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Monday, January 31, 2011

Homeless not helpless


Related Causes:Homelessness, Poverty
Field reporter: Hanna Karimipour

Just because you don’t see homelessness in a community doesn’t mean it’s not there. Homelessness is a national issue, affecting all fifty states. In the Big Bend Region of North Florida and around the country, both shelters and groups are working hard to assist these people who have nowhere else to go.

In a recent interview with the Big Bend Homeless Coalition, Janis Thibodeau, organizer of the Big Bend Homeless Coalition’s Speaker’s Bureau which takes people who are or have experienced homelessness around the Tallahassee region to speak about their experiences, revealed to DoSomething.org some of the hardships that these homeless people bear through.

“We have people who sleep on mats at the shelter and walk miles just to find a place to work for the day. There is no guarantee that they will find work, and usually the work is hard, physical labor,” stated Thibodeau when addressing some of the common misconceptions.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 3.5 million people in the United Stated experience homelessness in any given year. The top five cause of homelessness are

•loss of job
•lack of affordable housing
•lack of affordable health care
•natural disasters
•domestic violence
With the sloping economy, this has not been helped at all, with a 3% increase in homelessness across the nation.

“Just getting a job is really difficult. Sometimes the best we can help them is with resource guide, housing, and food,” Thibodeau said in response to being asked about how homeless people get back on their feet. “One of the most important things that you can do is when you see someone who is homeless is just say hello to them. Know that it could be you.”

What can you do?
1/3 of homeless people are under the age of 18, so donate to help us make a difference. Majority of shelters are a temporary fix for a night of a week, we need to help one another to get employment and permanent,shelter and in this country we can for God has blessed us in a mighty way.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Is it illegal to take food from dumpsters? even if your are hungry?


Is it illegal to take food from dumpsters?

The information written here is not legal advice and the author of this blog is not your lawyer. These posts merely contain ideas to help you plan and organize your legal research and identify potentially helpful sources of law. ****


Sometimes because of local ordinances against providing food to the homeless, such as laws requiring costly permits to conduct group meals, hungry people seek out food that has been thrown away. My name is Laura and lost my home and job and had no food for five days and found myself looking in dumpsters for food. If property has been abandoned, then it no longer belongs to the previous owner and taking it is not stealing.

In some cases, generally when trash is outside and expected to be picked up by the trash collectors, the courts have considered the trash to be abandoned property in which the person who discarded it would have no expectation of privacy. These were not cases about hungry people taking food. These cases were about police officers who, in gathering potential evidence from garbage cans, were accused of conducting illegal searches. See California v. Greenwood at http://supreme.justia.com/us/486/3.

When the trash is stored indoors or in a secluded area, it is often not considered abandoned.

Business-owned dumpsters, located on a business’s own private property and not shared by multiple businesses might not contain abandoned property. Dumpster companies provide lockable lids, so businesses can lock their dumpsters and keep their trash inaccessible can lock their dumpsters. Many businesses lock their dumpsters to prevent thieves from stealing account numbers and other private information.


Maybe the law should require that non-perishable food be bagged separately or that food be packaged against bacteria and labeled with the date. To research this kind of idea, look for court cases about “premises liability”. The most efficient way to find court cases is to go through a printed case index or an electronic database. LexisOne is free online database where you can search for the past ten years’ cases. Look for print sources and other databases at your county law library. See also the list of self-help legal research guides available from the State, Court, and County Law Libraries section of the American Association of Law Libraries.

When trash is not considered “abandoned” and it is still considered the private property of the trash can or dumpster owner then, obviously, taking all or part of that private property is theft. In some municipalities and states, there are specific theft laws punishing dumpster diving. Even if those laws don’t exist in a particular place, generic theft laws can be used against people who take someone else’s property whether it was in the house, in the yard, in his hands, in a trash container or anywhere else.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Local Homeless Shelters Deal With Overcrowding


Crisis Ministry in Lexington is offering places to sleep to those looking to escape the cold, but with a limited number of beds, overcrowding has become an issue.

The Weber family has been staying at Crisis Ministry for almost a month.

"My daughter usually sleeps here, or me and my son will. And then my husband takes turns with the baby or the daughter and then my two oldest boys sleep on top." said Autumn Weber.

Autumn Weber, her husband George, and their four children, the youngest 10-month-old Shawn, have been living at the shelter since George Weber lost his job.

"As a man you are the role of supporting your family and when you can no longer do that, I mean you feel like the whole world comes crashing down." said George Weber.

George Weber says he's been looking for work, but nothing has panned out so far.

"I've got so much management experience. My resume is solid, I've been told that. But when it comes to being hired, it just hasn't happened." George Weber said.

Crisis Ministry has two shelters currently helping 9 families and 51 adults. Executive Director Gayle Whitehead says the long stretch of cold weather is driving more people inside.

"Because of the amount of beds we have in here, and this is basically the floor space that we have, we have had as many as five people on the floor, so we had to go to the dining room." Whitehead said.

Whitehead says the influx of people is starting to strain their resources.

"The showers, the hot water runs out quicker, your supplies run out a lot quicker, your light bill is a lot higher." Whitehead said.

With more freezing temperature expected Thursday, Whitehead says Crisis Ministry says they will do what it takes to make sure everyone has a warm bed who needs one

"We will have people actually go out and look for people tonight, hoping that they will come in." Whitehead said. Help us in Denver and Las Vegas, to make a difference in a life. http://Hislovestreetministries.com/

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Homeless Teens Have Dreams But Nowhere to Sleep.


First may I say I serious thank God, for the rejection and trials I encounter when helping the homeless and that is; it makes me stronger and more determined to do what God has called me to do.

It's always a great day when homeless youth somehow nudge gaffe-prone politicians off CNN, however briefly. Today the Cable News Network featured a report on unaccompanied homeless teens in Denver, Colorado, of which there are hundreds. The story opens with Belle, an 18-year-old homeless prostitute whose bruised face betrays a recent beating, which she says from her pimp.

The young people — mainly runaways and foster care dropouts with street names like Magic and Gucci — frequently band together. One group calls themselves Juggalos, like fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. "Juggalos started as a family for outcast people that don't feel like they have family," one member says. "Other people see it as a gang but we just look out for each other."

Their refuge in Denver is Sox Place, a nonprofit drop-in center with the slogan "bringing the father's heart to the fatherless." Monday through Saturday, "street kids" can drop in for hot meals and ping-pong games. Thank goodness for Sox Place, though its existence begs the question: who should step in to prevent youth homelessness before it gets to this level where Sox Place is needed?

One pregnant 20-year-old says she hopes that her son, due in September, doesn't have to "deal with all this." The story doesn't show, though, whether the teen and her boyfriend are anywhere near transitioning to housing before the baby's birth. I'm guessing that's because the answer's no.

A young man named Gucci describes his future to the camera like this: "I'm gonna stand my dream in his face and I'm gonna shake his hand and I'm gonna say, 'tag along wit me.'" His optimism, along with the federal government's new directive to end youth homelessness in 10 years, is almost enough to make you believe he can succeed. Almost.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Homeless Need Love Too


Lenette Evans ministering to some of Benton Harbor’s homeless at the riverfront.
By Lenette Evans, St. Joseph, Michigan
We all live day to day going about our own lives, going to work, caring for our children and families, paying bills, going on vacations and having dinner with friends and family. Here in Benton Harbor, Michigan, there are many homeless people living under bridges and at the riverfront, in abandoned homes, alleys, and throughout the city with no place to go.

I am a street Evangelist and have been ministering and working with the homeless, prostitutes, alcohol and drug abusers for several years. I am ministering mostly to people who are on the streets, in the Emergency Women's Shelter Soup Kitchen, Peter's House Ministry, Salvation Army, Homeless on the Riverfront, under bridges and wherever the Lord leads me.

To minister to the lost is not just about preaching the word of God and praying with them. It's about building genuine friendships, getting to know them and hearing their story and their heart and taking time to listen and accept them for who they are, just as Jesus Christ has loved us. Homeless people and those living in poverty need unconditional love from a caring community and churches that will seriously rise up and make a difference.

We don't need mayors, commissioners, and city officials and people who say they are going to do something to help the homeless and find them housing but do absolutely nothing. A lot of people say a lot but very few do anything to help, including those in churches in the community. "Help us make a difference in a life". Hislovestreetministries.com

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Project Homeless-Those whom are giving to the poor they shall be rewarded.


Project Homeless Connect - Tuesday, January 25, 2011
On Tuesday, January 25, 2011, the Trenton/Mercer Continuum of Care (CoC) will conduct a one-day event called Project Homeless Connect (PHC). Project Homeless Connect activities will run 9am to 2pm at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Trenton, NJ. We will provide a hot breakfast and lunch, access to services and helpful items. Homelessness exists every day in Mercer County. This event sponsored by community leaders and designed to provide housing referrals, support services, and hospitality in a convenient one-stop format for people experiencing homelessness.

Last January, we served over 357 individuals at Project Homeless Connect event. And last July, we served over 350 people.

It will allow the CoC to provide those people with much needed services.

The success of Project Homeless Connect is contingent upon communities joining together with local businesses, private corporations, hospitals, volunteers and a variety of providers to positively affect the lives of the homeless in Trenton and Mercer County.

On any given day we have over 627 individuals and 274 children homeless (point-in-time data 2010). This opportunity can help the homeless to move off the street and be connected with the services that can help move them out of homelessness. It costs everyone more to have these individuals and families on the street.

Please become part of the solution and generously donate to this project. We are in need of volunteers, funding for food, clothing and other necessaries.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

His Success Story Gets Two Thumbs Up


Yes, Anthony is homeless. We met at a rotating shelter near Detroit. When Anthony first lost his job and place to live, he tried squatting in an abandoned building filled with people using drugs.

Then he found MCREST Rotating Shelter. I love the rotating shelter model. Basically a group a faith-based organizations come together to share resources to help hurting people. That sounds to me like what church should be all about.

Calvin has a job and by now is living in his own apartment. He is also going back to school. I wish all stories ended like Calvin's. Many just need a chance and a helping hand. PLEASE HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A LIFE AND RESTORE HOPE. Hislovestreetministries.com

His story at
http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/his_success_story_gets_two_thumbs_up

Thursday, January 13, 2011

How to Stop Homelessness.


In Your American City
Preface

I was a rich, “white” kid growing up in Connecticut, when I realized that I would not ever walk the paths of people who came before me. I mean, what was the point of learning other people’s lessons, anyway? I was in the talented and gifted program in junior high, but you know what? I found out that smart people get told what to do and how to behave, too. So, ever since junior high school, I secretly decided to follow the way that was the most successful for me. In the process, I left Judaism to become a born-again Christian. And I left my elite, college education behind me to spend about 2 ½ years on the road, living with homeless people.

Rest assured that I was never actually homeless: I could have called friends or relatives to bail me out of this journey that I was taking with America’s downtrodden. But I never did ask for a bailout. Instead, I stuck with living in homeless shelters, just so that I could write this book that you’re about to read. What I learned is that homelessness is a national disgrace – for the homeless and for us on the other side, who volunteer at shelters and soup kitchens in America. What I have concluded, is that homelessness must become a thing of the past if America has any chance of proceeding into the future with any clear, moral direction. Americans are scared of speaking out against homelessness. I think that they want the problem to just go away, but they are not willing to roll up their sleeves and find out why homelessness even exists in America. I hope that you will find this book to be trend- setting: Let’s finally talk about homelessness in America; let’s talk about poverty from an entrepreneur’s perspective; and, let’s get rid of homelessness without getting rid of the people who are homeless.

Welcome to a journey that I started back in May 2000. Welcome to the world of homelessness: Where social workers hoodwink the public into thinking that homelessness can be solved by tolerating it and throwing taxpayer money at it. Welcome to the world of really lazy, homeless people, who are just leeching off of the goodwill of others. But most of all, welcome to the world that Jesus Christ asked me to explore, so that I might shed light on the corruption and profiteering that goes hand in hand with homelessness in America.


Table of Contents

Part 1 – Why Homelessness Is Dragging Down America’s Local Economies

Part 2 – The History of Homelessness in America

Part 3 – Why Christians Help the Homeless Population

Part 4 – Cities That Succeed In Stopping Homelessness

Part 1
Why Homelessness Is Dragging Down America’s Local Economies

Let’s admit it: No one likes to see a fellow American sitting out in front of the local mall, begging for change so that they can “get something to eat.” But the odds are that when people beg on the streets in America, they are simply using that money to buy alcohol or drugs. Face it – homelessness is a dead-end way of life, and no one gets anywhere by living in perpetual homelessness. So, why do we put up with homelessness in America?

We tolerate public begging and vagrancy in America, because we don’t connect this delinquent behavior to the stability of our local economies. We don’t understand that large retailers like Wal-Mart and Costco prohibit the homeless from begging on their property, and that’s one reason why American consumers choose to shop there – so that they don’t have to be hassled for change or sympathy like when they visit local businesses, who often tolerate loitering and begging for change right in front of their stores. For their part, local businesses are afraid to clear out the homeless from their storefronts, because they don’t want to be perceived as callous and cruel to the poor.

Nevertheless, America’s homelessness problem is dragging down our local economies, and it has to stop. In college business classes, students are taught that a consumer has choices in the marketplace. Well, why don’t we as Americans choose to be without homelessness in our own country? Why do we tolerate homelessness, when all these people are really doing is refusing to re-integrate into American society while demanding that the taxpayers feed and house them? I say that it’s time to make the connection between homelessness and the faltering health of America’s local economies.

Case in point: Have you ever been to a city that was a great place to visit, but you’ve told yourself that you would never live there because of the crime and the “street people”? Los Angeles is the first city that comes to mind when I think of such a place – one visit to Skid Row is an eye-opener, because the homeless are allowed to sleep in the streets, loiter all day and are given free food and shelter all the time. Another example of a city that promotes homelessness is New York City. A homeless person can get food and lodging every day in the Big Apple, guaranteed. How would you like to have that, without having to work for it? Wouldn’t it be great if you could do nothing all day, except walk around and socialize with your friends, and then at the end of the day, someone would be there to take care of your food and lodging? Well, that’s what is happening all over America today – cities and towns are willingly providing free food and lodging for homeless people who neither appreciate what they get for free, nor want to give back in some to American communities. Of course, in places like San Luis Obispo - where homelessness is not tolerated - loafers and vagrants are urged to move along unless they want to improve their lives by working at it and contributing to the city in some way like volunteering. And I’m glad that I live in San Luis Obispo – the attitude and intolerance of homelessness here is refreshing.

Anyway, I think that homelessness in America needs to stop. Perhaps this short book will give you some ideas about how to deal compassionately with a social problem that has lingered in America for too long. The time is now to stop homelessness, and the time is right to raise the standard in America for what is allowed by people who refuse to participate in American society in return for the freebies that we give them. Make sure that you understand that I am not opposed to homeless people, but rather I am against tolerating homelessness in America – it is a demeaning, social problem that we can no longer allow.

I think about homelessness as a business opportunity that helps others while I make money solving it; I think about homelessness as a way to instruct government on how to streamline their social service programs; and I think of homelessness as an opportunity to prevent the American public from being swindled by professional, non-profit agencies that take large donations for the poor, but use that money instead for their overpaid, salaried professionals, who are simply not getting the job done. And what is my purpose for writing this book? I think that whoever solves homelessness in America, will profit immensely in wealth and in the spiritual realm. I think that it is time to take our streets back from those who insist that they have the right to upset the general public with their overtly delinquent lifestyles. And we must do this quickly – think of how many lives might have been saved during the January 2004 cold spell on the East Coast if we as Americans had already found and implemented a permanent solution to homelessness.

God wants us to clean up vagrancy in America, and there is no time to waste. Homelessness can be stopped – but we must stop tolerating it first. Only then can we solve homelessness altogether. Finally, this book is dedicated to everyone who literally sleeps on the streets in America; to everyone who lives in America without knowing where they’ll sleep tonight; and to all the good people in America who still care that there are still fellow Americans who are mercilessly neglected in our country today.


Part 2
The History of Homelessness in America

We all have misconceptions about homelessness. It’s important to isolate where homelessness comes from in America, so that you can understand what I see coming when I observe a homeless person in the street. You see, homelessness goes way back to the days when America was still being settled by pioneers and new states. As Americans moved to the West to explore new land and exploit more natural resource opportunities, the original inhabitants of America – the Native Americans – were displaced from their homes. That was the first, real incidence of true homelessness in America. And I’m sure that you are also aware of all the hardships that Native Americans have faced trying to reclaim their ancestral lands, mostly without success. Once America was settled and cities continued to grow, homelessness became a problem that mostly African-Americans encountered, because many from this ethnic group were displaced after the Civil War from plantations in the South. As former slaves migrated to the North, especially in the late 1880s, they experienced a shortage in affordable housing and soon, social service agencies like the Salvation Army recognized a need, and stepped in to help those Americans who could not find a place in the American economy.

In the early 1900s, hoboes became popularized in American fiction, and their numbers swelled, as many vagrants found that they could live on the rails by jumping freight cars to get around. Of course freight car jumping still goes on today, but it is far more dangerous now than it was then, and of course, it is also illegal. The big turning point for homelessness in America came when the Depression hit in the 1930s: Millions of workers were thrown out of work – many came to places like Los Angeles and Detroit, and hoped that the big cities had work for them. Unfortunately, the cities were often worse for the unemployed than the smaller, jobless towns, because too many people had come to the urban areas looking for work – and that’s when the modern idea of the homeless shelter or mission really took root in America.

Since the Depression, America has gone through many economic downturns and wars that have continually added to the nation’s homeless population. After the Vietnam War, depressed and distraught military veterans made their homes on the streets, because they were unable to deal with the reality that they were sent to fight a war that could not be won, and the Veterans Administration was slow to help these broken soldiers re-integrate into American society. In the 1970s, drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally ill have all increased in number, along with homeless veterans, creating a crisis in every major urban area in America. Although the GI Bill triggered the establishment of a series of other social service agencies in the 1950s, nothing has worked (today’s homeless population can walk into any county in America, and apply for food stamps and Section 8 housing). The poor, who don’t take advantage of government welfare services, tend to wind up homeless and a nuisance to the citizenry of every town, city and state in our great country. Make no mistake about it: Homelessness is for dropouts, plain and simple. And Americans should consider 2004 the best year in American history to either stop homelessness once and for all, or to just let the problem grow and grow and grow and grow and grow. Why? Because for the first time, America has a book like mine, that will help lead our country away from homelessness and poverty-related social problems, once and for all.


Part 3
Why Christians Help the Homeless Population

No single religious group does more for the poor in America than Christians. There is the Salvation Army, with agencies in every state of the union; Catholic Charities has been helping those in need for years; there are Christian missions and homeless shelters all over the United States; and local churches sponsor soup kitchens everywhere. Any place that you go to in America, you will find Christians helping the poor. Of course, Christians are far from perfect: They tend to preach to the poor and blame them for being poor in the first place. Nonetheless, Christians give the most to the poor in America. And the answer to why they do this might surprise you – the fact is, Christians value life more than other religious groups. Perhaps that’s just a way of saying that Christians just can’t stand to see another human being suffer, and without hesitation - they will try to help the poor with donations, moral support and especially with prayer.

When I was traveling from homeless shelter to homeless shelter, I found out that Christian agencies were doing far better in helping the homeless than their secular, social service counterparts. Here is an article that got published on a Christian website in 2003 (worthfinding.com), about my experiences in Minneapolis:

“Jesus Christ: The Only Solution to Poverty”

It is two days after July 4th. I am sitting in a neighborhood park in Minneapolis, where The Gospel Light Baptist Church is having its annual picnic. It is a very small church, maybe forty-five people in all. And the pastors have the courage of Christ to open their doors to all who will enter. Saturday is another day in the lives of Minneapolis’ homeless: They wander the city looking for handouts and drug dealers. Come Sunday –which is today- they grab sandwiches from the back of a truck parked on Currie Street, down near the bus station. The owner of the vehicle is a good samaritan, who does more than his share to feed the poor. Too many homeless men have fallen through the cracks, and yet, there is always the hope that Jesus Christ will one day shine in their eyes, too.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Create a Plan to End Homelessness.


We offer 19 years of experience and comprehensive expertise in housing development, property management systems, and social service delivery. We guide you in bringing together service providers, government agencies, landlords, businesses, and community leaders to support homelessness prevention and housing solutions.


Street to Home client in his new apartment at the Times SquareEnd Street Homelessness Through Targeted Outreach and Housing Placement
We help you adapt our innovative outreach and housing placement program that reduced street homelessness in New York City’s Times Square neighborhood by 87%. We move individuals living on the street directly into housing, and provide them with the individualized assistance they need to get back on their feet and lead a stable life. The City of New York adopted our approach as its citywide strategy to end homelessness, and we have assisted other cities — Denver, Toronto, Atlanta, Adelaide — in introducing similar efforts to their communities.

Develop State-of-the-Art Supportive Housing
Working with public agencies, nonprofit and for-profit developers, we create housing based on our model of integrating mixed-income workers with the formerly homeless. We assess project feasibility, including organizational readiness; we help select development team members, evaluate financial options, advise on site acquisition and quality design, and help to secure political and community support.


Schermerhorn House in downtown Brooklyn.Integrate the Formerly Homeless into Mixed-Income Housing
Mixed-income communities can successfully integrate formerly homeless individuals and families at risk of losing their homes. Common Ground’s experience in working with national leaders in mixed-income housing will help you incorporate supportive housing components in large-scale redevelopments and a range of projects.

Provide Quality Housing Management
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Helping the Homeless – The Tendency to Judge


For some, the homeless offer an opportunity for charity and for self-reflection. Many people think the homeless choose that way of life. In some cases, this is partly true. Let me offer one illustration.

A woman I know has been living in the woods for 14 years. She grew up in a moderate-income home in North Carolina. She worked as a nurses’ assistant, had an apartment with her boyfriend. He decided to move to another town and she went with him.

When they arrived, neither of them could find work. They pitched a tent in the woods to keep expenses down. She got a low-paying job and he started drinking. He became physically abusive. The woman occasionally had seizures that interfered with her work and caused her to call in sick too often. She lost her job, her insurance, and the medication that held her seizures in check. She turned to alcohol to self-medicate.

The woman was finally beaten by her boyfriend to the extent she needed to be hospitalized for broken bones in her face and ribs. When she got out, local police helped build her a shelter in the woods. She remains there today, still self-medicating and caring for several stray dogs and cats.

Helping the Homeless - Aspects of the homeless
In a relatively small area around this woman’s camp there are 50 or 60 homeless, each with a unique story of why they are homeless.

Some are illegal immigrants.
Some are veterans.
Some are people who found out a low-paying job doesn’t come close to paying for rent, electricity, food, and medicine.
Well meaning people help the homeless: (Read stories here.)
Many people around here carry small bags of toiletries and non-perishable food, giving these necessities to the homeless they see at street corners.
Others give them Bibles, blankets, or tarps.
Some give them a kind word.

Helping the Homeless - What the Bible Says
The Bible speaks plainly about homelessness: “If any of your Israelite relatives fall into poverty and cannot support themselves, support them as you would a resident foreigner and allow them to live with you. Do not demand an advance or charge interest on the money you lend them. Instead, show your fear of God by letting them live with you as your relatives” (Leviticus 25:35-36 ).

"No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind” (Isaiah 58:6-8).

“Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'” (Matthew 25:34-40).

So many people ignore the homeless, partly because they believe there is little they can do to “fix” them. And they are absolutely right. In fact, it is not God’s intention that we “fix” them any more than it is His intention that they “fix” us.

Jesus tells us that we are one body in Christ. Everyone -- rich, poor, every race, every age -- has a legitimate role to play in that body. We may go to a homeless camp or an orphanage or a rest home with the intention of helping someone else, but ultimately, we will be helping each other grow together into the body Christ envisioned from the beginning of time.

Our commonalities become striking when we knock down the false boundaries we have thrown up around our love. Think about it: every Christian is spiritually homeless. We live in temporary shelters, however modest or grandiose, waiting to take our places in the Lord’s mansion.

Monday, January 10, 2011

One Paycheck Away.


Family's Path to Homelessness
By Barbara Duffield

When the Sjoblom family realized they might soon lose their home in Matawan, New Jersey, Diane Sjoblom found the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) world wide web page and sent a message requesting help. Through email, letters, and telephone conversations, NCH has reconstructed their journey into homelessness and ensuing efforts to find living wage employment to improve their situation.
Russell and Diane Sjoblom felt fortunate. As superintendent of the Balmoral Arms apartment complex, Russell received $1,375 a month plus housing for his family. Diane worked part time at K-Mart and received a small stipend for assisting Russell. They were able to make ends meet and have enough left for hobbies and even a computer for their children, Russell Jr. and Alicia.
Moving heavy objects was part of Russell's daily routine. In January Russell's brother was helping him carry a refrigerator down a stairway when Russell's legs gave out. The refrigerator crashed down the steps, flipped Russell over, and crushed his back. He was diagnosed with compression fractures in three vertebrae and severe lower-back strain. He would spend the next five months in traction.

Russell began receiving weekly worker's compensation checks for $225. Despite a skyrocketing pharmacy bill and Diane's lay-off from K-Mart, they kept up with their bills. Even when worker's compensation reached its limit in August, state disability and Diane's new part-time job at Shop-Rite filled the gap until Russell could work again.

In October Russell returned to work on light duty. Soon after, however, he reinjured his back while working on a step-ladder. This accident would completely change their lives. Russell lost his job that December, and Diane, who had quit her Shop-Rite job to help when he returned to work, lost her job assisting him, since it was considered part of a package deal. What's more, the company that owned the complex began charging monthly rent of $685, plus electricity.

Although Russell again began receiving worker's compensation, they needed more money. Diane began looking for evening work, so she could bring Russell to doctor's and therapy appointments during the day. But none of the work for which she qualified paid enough to meet their expenses.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

His Love Street Hotel-Denver and Las Vegas, Nevada



His Love Street Ministries, vision for 2011 to open a homeless hotel for the glory of God, and to restore to his people the hope they no longer see. "Please help us make a diiference in a life". Hislovestreetministries.com
Isaiah 58:6-7 (New International Version
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A National Shame: The Mentally Ill Homeless.



One of our nation’s greatest shames is the number of homeless people adrift in the streets and parks of our cities.

And of the estimated 944,000 people who are homeless on any given night, 40 to 45 percent of them have a serious mental illness. Most of these mentally ill people go untreated, and unable to work, live a hand-to-mouth existence out on the streets.

Senator Pete Domenici says,

No vision haunts America’s conscience more than the sight of the street people… The irrationality and anguish that grip so many of these individuals leap out during any encounter, whether in Washington or Albuquerque.”

This post, in response to Blog Action Day’s call to write about poverty on October 15th, gives an overview of the crisis of the homeless mentally ill. This post covers the following topics:

How many homeless Americans are there?
How many of the homeless are mentally ill?
Why are there so many mentally ill homeless people?
Most mentally ill homeless people are not being treated
What’s to be done?

How many homeless Americans are there?
3.8 million are homeless in a year
The number of homeless Americans is hard to pin down, since homelessness is often a transient state, and due to the conflicting definitions of “homeless.” The best approximation is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in 2009, which states that approximately 3.8 million people, 1.9 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year and by the end of 2011 many perdict these numbers to double. This translates to approximately one percent of the U.S. population experiencing homelessness each year, almost 46 percent of them being children, according to the Urban Institute.

In early 2009, the National Alliance to End Homelessness reported a point-in-time estimate of 944,313 people experiencing homelessness in January 2008. This is the figure most often quoted in homelessness studies.

How many of the homeless are mentally ill?
Homeless people suffer from high rates of mental health problems exacerbated by living on the streets and in shelters.

40 to 50 percent of the homeless are mentally ill
An estimated 40 to 45 percent of homeless persons suffer from Axis I mental disorders in a given year, which include Anxiety Disorders, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and severe personality disorders. Between 150,000 and 200,000 of the homeless have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This is the equivalent to the population of any of these cities:

Dayton, Ohio
Des Moines, Iowa
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Providence, Rhode Island
Richmond, Virginia
Salt Lake City, Utah
At any given time, there are many more people with untreated severe psychiatric illnesses living on America’s streets than are receiving care in hospitals. Approximately 90,000 individuals with schizophrenia or manic-depressive illness are in all hospitals receiving treatment for their disease.

Substance use is also prevalent among homeless populations. In a 1999 survey, 46 percent of the homeless respondents had an alcohol use problem during the past year, and 62 percent had an alcohol use problem at some point in their lifetime. Thirty-eight percent had a problem with drug use during the past year, and 58 percent had a drug use problem during their lifetime.

Why are there so many mentally ill homeless people?
The plan to transition from mental institution to outpatient care failed
There was a movement in the 1960′s and 1970′s to deinstitutionalize many of those being held in state and other mental institutions. The plan was to create community health centers where the mentally ill could receive outpatient treatment, along with residential facilities for those unable to make it on their own. Needless to say, the plan failed miserably.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Leona Lewis


Leona Lewis, a beautiful lady with a God given talent: if by the Grace of God we can get Ms. Lewis and talents like Diana Ross we shall be able to open "His Love Street Hotel", for the glory of God and to restore hope. Like Ted Williams (the recently homeless man) whom was homeless but was given a second chance in lfe. We are all one paycheck away from being homeless. Hislovestreetministries.com

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Around 1.8 million homeless as US enters 2011


With the New Year the United States has about 1.8 million people in need of shelter. How dire is the situation? We got some insight from Massachusetts social worker Jay Levy.

Jay S. Levy’s recently published book Homeless Narratives & Pretreatment Pathways: From Words to Housing (Loving Healing Press, 2010) is about homelessness and the issues related to outreach counseling, case management, and advocacy for long-term and episodically homeless individuals. Jay’s book presents real-life narratives of homeless people with whom the author worked to help them with housing, care, and treatment. The book discusses several key points involved in successful transition of people from homelessness to housing, and afterward. "Help us make a difference in a life". Hislovestreetministries.com

Call for help.


Thank you, for your special friendship the days are long at times when I fight for a cause that many will not consider getting involved with, I get many saying they derserve it or are lazy and they are not interested; but if they went where I did and saw what I do, they would see it is not a choice in many cases. By the grace of God something must change or I must also let it go because funds are exhausted.If anyone has any thoughts or ideas please share them with me. God bless, Trey Louis

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Trey Noran-Mission for the homeless.




‎2011, a year of many trials and yes, many times I did not know how to trust in God but thank him that he never let me give up for: no matter how things look "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" and you shall never lack for anything. Thank you, God.
Join us on Hislovestreetministries.com and face book. Have a bless 2011.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"The Stars Give Back" Fundraiser



2011 Vision " The Stars Give Back" fund raiser to open His Love Street Hotel.
Billy Carrington, a very talented singer: my vision is to have him and my friends like Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood Fisher and Trisha Yearwood to help us raise money so we can open a homeless hotel for the glory of God, and to restore hope to many that believe there is no more hope: "The Stars Give Back" giving back what God has truly blessed them with. Hislovestreetministries.com

Saturday, January 1, 2011

6 Ways to Help the Homeless in 2011.


In 2011, statisticians expect 3.5 million Americans will spend some time homeless. But there are many ways—big and small—that you can give a little hope to someone in need.

Here are six ways to ease the suffering in 2011.

1. Volunteer to Help Homeless Veterans

On any given night, 131,000 veterans are homeless. Many of the former soldiers suffer from PTSD, and the number of homeless vets from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is on the rise.

Volunteer as a mentor, legal aide or counselor at your local veteran service provider.

2. Tutor a Homeless Child

Across the world, 150 million children are living on the streets. In the U.S. alone, 1.8 million children go homeless each year. Homeless children change schools often, making it easy to fall behind. Each day a child is on the street decreases his or her chances of graduation.

If you're low on funds but have a lot of heart, you can make a difference by tutoring homeless children in your community. School on Wheels in Los Angeles is a great program, but if you don't live near L.A., you can call your local shelter to find a similar program near you.

3. Help Make Waterproof Coats That Moonlight as Sleeping Bags for the Homeless

In Detroit, 18,000 people are homeless. Veronika Scott had an idea to keep them warm on those cold Michigan nights. She created an Elements S[urvival] coat that is self-heated, waterproof, and transforms into a sleeping bag at night.

As part of her Empowerment Plan, the coat is made by homeless workers with the hope they will be paid, fed and housed to create these coats for others.

The idea is "jobs for those that desire them and coats for those that need them at no cost." The goal is to "empower, employ, educate, and instill pride."


4. Donate Goods or Volunteer at a Local Food Bank

Hunger is a reality for 1 in 6 Americans. Many struggling families have to pass up one or more meals per day. But you can do a lot by donating a little—time serving your community at a local food bank, or goods to those in need.

5. Light a Candle for Homeless Youth

Covenant House serves 55,000 homeless children each year. The organization has crisis centers across the country for runaway and throwaway minors who are in desperate need of a home. Covenant House also provides job training, parenting classes and educational programs.
Light a virtual candle and bring attention to the plight of homeless youth around the world.

6. Donate to His Love Street Ministries to build a homeless hotel in Denver, Colorado also a Out-reach Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Help us give and restore hope to the many that do not see any hope. Hislovestreetministries.com