03/15/2008: “The cold weather shelter programs at both homeless shelters ended yesterday…” Every year, Greensboro Urban Ministry and Salvation Army open winter emergency overflow programs, in addition to their year-round shelter beds, to keep homeless people from freezing to death sleeping outside. And every year, those winter shelter programs close … > read more
If you’re in Greensboro and you’ve signed up for winter shelter at the HIVE, First Presbyterian or Grace Community, but you haven’t come in yet, tonight’s the night to come inside. The forecast temperature for tonight (Sunday, Dec. 21) is 19 degrees and tomorrow night (Monday, Dec. 22) is 20 … > read more
Recently, during one of our street outreaches, one of the guys asked if I knew anyone who could help with his rent, because he and his girlfriend had some financial setbacks and were about to be evicted and become homeless. They had already been to all of the financial assistance … > read more
Tonight was the Food Not Bombs dinner at the HIVE. A lot of the people who eat at the FNB dinners are homeless, and some are formerly homeless. Tonight, one of my formerly homeless friends came and brought her daughter. They went in the kitchen and got out the biggest … > read more
A few years ago, I had a painful, end-of-the-spiritual-rope, disappointed, disillusioned, despairing, ministry-burnout experience. It was lonely and painful. And in the midst of it, I cried out to God and begged, “I just want to serve people. That’s all I want. I just want to go scrub toilets. I … > read more
In early August, I met with Andy Scott, director of the City’s department of Housing and Community Development, and members of his staff, to discuss how the City’s plans to buy the Coliseum Inn would affect the low-income and homeless people who stay there. Street outreach teams from NightWatch and … > read more
On Thursday afternoon, I went by to see friends on the block, at Lee and Eugene, and to let them know about dinner at the HIVE. One of my friends asked for help for his friend, who had just gotten out of the hospital. He’d had major surgery, and then … > read more
On Thursday, August 28 the committee working on plans for a day center for homeless people will have an opportunity to report to the homeless community on their progress. The August 28 meeting will be an opportunity for homeless people to hear a progress report and offer their feedback. The … > read more
I’ve been busy doing instead of writing lately, so here’s a little update on local homeless news. Last night, I attended the third of four planned registration dinner meetings at HealthServe for homeless people without income or health benefits. These have been going really well and a number of those … > read more
Last night, Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson brought a group of County service providers to meet with about 100 homeless Greensboro residents at Grace Community Church. This was a follow-up to a meeting Gibson arranged last week between County staff and a smaller group of homeless folks as part of … > read more