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Post by cassyjane on Mar 9, 2024 17:33:29 GMT -6
The command to invite the stranger in. This has been on my mind lately. I give to the local food bank and i give to the Salvation Army. I am trying to follow Jesus' instructions to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. Is there any sane and safe way to house the homeless?
I have read about people taking illegal immigrants into their homes. I don't admire them, I think they are crazy, especially if they have children
Still, I want to follow Jesus' command. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to do this safely?
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Post by eyeofthestorm on Mar 10, 2024 9:19:13 GMT -6
First. Be not afraid. Seriously, this gets in the way. Also, very important: Be not afraid is NOT the same as "go ahead and do something foolish." A bad idea is a bad idea. For example, I have volunteered in multiple homeless situations... but never in one where I did not feel adequately trained and (personally and spritually) equipped. Sometimes God calls us to do scary things, but He also counsels us over and over and over: be not afraid. Isaiah 58 tells us: Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. I think there are many ways to do this, and opening our homes doesn't necessarily equate with opening a hostel. Food banks and other such enterprises are a good way for you to help while still feeling safe. Locally, we have something called a "blessing box." It's like those little libraries, just stocked by local people. No oversight except peer pressure. People will post pics in neighborhood social media groups when it's low... or when it's full... or to let people know things like, "There is a lot of rice, but not any protein." People just drive by (it's at a gas station) and fill it up. I've taken to watching sales or even Amazon price drops. If I see something, I'll order it and drop it off. Also, I keep a pantry (more like long term food storage - we easily have 3 months worth of shelf stable food. DH might have to eat things he doesn't like š but it's nutritious). As our children have become adults, have less regular schedules and don't eat meals with us as often, I find myself sometimes with surplus, and sometimes with a need to rotate. Some things to remember about donating food: - Don't donate anything expired
- Be judicious about donating things like pasta. Food banks are often overwhelmed with carbs. Think about things like vegetables and fruits. Think about proteins.
- There is a local bakery that will put freshly baked bread in our local blessing box. This is always so much appreciated. That said... when it's put in there, a picture is taken and posted right away so it doesn't go bad/get moldy/whatever.
- It is nice when folks in need can get some treats. Think what a blessing it would be for parents scraping by to be able to take home a simple cake mix and can of frosting. A weight off their minds to know that that could provide a birthday cake for their child.
- ASK your local food bank what they actually need or what would be appreciated. I know that I've read in the past that poor women can be desperate for feminine hygiene products.
As PHers, many of us are thrifty and frugal. But many of us are also in positions to do things that others may not be able to. A mom living in a hotel could mix some water into a packet of muffin mix and make pancakes (if she has a hot plate) or even bake muffins (if she has a toaster oven and a muffin tin or cups). A sack of flour, a sack of sugar, some baking powder, eggs, and flavorings would be cheaper in the long run... but she may not be able to store that, or store it securely. Without getting into my personal story, I have learned that it's important to provide what is actually helpful, not what I think other people should do because I probably don't know everything they are dealing with. This is another reason it's good to ask food banks. The homeless.
We spent several years of our married life living in an urban setting. Our first house in Florida was very much inside the city, we lived for two years in downtown LA (in the business district, not by but not far from Skid Row), and one year here in downtown. I have also volunteered in the two main women's shelters here. I have a lot to say about these situations, but to be brutally honest, most people are not prepared to hear it. MOST of the people in these shelters are just like you and me. Sure, there are folks with mental health issues and drug users. But my observation is that is not true of most of them. the criminal element is tricky. In some places, you literally become a criminal by being homeless and unable to afford a hotel. Some of the homeless are highly educated. A surprising number of people in homeless shelters arrive already employed in full time work. We are a such a rich country, it is shocking how close so many of us are to being in the same situations as these people... I have heard some freaky stories about how people were ānormalā one day without a home the next. Sometimes people make mistakes, and other times - more often than youād think - things happen to them that are out of their control. For my part, I believe these are opportunities that God gives the rest of us to serve Him through serving others. I find that many people cannot stomach even the possibility that this is true. Itās beyond scary to think it could happen to any of us. This is a topic that I have zero interest in arguing or debating. There is nothing that anyone can argue that will change what I have witnessed with my own ears, eyes, and mind, in three different cities in three different states in three different regions of the nation. Safety: You have to be careful around some homeless people because they aren't safe. But that's not because they're homeless. It's because they're people. Itās true, some homeless people, some illegal immigrants, some legal immigrants, some citizens arenāt safe. Period. What can we do? Here are my thoughts: - Find a homeless shelter and inquire about volunteering there. You will probably have to go through training (question the situation if you do not). You will learn things you don't expect, and may even find questionable. But then you will experience it when interacting with the people you will be serving. We've done everything from preparing dinner for 75, to providing child care while mothers attended meetings or participated in training, to playing board games during a planned just-relax-and-have-some-down-time activity.
- Our church participates in a program through Family Promise. In homeless shelters, families are often split up. In Birmingham, there is a shelter for women, and those women may bring third children if there is sufficient space in the shelter. Fathers must go to the men's shelter (which only accepts adults and is onn the other side of town). In the women's shelter, everyone sleeps in one gigantic room. Imagine finding yourself homeless, in an emergency, and you have your 17yo son sleeping in this room with so many women. Imagine your husband being across town. Now imagine a single dad raising a daughter who cannot take her to a shelter. Family promise keeps families together. One way they do this is through utilizing church spaces (and this is how our church participates). One church becomes the family's address. This way, children can be enrolled stably in school. Then, participating churches each give up building space for one week a month. The family still has to "move" each week, but they can stay in one space for the week. The parents know where they will all sleep each night. The kids can stay attending the same school. The goal, of course, is always returning to stable housing. But in the meantime, Family Promise keeps families together and supports parents working toward that goal. When we have a family at our church, church members volunteer to prepare dinners for them each night and spend a little time visiting. It relieves the burden of needing to shop, cook, and clean up while these folks put all their efforts into getting back into their own space. The most important thing is that they are welcomed and never shamed.
If you want to help the homeless, this is what I suggest: - Find an organization that serves the population that you feel moved to support
- Look at the qualifications of their staff. The truth of the matter is that people trained in social work know information that other people don't. In these cases, good intentions can do more harm than good, so itās not what you want to do, itās what people in the trenches know needs to happen and know the proven steps to success. I remember a volunteer trainer who talked about a different homeless service that focused on saving people's souls. Their number one priority was getting these homeless folks saved. She told me that's great, but Jesus wasn't going to teach people to make a budget or balance a checking account. This was a woman working in a shelter founded by a church; she was NOT "anti-Jesus," but she WAS determined that people getting their services would work to develop whatever skills they needed to maintain a home once they were back into one.
- Find an organization that has objective measurements of success. Of the people that come to them, what percentage make it to stable housing? How many of them are still housed after a year? Three years? If they canāt tell you any of this, it might not be a good place for you to help. Remember, they are (supposed to be) the experts.
Ask them how you can help. Also, tell them what you are comfortable or have an idea for. If they know their work, they will be able to tell you flat out if it will be helpful. Sometimes you might not like what you hear (I know I didnāt), but they arenāt there to make me happy; they are there to re-house these people and equip them to stay housed.
I do not have specific experience with the people crossing the border. Our church actually just had an event this week that featured a discussion of the issues involved. We had a loving, civil discussion that produced no solutions. If I felt moved to work with this topic, I would follow the criteria above, but I would probably make a couple of changes. - I would avoid government entities. I'm not anti-government, but I decided to do my own research before listening to others at church. As a taxpayer, I was annoyed with how I found "reports" from various parts of the government that appeared to be biased. I like stark facts. I had to go to third party organizations to get plain, bald facts. I would probably choose a church based organization, but I'd be more interested in their approach, goals, and professional practices than in any specidic denomination. We all serve Jesus.
- On that note: I would carefully examine their practices and programs to see if they are in alignment with scripture. I am sad if this makes me cynical, but I tend not to take other people's word for such things any more.
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Post by eyeofthestorm on Mar 10, 2024 9:23:28 GMT -6
Also, be sensitive to promptings. In February, I not only had the urge to crochet, I had the urge to make afghans. I rarely make an afghan bigger than one for a baby. I just had this urge and I didn't get bored.
Well guess what. Our church was collecting sheets and blankets. I donated all the afghans I stitched plus a couple others I'd made in the past.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Rabbi Daniel Lapin (who wrote, Thou Shalt Prosper) said that no matter how poor you are, there is something that you have more of than someone else.
It's possible that none of the ways I posted above will work for you. But there may be something, something you think is no big deal, that could be a huge help to someone else.
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Post by grammea on Mar 10, 2024 17:44:43 GMT -6
First of all, hi all, long time no see! Secondly Sandra you have hit the nail on the head in so many places I lost count,lol. How can I say that you might ask? Well right now I am typing this from a cozy warm cottage with my dogs chin on my foot. 30 years ago this was not the case. I was homeless with two girls 12 and 5 and fleeing a domestic violence situation. I assure you Iām not asking for sympathy just stating facts as a bavkground for my knowledge. ELIZABETH BUFFUM CHASE HOUSE in RI was a life saver to my girls and I We were only there for 13 days before through their help and support I found a new home for us. A thought to keep in mind, domestic violence shelters are as a rule 10 times safer than your āaverageā homeless shelter. Now thatās not the end of my story but the beginning. Now began the long climb back up out of my situation. I echo Sandraās sentiment. Do not donate expired food or food that nobody will eat. We feel bad enough already. Another thing is allow and encourage those youāre helping in helping themselves and others. One of the biggest mistakes many food banks make and Iāve experienced this too is not allowing the recipients to join in helping others. I have literally been told more than once āYou can get help or give it, but not bothā! This was more detrimental to my spirit than a lot of things. When donating clothes to a specific family try if at all possible to give something they would like to wear. Please donāt go into it with āIāll give them great aunt Marthaās jacket. Itās ugly and totally out of style but it will keep them warm. Besides they should be grateful for what they getā Again thatās kicking us when weāre down. Just about every shelter has different rules. Keep your eyes and ears open for ways that you can help in each unique shelter. For example : Several years ago, I accidentally heard of a homeless family shelter at Christmas. Add to that , I had just read an article about teenagers still being children but often overlooked when a family goes into a shelter. They are still children and just as scared and sad as their eight year old sister! This was the beginning of project Christmas stocking! I got the number of boys and girls in their teens and asked my friends to help me fill stockings for them at Christmas. We included things like fast food gift cards grooming items and card games. When I belonged to THE SAINT VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY of my church we heard of a local childrenās shelter. Once a month we would inquire if there were any children having a birthday in the shelter. If so we brought them a cake and an age and interest appropriate present. This expands on your very sound observation Sandra that sometimes the best thing you can do for anyone is to take them away from thinking of their situation for even a moment by giving them a treat. I also donāt think I would actually bring a homeless family into my home, because you just never know and there are endless ways of helping without doing that . Look to your interests , strengths, and needs of the local shelters and social service agencies. I once taught a group of ladies to knit and gave them simple knitting bags with yarn, etc. Most of the items were donated. Donāt overlook just sitting and chatting and listening in support. This was a biggie for me when the girls and I were in the shelter. Somebody to listen! God led me to catch up on PH tonight! God bless, Helen(grammea)
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