What should we do about the homeless?

[vern_humphrey]

I notice in other threads some of us get hot under the collar, attack the motives and so on of the people they debate. And in the end we come up with nothing.

Let’s try something different: What should we do about the homeless?

Well, first of all, we should know who they are. We can go to the police, welfare services and try to locate these people, find their haunts, get their names or nicknames and so on.

Next we make up a parish roster – on cold nights, we patrol the homeless areas. We collect blankets and warm clothing for these people. We bring them food.

Finally, we raise money to set up a facility and finance it – a shelter and kitchen.

Does anyone have anything to add?

 

[Sina]

I love homeless people - they are dear to my heart. I think we also need to look them in the eye when they speak to us, and say hello.

Homeless shelters, IMHO are just a short term solution, as you may have heard others say. More prevention such as stronger mental health assistance programs, rehab affordability and spaces, stronger Foster care system, revamped child welfare system are part of the solution.

I read a book recently about the female homeless population. Something really resonated with me. If a woman asks you for money on the street ( normally I am not inclined to give because I do not want to enable their drug addiction ) you should give her some of your change. Otherwise she must resort to prostitution.

Which is the lesser evil? Yes the $$ will go to drugs in the end.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,
I work with a non-profit organization called IHN–Interfaith Hospitality Network. This is a nationwide program and runs as a county program.

Churches(in the county) actually house the homeless until IHN can find them housing. It is a fantastic program for all churches to be involved in. I bet there is a program in your county. If not you should try to get one going. I could probably get the national number for you.

We have 11 churches run by all volunteers who house the homeless and 41 support congregations(they help the 11 host churches). The guests move every week to a different church in the program. They come to our church 6 times a year and stay for a week at a time. You have people like me who coordinate all the volunteers for my church. We supply food, fellowship and a roof over their head.

I found out that our church does this through our membership class. I thought what a way to help the homeless right at our own church. I started out as the food coordinator and am now the head honcho But it is truly rewarding to be able to do what Christ told us to do as a congregation.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I notice how things that work tend to be local initiatives, run by local people – often volunteers. I think ALLFORHIM has a great approach – with Christians actually doing something.

I am reminded ot the Emperor Julian the Apostate’s Letter to Arsacus, “the impious Galileans [the name given by Julian to Christians] support our poor in addition to their own.”

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I notice how things that work tend to be local initiatives, run by local people – often volunteers. I think ALLFORHIM has a great approach – with Christians actually doing something.

I am reminded ot the Emperor Julian the Apostate’s Letter to Arsacus, “the impious Galileans [the name given by Julian to Christians] support our poor in addition to their own.”

I personally think christians should be the ones running these programs. We genuinely want to help these people. Im not saying that others dont, but they get caught up in the politics instead of doing what is right.

What is so good about the IHN program is that you are helping people one on one and actually seeing them better themselves and get themselves out of the hole they are in. Plus when churches are involved the homelss can see the Love of Christ working through us and hopefully this will bring them to the knowledge of Christ and salvation.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I personally think christians should be the ones running these programs. We genuinely want to help these people. Im not saying that others dont, but they get caught up in the politics instead of doing what is right.

Absolutely!

So many people say, "Government should do it.’ But look around – government is everywhere, and the problem persists.

We should stop sitting on our duffs and calling for one government program after another, and get out and do the work Christ called us to do.

What is so good about the IHN program is that you are helping people one on one and actually seeing them better themselves and get themselves out of the hole they are in. Plus when churches are involved the homelss can see the Love of Christ working through us and hopefully this will bring them to the knowledge of Christ and salvation.

Absolutely. Nothing works better than face-to-face. We take the same approach in dealing with abortion – get out and help the poor girl. Show her she’s not alone.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Absolutely. Nothing works better than face-to-face. We take the same approach in dealing with abortion – get out and help the poor girl. Show her she’s not alone.

AMEN!!! We have a center that our church supports that takes pregnant girls in and helps them and also encourages marriage. It gives them an alternative to abortion. Just having the support–physical, financial and spiritual is all it takes.

 

[DebCWil]

Hi,
I work with a non-profit organization called IHN–Interfaith Hospitality Network. This is a nationwide program and runs as a county program.

Churches(in the county) actually house the homeless until IHN can find them housing. It is a fantastic program for all churches to be involved in. I bet there is a program in your county. If not you should try to get one going. I could probably get the national number for you.

We have 11 churches run by all volunteers who house the homeless and 41 support congregations(they help the 11 host churches). The guests move every week to a different church in the program. They come to our church 6 times a year and stay for a week at a time. You have people like me who coordinate all the volunteers for my church. We supply food, fellowship and a roof over their head.

I found out that our church does this through our membership class. I thought what a way to help the homeless right at our own church. I started out as the food coordinator and am now the head honcho But it is truly rewarding to be able to do what Christ told us to do as a congregation.

This is a great program. The homeless are often stereotyped as lazy and uncaring. This is far from the truth. The average homeless person in America is 9 years old. There are many different reasons that people become homeless from natural disasters to the father abandoning his family. INH is not about why a person became homeless, it is about feeding the hungry and providing shelter for the homeless. It is not about enabling, it is about empowering the family to help itself.

 

[vern_humphrey]

ALLFORHIM:
AMEN!!! We have a center that our church supports that takes pregnant girls in and helps them and also encourages marriage. It gives them an alternative to abortion. Just having the support–physical, financial and spiritual is all it takes.
I think more and more that we have problems in this country because we tolerate them. We don’t obey His mandate, we fob off out responsibilities to the government, we turn our eyes away from the problems.

If Christians acted as Christians should, we would have virtually no abortion in this country. We would have virtually no homeless sleeping out on the streets. Every child would get a first-class, world quality education. Everyone who was physically and mentally able to work would have a job.

Imagine how different this country would be if we did what we are commanded to do!

 

[mike_sieber]

The obvious answer is that we should do what we can to help them. Giving them food, clothing and shelter is a great start, but that’s only half of the equation.

Since every homeless person is in that state for a particular reason, I’d like to see some way to help those who are able, to get back on their feet. That might mean training or education assistance.

Some homeless are truly mentally ill and require medical attention, but I’m not sure you can force people into something like that.

Sadly, it’s a much bigger problem, and much tougher to fix than just handing them a few bucks or a new coat – although there’s nothing wrong with that.

Lastly, I think we as a society need to come together to help people before they get to the homeless stage. Cities have become so big, that it’s tough for a ‘community’ to develop. That’s one reason I prefer small towns. Everyone knows everyone and we all look out for each other.

This might make a good blog post…

 

[vern_humphrey]

The obvious answer is that we should do what we can to help them. Giving them food, clothing and shelter is a great start, but that’s only half of the equation.

Since every homeless person is in that state for a particular reason, I’d like to see some way to help those who are able, to get back on their feet. That might mean training or education assistance.

Those are all good – but back to the thread, what should we do to help them? What do we, as individual Christians do?

Some homeless are truly mentally ill and require medical attention, but I’m not sure you can force people into something like that.

Not unlesswe want to go back to padded cells, strait jackets, “chemical restraints” and lobotomies.

Sadly, it’s a much bigger problem, and much tougher to fix than just handing them a few bucks or a new coat – although there’s nothing wrong with that.

But If each one of us would hand out a few bucks, or a coat, or just patrol the area on cold nights, and see who doesn’t have a blanket, we could do a lot.

Lastly, I think we as a society need to come together to help people before they get to the homeless stage. Cities have become so big, that it’s tough for a ‘community’ to develop. That’s one reason I prefer small towns. Everyone knows everyone and we all look out for each other.

How big is your parish? That’s a small community.

Start a program in your parish, and once it’s going, invite other churches to join.

That’s what we did for Pro-Life here in Mountain View, Arkansas. We – Saint Mary’s Catholic Community (we have no pastor, so we’re not really a “church”) raised money and challeneged the other churches to match us.

This might make a good blog post…

Indeed it might.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

This is a great program. The homeless are often stereotyped as lazy and uncaring. This is far from the truth. The average homeless person in America is 9 years old. There are many different reasons that people become homeless from natural disasters to the father abandoning his family. INH is not about why a person became homeless, it is about feeding the hungry and providing shelter for the homeless. It is not about enabling, it is about empowering the family to help itself.

Do you work with IHN as well? You sound like you do:thumbsup:

ABout 60% of our homeless ,in our program ,are children

 

[whatevergirl]

I really like the ideas presented in this thread…great thoughts everyone. I agree that local people running local programs…and not just shelters, but counselors, etc…are needed to help counsel many of these homeless people off of drugs…help them to find jobs. Light of Life in PA, has an excellent program–whereby the homeless I believe, can stay there for up to 30 days–free–they have a bed, 2 meals per day, and counseling…and also are taught job skills that can help them assimilate back into society. It was a program I believed in strongly…and supported.

 

[Holly3278]

We should certainly try to help them as much as possible. Perhaps help to feed them, keep them warm, and provide them with some sort of shelter, even if just a cardboard box is all you can afford.

 

[Proletarian]

I notice in other threads some of us get hot under the collar, attack the motives and so on of the people they debate. And in the end we come up with nothing.

Let’s try something different: What should we do about the homeless?

Well, first of all, we should know who they are. We can go to the police, welfare services and try to locate these people, find their haunts, get their names or nicknames and so on.

Next we make up a parish roster – on cold nights, we patrol the homeless areas. We collect blankets and warm clothing for these people. We bring them food.

Finally, we raise money to set up a facility and finance it – a shelter and kitchen.

Does anyone have anything to add?

Gee Vern, what happened to all the “education is the key” rhetoric? All the ideas presented thus far have been stop gap solutions. What happens once we clothe, feed and water the homeless? Does our involvement end there?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Gee Vern, what happened to all the “education is the key” rhetoric? All the ideas presented thus far have been stop gap solutions. What happens once we clothe, feed and water the homeless? Does our involvement end there?

Did you come here to be offensive?

Do you know it is against the rules to carry over arguments from another thread?

Education is the key – but some people are beyond education. Others need help tonight – education will take time. The key to this thread is how can we help a specific segment of the poor – those who have no place to sleep** tonight**.

 

[Proletarian]

Did you come here to be offensive?

Do you know it is against the rules to carry over arguments from another thread?

Education is the key – but some people are beyond education. Others need help tonight – education will take time. The key to this thread is how can we help a specific segment of the poor – those who have no place to sleep** tonight**.

I have been following your comments regarding education, and I agree with you 100%. I was just wondering why you did not stress the importance of imparting life skills upon the homeless(however your latter post has clarified the matter); it just seemed out of Character.

I’m not sure which part of my post appeared offensive; we Aussies have a somewhat “direct” manner about us. I apologise if my post caused you offence.

 

[tom.wineman]

What are your suggestions for the “incorrigibles” which I understand in urban areas runs as high as 10% or higher ?

 

[vern_humphrey]

I have been following your comments regarding education, and I agree with you 100%. I was just wondering why you did not stress the importance of imparting life skills upon the homeless(however your latter post has clarified the matter); it just seemed out of Character.

Education is a long-term solution. The homeless need a place to sleep tonight.

And of course we cannot solve all problems in a single thread – dealing with the here-and-now problem of someone who is sleeping on the street is enough for one thread.

I’m not sure which part of my post appeared offensive; we Aussies have a somewhat “direct” manner about us. I apologise if my post caused you offence.

I misunderstood you – no excuses. My humble apologies.

 

[geezerbob]

What are your suggestions for the “incorrigibles” which I understand in urban areas runs as high as 10% or higher ?

Good question. Here in Our Town, we had a university professor who, at about age 50, walked out on his wife and job to live on the streets, where he stayed until he died. A lady with well off family here did the same. Despite pleas from her daughter to live with her, she stayed on the streets until her death. So, if some people simply doesn’t want homes, what are the rest of us supposed to do about it or do with them or do for them?