Ubuntu (the word)

I am who I am because of who we all are

Streetwatch, an Interview and Homeless memorials done wrong… Oh my!

December 20th, 2009

I started volunteering with Streetwatch a while ago, but I am an official member now with a title and everything. Michele is the thinker, Audrie the Feeler, and myself, McGyver. It feels good to be surrounded with people who share a passion for helping people, especially those who need it most. Even Breeze joined in on the fun and helped me get a hat and gloves to a man who had none, and medication to Cotton, who has been waiting far too long for her Medicaid Card and the RXs it will allow her to get.

Cotton had been brought in by Greensboro Police on an outstanding arrest order, which at first upset me, but later it was proved this was a desperate act to help her, and nothing less. From kind officers, to a sympathetic judge, many people were involved in orchestrating her move inside. For those of you who may not know of her, or her situation, please check this video (shot by Mark of www.invisiblepeople.tv)

Admittedly skeptical at first, I watched the pieces fall into place, and Cotton is now inside at a transitional shelter with Medicaid and Food stamps, awaiting a more permanent housing solution. I was able to hand deliver her first prescription to her and despite countless setbacks, she remains in very good faith. Please keep her in your thoughts, and if anybody can donate a wheelchair, she is in desperate need of a new one. They are not built to be ATVs, and she could use a new one.

On another less happy note, on December 16th, Grace Community Church partnered with the Partnership to End Homelessness to host the annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Day, and although I was very excited about the event, it turned out to be a significant letdown for me. I would go on, but Michele and I shared our thoughts in the following video that night, and I believe it speaks for itself.


Watch Reflections on GSO Homeless Memorial Service

If you are not bored of watching videos by now, here are two more. The first is a second video taken the same night and is Michele and I speaking about our various experiences with homeless outreach. The Second video is an excellent piece Roxanna Haynes with Fox 8 did with our friends in a homeless camp here in Greensboro.


Watch Reflections about homeless advocacy


Watch Fox 8 with Streetwatch

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Much needed update!

December 5th, 2009

I have not updated in far too long, but rest assured that isn’t completely for lack of activity.. Since I last wrote I helped distribute over 160 turkeys to hungry families, did homeless outreach with Streetwatch, and Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan, beat a cold, and of course worked at the IRC!

The social workers will be leaving for 6 weeks and I will have a chance to be a case manager in the interim. I am very excited about it, although admittedly I’m worried that my help will not be as effective as the ones who are trained by UNCG we usually have.

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Local efforts to help homelessness

November 23rd, 2009

If you’ll excuse the ad, the following video is a news plug about a local college, Elon University, who asked students to help build 33 bunk beds for Allied Churches of Alamance County.

Second, and while I have blogged about how I don’t believe it is an effective or helpful means of raising awareness, 100 Charlotte slept out to gain awareness of what it is like. I did learn however in the article how under-resourced Charlotte is, with about 2000 beds and over 9000 people! Original article here

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“sleeping out”

November 15th, 2009

There is a fund-raising model for the homeless I have seen repeatedly and it sounds like a good idea on the surface, but the more I think about it, the more insensitive it feels. The idea is that a large group will pitch tents in public and “rough it” for a night while being guarded by police with TV cameras covering the whole thing.

Now, anything that raises money for the homeless isn’t completely bad, but it is insulting to portray that this gives anyone an idea what it would be like to do this night after night after night. Not only is the idea of being protected and not being disturbed in stark contrast to the reality of the situation. Surviving, and people on the streets are often doing little more than that, is inexplicably different than sleeping in a warm bed every night except for one. Skipping a meal does not make anyone feel like they can understand chronic hunger better, and this is not different.

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This ain’t Hollywood

November 12th, 2009

When you can’t shake the pain of the memories
You start living for the day
You may laugh harder then you have ever
But you crash in a similar way
This ain’t Hollywood

(lyrics by Ryan Harvey)

Have you ever seen The Soloist? While I’ll admit it is an excellent movie, like most true stories turned movies, the character becomes the story and too often the man (or woman) who was the inspiration is never heard from outside of their original circle. I bring to you.. the REAL Nathanial Ayers.

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Serving with public money.

November 12th, 2009

A christian friend of mine, Michele Forrest (who writes for chosenfast.com) called me to discuss the DC church issue and had some valid points, and I think they deserve mention. First, my article didn’t really display both sides. This is hard when you feel so passionately about something and it is easy to let anger cloud reason. For that, I am sorry. There is always more than one side to an issue and you lose credibility when you do not present more than your own opinion.

Second, the catholic church of DC uses roughly 35 million dollars a year to deal with hunger, homelessness, family economic security, and health care. About ~10 million is obtained from within the church, and the remaining 25 million comes from outside the church through contracts with the city. Once you start taking public money, you are not allowed to do certain things, like in this case discriminate against homosexual people.

While I am under the belief that no one should be discriminated against, that is not necessarily the view of the catholic church, so for them to continue their work without compromising their mission, they may feel the need to refuse to renew the contracts. However, we both agreed that they should not be taking on public contracts in the first place if following their faith comes before helping all.

Last but not least, if the catholic church cannot deal with two women or two men calling their commitment to a lifetime of love as themselves, they need to stop taking public money, and help those who share their view. Let someone else step in, and give the grants to them! They are plenty of people, including the Washington DC city council who are opening their hearts and minds to people from walks of life different than their own, and perhaps THAT should be the real story.

Let us focus not on those who choose not to help, and more on those who can.

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Homeless to suffer over spat about gay marriage

November 12th, 2009

Perhaps earlier when I told the Catholic church of DC to burn in hell (on facebook), I wasn’t expressing myself as cooly as I should have been, but I was, and still am OUTRAGED! Have you read about this yet? If not, read on..

A bill has been introduced to allow gay marriage in Washington DC. While this has nothing to do with homelessness, the The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington decided to make it so. They have threatened to refuse funding from Washington; a threat that would directly almost 70,000 of people the church helps with health care, adoption, and homelessness. Catholic Charities, the church’s social services arm, has said they could not continue these services if the law is allowed to pass. They say morally, they have no other choice.

“The city is telling us ‘if you want to continue doing business with the city and partner with us, you’re going to have to violate your faith. We’re dedicated to help with social services but we can’t stop being Catholic.‘” said Susan Gibbs, the Archdiocese of Washington Spokesperson.

Seriously? Unfortunately, yes.

Peter Rosenstein, of the Campaign for All D.C. Families, accused the church of trying to “blackmail the city.”

“The issue here is they are using public funds, and to allow people to discriminate with public money is unacceptable” he said.

Now, an amendment to the bill does not even mandate that the churches rent their halls for receptions, or perform the marriages themselves. They do however have to provide other services, such as extending benefits to  same-sex partners.

The bill is expected to be voted on on December 1st, and in the city council, appears to have overwhelming support.

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Homeless Football?

November 11th, 2009

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL!

I just read an article (located here) about a football (of the soccer variety) team made up entirely of homeless people in the UK. There is a whole league of teams, and some very prominent sports figures supporting the idea. On this side of the pond, there are also 16 teams including New York, Washington, St. Louis, and most locally Charlotte, NC.

There is both a national league and an international league, and even a world cup (this year to be held in Milan, Italy!) In 2008, there was a film released called ‘Kicking It’ which can even be watched online for free! (The link, if you’re interested)

For more information on the United States teams, check out Street Soccer USA.

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AZ courts ban churches from feeding the hungry

November 11th, 2009

Retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice Robert Corcoran ruled Monday that cities in the state can ban churches zoned as residential from serving food to the homeless, by labeling them as “charity dining halls,” which are considered businesses. Pheonix has already done so.

At the center of the controversy is the Cross Roads United Methodist located at 7901 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ. (Their website can be found here.)

They serve a pancake breakfast Saturday monrings and this decision will no longer allow that to happen. They are appealing the decision, but if this court desicion is upheld, a lot more is at stake than one church, one group of homeless people, or even one state. By signing this into law, this becomes legel precedent, and other states may make similar rulings.

If YOU are interested in helping, one way you can do so is by downloading this form letter and sending it to the city. (The address is in the document.)

I’ll leave you with some very good questions posed by Pastor Dottie, raised on her blog:

The decision has been made that we are operating as a charity dining hall, and therefore are breaking zoning ordinance. So, to feed the hungry and poor on church property, according to this ruling, is not an allowed function of the church.

But the process is not over. We can appeal to the Board of Adjustment, and will be able to continue our ministry during this time.

However, there’s still a lot of questions to be answered. Questions like, How hungry? What about our potlucks? What about our Christmas dinner or Easter Sunrise breakfast? When I eat that, I am pretty hungry…is that allowed? What about the coffee and donuts we serve on Sunday mornings? Can we eat that if we are hungry? And then there is the other question, “How poor?” How poor do we have to be to be considered a “charity?” Federal-poverty-guidelines-poor? Not-able-to-make-the-house-payment-poor? Or, how about not-able-to-pay-off-the-credit-card-poor?

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Veterans Day and its connection to homelessness

November 10th, 2009

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 33% of homeless males across the United States are veterans, and almost half of those served in Vietnam.

The statistics about homeless veterans are shocking. According to the NCHV:

  • 23% of homeless population are veterans
  • 33% of male homeless population are veterans
  • 47% Vietnam Era
  • 17% post-Vietnam
  • 15% pre-Vietnam
  • 67% served three or more years
  • 33% stationed in war zone
  • 25% have used VA Homeless Services
  • 85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
  • 89% received Honorable Discharge
  • 79% reside in central cities
  • 16% reside in suburban areas
  • 5% reside in rural areas
  • 76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems
  • 46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans
  • 46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans

Currently we are engaged in two overseas conflicts, with of men and women in active service. These individuals will see combat, and many will return home with physical and or emotional injuries from their service.

Did you read the statistics above? 76% of homeless veterans have alcohol, drugs or mental illness problems.

If 3 million to 3.5 million people experience homelessness in America each year and 23% of those folks are veterans, statistically there are between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans who are homeless at some point during the year.

That means that on Veterans Day, there may be more than a 1/2 million homeless veterans.

So what can YOU do about it?

You can make sure we have services for our veterans to help them cope with the experience of combat.

We can provide care such that drugs and alcohol are not the most popular way to escape the horrors of war.

We as a community can embrace veterans returning home and those that served in past conflicts.

We can spend our time and money assisting those organizations that provide for the 1/2 million homeless veterans every year.

Tomorrow, Nov. 11, 2009, we can thank them for their service and vow to take action such that our current men and women in the Armed Forces do not see the same fate in 20-30 years.

Posted (in part) from: http://www.examiner.com/x-28610-Roanoke-Homelessness-Examiner~y2009m11d10-Veterans-Day-November-11-2009

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