, I didn’t know what to tell her.

I’ve had so many calls lately about homeless women on the street in Greensboro. They all need someplace to stay. I get calls from the homeless women themselves, calls from police officers, calls from homeless service providers. The shelters are full, what are the options? Well, not many that I know of.

There are women’s shelters in other towns nearby, but that’s not an option for many of these women, for various reasons. I’ve suggested to all of them that they go to the IRC, which has a housing program, but what I hear back is that unless they have an income, there’s no housing available. (Makes sense and I knew that, but I remain hopeful that someone will have housing vouchers!)

Most of the homeless women who sleep outside have a boyfriend or husband. If they weren’t with a partner when they became homeless, they find one quickly. I hear from many women that companionship and safety are very important when you live on the street. A woman living outside alone is much more vulnerable.

I’m not sure what to tell the lady who called me today. There are two tent cities within walking distance of downtown, but neither has single women living there and at both places, the residents have a voice in who joins their community, so there’s no guarantee that either will be the right fit for her. I’m not sure if she’d prefer community life or a place to herself. And it’s not always easy to find a safe, legal place to camp. (Property owners have given permission for homeless people to camp on the land where the tent cities are located.)

I’m about to go to the StreetWatch storage unit to pick up blankets and a sleeping bag and go find this lady. I still don’t know where she’ll sleep tonight. Another homeless woman sleeping outside in Greensboro. That’s messed up. We need a women’s shelter. Well, we need more shelter space for homeless people, period. But women, especially, do not need to be living outside. And women living alone on the street? That should just never, ever happen.

I told him that my heart was heavy about the closing of the winter shelters for the homeless. I told him I’d been at the women’s winter shelter the night before and talked to women who were leaving the shelter without a permanent place to go. Their faces and their stories were fresh on my mind this morning. And moments earlier, on my way to church, I’d driven past the soup kitchen and seen a man carrying a duffel bag, as well as a full trash bag slung over his shoulder. It seemed likely that he was among those who had stayed in a winter shelter, and was now carrying all of his belongings with him, with no place to go. I’d also talked to the guys at the tent city that morning and was planning to take food and other necessities to them after church. They’d had three new residents come in even before the shelters closed, and they expected more. Adding to my concern was the recent spate of bridge and camp cleanups by the City and private property owners. Where will people go, I wondered? My worry and anxiety were evident in my words.

The gentleman sitting beside me listened in silence. There was a quiet pause after I finished speaking, as if he were carefully considering my words and his response. And then he said, “You remind me of someone. I used to be out there. And one day, when I was sleeping, a woman came and ‘tap, tap, tap’, knocked and woke me up and asked, ‘Are you hungry?’ And then she prayed for me. And she came back, with her father, this time. And she prayed for me again. And not two weeks later, a man came by and offered me a room in a place that I could afford. And I’ve been there ever since. And when you came walking up the lawn, I thought, that’s how she looked when she walked up to me.”

I felt very still inside. I felt as if the LORD Himself had spoken to me. I could feel His presence there with us. I could feel His spirit replacing my worry and the anxiety with quiet and calm. My Father God said to me, “Go. Feed my sheep. Pray for them. Be with me. Trust me.”

I said to my new friend beside me, “God is good.” And he answered, “Yes, he is.”

We sat quietly for a few moments and enjoyed the green grass and the blue sky and the white clouds and the huge trees and the soft breeze and the birds flying and the insect sounds and the worship music coming through the windows and the God of the universe who uses the willing and cares for the broken and answers our prayers and makes a way where there’s no way.

And when we parted, my friend said to me, “I hope I see you again here.” I said, “Me, too.” He said, “You look for me, and I’ll look for you.” And I said, “I will.” And then I went inside to go to the service, with my heart and spirit full of the worship experience I’d just had.

Blessed. Grateful.

He’d been offered a sleeping bag by the guy at the day center, so I told him that our StreetWatch team could come out in the morning and bring him a tent, a tarp and one of the bags we usually give out, which has food, utensils, water, hygiene items, toilet paper and socks. And then I asked, “What else can you think of that you need?” He paused for a moment and then said, “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.” All I could think to say was, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I was so overwhelmed with sadness for him.

They just keep on coming…

I spent some time talking to a long-time homeless friend who was living in a homeless camp with his wife and another homeless couple nearby when I first met him, years ago. The other couple died within a year of each other in 2010 and 2011, and a year ago, his own wife died. Now it’s just him, back living outside in the area where I met him. It’s hard to imagine him living without his wife. When I stopped by to see him Wednesday evening, it had been a long time since we’d seen each other and he said, “I was just thinking of you today.” I said, “And God sent me to see you.” We had a bittersweet time remembering and catching up and acknowledging the now. Life is hard. Friends are golden.

Yesterday, I sat on a curb and listened while a homeless panhandler told me about losing her children, her husband and her home. She talked for a long time. Mental illness and the homeless life are taking a heavy toll on her. But she loves Jesus, and despite the anxiety disorder that plagues her, she holds on to her faith and not just believes, but knows that God will take care of her children. And she is determined to get help, even though she’s tried to access services before and found the doors closed. She asked if I would be “the person that helps you arrange all that”, and I told her yes. It’s an honor to be asked. And I will quickly refer her to professionals who can get her the help that she needs. I have my own fears about failing people who’ve been failed enough.

Today, I had a good talk at a homeless camp with an elderly homeless gentleman who I’ve known for years. Back when we met, he wasn’t living outside. I worry about his health. Elderly + unsheltered + alcoholism = higher risk for serious health problems. He told me that it was his choice to live outside. I acknowledged that it’s his choice and I respect that. And I told him that if he ever chose to live differently and needed help in doing the next thing, I’d be glad to help, if asked. He talked at length about his life, his family, his career, his experiences. Then he turned the conversation to me, asked how I’d been doing, asked about my children, how school was going for them, offered some career advice for my sons, and said some very kind things about my ministry. When I left him, I was quite pensive. He often has that effect on me.

StreetWatch is about providing for the immediate needs of unsheltered homeless people and about helping them do the next thing, but above all, it’s about being somebody who cares. (See #3 on this post.)

Josh Jones (image credit: Joshua Jones, Jr.)

Josh Jones has lived through poverty, dysfunction, disability and homelessness. He’s one of the most resilient, determined, positive,  helpful and loving people that I know. We met when I was a case manager in a church-based assistance ministry and he was my client. But he very quickly became my friend and my encourager.

Josh wrote a book, Joshua Jones Jr. Story, dedicated to his mom, whom he takes care of. Proceeds from the book will help both Josh and his mom. I just ordered my copy. I hope you will, too. Here’s an excerpt that has me eager to read more:

Hi! My name is Joshua Jones, Jr. This is Joshua Junior’s story.

I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself.  I was born May 15, 1967, to Christine Harrelson and Joshua Jones, Sr. of Mebane, North Carolina.

We have a very dysfunctional family.  We have five children, two girls and three boys.  I’m the knee baby. All five children’s names is Tony L.  Jones, Angela Patricia Jones, Demetrious Flythe, Marvin Ray Jones.

We lived on Highway 49 in Mebane, North Carolina, where we were a farmer’s children. We didn’t have much.  We were poor, and we had to work like human slaves at my daddy’s farm, Amy Crawford’s farm.

My mama was a housewife.  She made sure that we had something to eat.  She was the world’s bestest cook that you could ever meet. She always helped people; she always fed every body.  She got up every morning at 5:30 seven days a week.  We had fatback meat, molasses gravy, grits, oatmeal–whatever was in the refrigerator, Christine Harrelson cooked it. By the way, she divorced Joshua Jones, Sr. in 1989 and went back to her maiden name.

Well, she left him several times, so we had to go live with Lavinia Harrelson and Coy Harrelson which are both deceased now.  They stayed at 3916 Lawson Road, Cedar Grove, North Carolina.  Well we did that for a long time.  The last time she left him, I think it was in ’78, we left that morning.  She said, ‘Y’all get some bags. Go in there and get some Byrd’s bags, we got to go, I’m leaving your daddy.’ We said, ‘Oh, Lord.’  Every time we left our daddy, we’d get to the road and get down the road, Reverend Hal Brooks would pull up: ‘Y’all need a ride?’  She always left on a Sunday.  I never understood that.

I look forward to reading more of the story of my friend Josh. Even in the dark, he always sees the light. I love you, Josh. I’m grateful to be your friend.

Linda, Kenneth, Sharon, Victoria, Boyd, Wayne, Johnny, Vernon and "unknown"

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 row of empty chairs with the names of those who died homeless in Greensboro in 2011 — Linda, Kenneth, Sharon, Victoria, Boyd, Wayne, Johnny, Vernon — along with a chair marked “unknown”, representing others we may not have known about. The empty chairs represent the dinner guests who are no longer with us there at the Wednesday night meal, but who we remember and honor at this yearly service.

Mayor Perkins, accompanied by Councilwoman Abuzuaiter, reads the proclamation.

Mayor Robbie Perkins, accompanied on the podium at Grace by City Council Member Marikay Abuzuaiter, read a proclamation declaring the day Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day in Greensboro. Both Mayor Perkins and Mrs. Abuzuaiter participated in the earlier Memorial Walk, as well. The service included music; the story, in poetry, of formerly-homeless outreach worker Melissa Gayle; and a message by Grace’s Shepherding Pastor Will Dungee. Following the memorial service, Grace’s weekly Community Fellowship Dinner was served to 200+ homeless and hungry guests.

you don’t know my story, only bits and pieces, i treat homelessness like its my main thesis. I’ve walked in those shoes, I’ve slept on those streets, i used to be chronically homeless,and ppl looked at me like i was a disease.that was me, you used to pass on that block, tipping up that forty, to keep myself out of the cold shock.

melissa gayle

That was me freezing on those 27 below nights, that was me you prayed for, to survive throughout the night. That was me you used to serve, from that disaster unit truck, that was me you tried to comfort, in a world full of hurt. My passion is helping the homeless, my pain is seeing us fail, why cant we all get together, and take away this living hell? What happened to being christians, and helping our fellow man? What happened to coming together, to share with the whole world Gods plan? How many more ppl will die on our streets, strickended below poverty? They suffer everyday, they are the face of homelessness. They walk in those worn out shoes. Will they survive? Or die? U choose.

Melissa Gayle gave a spoken word performance of “my story” on December 21, 2011 at a memorial service at Grace Community Church, commemorating National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day 2011.

“…My 11 year old daughter Jessica hasn’t been 11 for very long. We had her birthday party here a couple weeks ago, and she has been wanting an iPod Touch for quite a while. It’s ‘the thing’ you know? They’re very useful and very fun. Most of her friends have one. For her birthday, instead of gifts, she asked for money, so she could save up for this thing she’s been wanting. She got gifts of money from some of her friends. After her birthday, she had $70. saved up; quite a chunk in this household. She knew more time would pass for her to earn more money to add to this so she could buy the iPod.”

She came to me a few days ago and asked to talk to me. ‘Mom, I don’t want to use my money to buy the iPod’ she told me ‘I want to use it to buy blankets for the homeless.’ I asked her how this came about ‘I had a moment with God’ she said. We continued the conversation, and I could tell she meant it…”

“…Monday, we went to the store to buy the blankets my friend Michele (who works with homeless people) said were a good choice. While we were getting ready to go, my 8 year old son Joshua said ‘I want to use my money to buy blankets for homeless people, too.’ He had $15. saved up.

Just like that, the very next day, God answered my husband’s hope.

Joshua asked me if he could put one of his dollars into the Salvation Army bucket at the door. Then, together, with $84. and some change, they got 8 blankets.

Tomorrow, we will meet Michele with the blankets at the place they keep items needed to help care for homeless people in Greensboro…”

What was her husband’s hope? What did Betsy learn about her heart, God’s heart and her children’s hearts? I encourage you to read the whole post.

I look forward to picking up the blankets and to giving them out to homeless people. I will tell the people who receive these blankets about the children who saved and spent their own money to buy them.

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing…”

Thanks, Betsy. Love you all.

Meet Brad. He lives in a homeless camp, but wants to move inside before winter. To do that, he needs a job. He has lots of skills and experience, which he talks about in this video. Please watch and share.