Tag Archives: homeless

We Need a Solution

30 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I’m stepping away from my lighter blog subjects today. For several months I have been praying for a solution to the United States homeless population. I don’t have that solution but then again, government agencies don’t have one either.

To narrow focus I see two types of homeless status: The unexpected loss of home due to financial straits and long term chronic homelessness.

To seek a national solution is unwieldy and impractical as each town, county or state have unique challenges, but also unique abilities.

To aid those who experienced an unexpected loss, I believe in the good hearts of the people in our communities. My heart’s desire is that my brothers and sisters of faith will join with their neighbors to focus on the needs and put together local networks to assist our most vulnerable neighbors. I know that my small community has such networks, it’s a matter of letting the individuals know what is available.

The long term or chronic homeless is more challenging. It has been stated that a significant number of these people suffer from mental health issues.

Thinking along this line, could we not consider treatment programs as we do for alcohol and drug addiction?

I recently read a news article about a tiny house village being built for our homeless vets. It will include a clubhouse which can be utilized to plug the homeowners into agencies to assist them if they have needs.

After going through counseling and treatment for underlying health issues could not such a community be a step forward in assimilating the homeless back into a healthier lifestyle?

We are a generous country and the good Lord knows we have an abundance of charitable foundations. Community/ foundation partnerships could fund these efforts and avoid the bureaucracy and inefficiency of government programs.

As an example, this is from the Nine-Line Foundation. They assist Vets to start over. We can do this for those who are not vets too.

“Nine Line Foundation is pleased to announce a partnership with the Golden Isles Veterans’ Village Initiative to build another Veterans Village, this one in Brunswick, Georgia. The members of the Golden Isles Veterans Village initiative include

  • Cornell L Harvey, Chief Master Sergeant (CMS) USAF (Retired)
  • Nine Line Foundation
  • Rotary International District 6920, comprised of the Rotary Clubs of Brunswick, the Rotary Club of Jekyll Island, the Rotary Club of St. Simons’ Island and the Rotary Club of the Golden Isles
  • The SSG Dustin M. Wright Foundation

The initial vision to build a Veterans’ Village in Brunswick came from CMS Cornell L. Harvey, the owner of the property which is being donated for the project. Having benefitted from seeing the spirit of cooperation and community support that Nine Line Foundation generated in their Savannah project, CMS Harvey recognized that by partnering with other similarly minded organizations, the project would become a reality that much sooner.”

I believe that seldom does one person become burdened with a need. I’ve shared my thoughts, what are yours?

As I finished this post last night I learned that a young wife and mother of 3 in our community suffered a brain aneurysm and will be taken off life support Thursday. Her parents are flying from Chile. Would you remember this family in your prayers?

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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God’s Helping Hands

12 Jan

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

It’s a frigid December day, a week before Christmas. People are lined up outside and we’re getting ready to open the crisis center. Every time I come there are more people to serve, and the board has had to introduce strict, new rules. I see 12 large colorful grocery bags in the back of the room, filled with age-appropriate toys. Our leader explains, “These are for needy families who have no toys. They were given to us by a woman and her family who recently lost her father, and around the same time, a new baby.”

A worker unlocks the door and people file in. We begin the process of finding their files and sending them down the line so we can help fill their basic needs. I work quickly, but then an elderly man stops to chat, and I pause to listen.

Homeless man“See how they fixed me up at the hospital.” He lifts his dirty, ragged shirt and shows me a long, clean bandage across his chest. “I have these other scars, too.” And he shows them to me. “Those doctors and nurses saved my life,” he says. He walks away with a smile on his face. He was already experiencing a great Christmas and his gratitude was deep and real. Yes!

Another man stops and says, “I was here not too long ago, but now I need socks.”

“You can only come in once a month.” I say, as I look at my partner to confirm.

“I’m getting him some socks,” she answers quickly and quietly, Even though we do not work in the clothing area, she stops her routine and goes to there. When she comes back, she surreptitiously hands him a small bag. Later, a woman comes in with a donation: a large trash bag filled with….socks. Yes!

A woman asks me for size 12 shoes for her husband. “They didn’t have any last time I was here,” she said. The clothing worker tells me to go look on the shoe rack. I look for what seems like a long time. Suddenly I spot a large pair of good black shoes on the top rack. I stand on tiptoe to bring them down and sure enough, they are marked size 12. Yes!

My feet hurt, but I have no time to sit down. A young man comes up and with his head lowered so that I can hardly hear him, “I’ve never been here before.” I ask for ID and proof that he lives in our county. This doesn’t happen to be one of the centers for the homeless and these proofs are mandatory. He has ID, but no proof of address. I go to the computer lady. “He is not in the system, we cannot help him till he brings proof.”

“But Ma’am this is kind of an emergency,” he whispers to me. “My wife just left me with the kids and I don’t have anything for them.”

“Let me ask my supervisor,” I say.

“He needs to show proof,” she sighs, and I suppose she is tired too. I hesitate to go back and tell the man we can’t help him, so I wait a moment hoping she’ll come up with a solution. To give her time I go back to the counter, but I hear her say loudly, “You have to have proof.” I am disappointed, but she walks past me and whispers, “Go ahead and send him through.” Yes!

I can’t stop thinking about him, however. I’m afraid he’ll be rushed through without getting everything he needs. I sneak back to the interview station and see him with a new interviewer. I won’t interrupt, but before I walk away I hear her say: “And what about Christmas, do you have any toys for the kids?” Later, I see him walk by with a big grocery sack full of Christmas toys, headed for the clothing room. I know his next stop will be the food station and they’ll take good care of him there. Yes!

We are busy at the crisis center on this day, in the week before Christmas, but I love to be here because we see so many good people helping others and so many God-incidents to thrill and surprise us.

 

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