A mentoring program for the homeless?

This morning on my way in to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library one of the employees stopped and talked to me. He mentioned something that I have said before: there needs to be a mentoring program for the homeless.

New people arrive to homelessness every day. To whom can they turn for help? When I first became homeless, I didn’t know what to do, where to go. I didn’t know “the ropes” to being homeless. I got in my car and just sat there. I thought, “Now what?”. I finally drove with no real destination. When it got dark and I was tired, I didn’t know where it would be safe to sleep. I didn’t know how I would stay clean without being able to take a shower. I wouldn’t be able to cook.

The homeless such as myself can actually teach others how to survive homelessness! I also believe that non-homeless people can volunteer to mentor the homeless–for social skills or being a “e-pen pal”, job search skills, addiction recovery. Homeless people also have skills and knowledge that someone needs! Why is there not a job agency that matches homeless people with employers who are looking for new talent with the opportunity to help someone in need? Why does the homeless services agency not offer a program in which the homeless receive specialized job skills training to advocate for themselves and the agency by going to businesses themselves to inform them of homelessness and needs, and to ask them to consider helping the homeless with services, discounts, or job postings? Currently they have only a lawn care services crew during warmer months as “job training”. The job training services and others should be expanded!

There is so much that homeless people have to offer–to each other and their communities! We have a need to attack homelessness ourselves! Teach me and I will teach you. I  have mentioned some of these things and others to the local homeless services agency but they have not developed any new mentoring programs. We can still do this ourselves! Help me to create better opportunities for the homeless so we can build ourselves a new life!

The Spirit of Giving

This is the time of year when everyone looks to give to others. The holidays have a dramatic effect on people and I am no exception. I celebrate Christmas and my birthday is coming up very soon. Recent tweets by Jeff Shuey and Lotay Yang have inspired me! My mind is racing, contemplating what effort I might be able to do in celebration of my birthday and Christmas?! I would give anything to be able to organize an effort for a van to be donated to Cross and Crown Church so they can help the homeless! But that sadly is expensive and probably not as realistic a short-term goal at this time. So then what would be?! Perhaps I could organize a Christmas party and/or gifts for the homeless–maybe local businesses might be willing to donate? Gift certs and gift cards, free meals, gas cards, auto repair, clothes, shoes/boots…??? Maybe I could open a special PayPal account? I want to do something special for everyone! What can I do?!

The Value of a Dollar

How much is  a dollar worth?  Just ask a homeless person.

For just $1.00 to $5.00 a homeless person for  1 to 2 hours can:

• Drink a coffee or eat a meal.
• Sit indoors.
• Have access to a clean bathroom and sink to watch hands and face.
• Be out of the rain.
• Be safe from severe weather.
• Watch a movie matinee.
• Buy a ticket and ride the bus or train.
• Do laundry.
• Make calls on a pay phone.
• Put a small amount of gas for the day in their car’s gas tank.
• Access pool and shower facilities at a local park.

What a person can get out of it:

• Food.
• Shelter.
• Clean clothes.
• Hygiene care.
• Entertainment.
• Transportation to shelter, an interview, a job, and other appointments.
• Access to a toilet and facilities to do hygiene.
• A visit with family and friends, call to schedule a job interview.
• Social interaction and networking.
• A sense of normalcy (whatever normal is)
• Happiness.
• A love and gratitude for fellow man.

What you get:

• Happiness.
• God’s love and blessing.
• A love and gratitude for fellow man.
• Social interaction and networking.
• Increased self-satisfaction, self-love, self-worth, self-value

Unfortunately I am out of time on the computer early. Being a public library on a weekend, the computers fill up quickly.

Volunteers making a difference

I am grateful to many places which offer help for the homeless and those in need. The volunteers of these places offer help from their heart, and kindness from the spirit. It is such a beautiful gift that we receive, more than anything tangible.

Cross and Crown Church’s Ministry of Hope, in Arlington Heights on Saturdays, has a beautiful set up for a hot breakfast and lunch, with an optional worship service, and transportation to and from the church. The food is great! (Mmmm, my favorite–biscuits and gravy!!!) The optional worship service includes some great songs and music, discussion that we can all relate to, and sometimes even videos and popcorn. (Side note: laughing at Pastor’s jokes not required. LOL!)

In starting my site and blog it was my hope and prayer that I would be able to help others, including those like Cross and Crown who do so much and go out of their way to help people like me. I learned today that Cross and Crown has a volunteer because of ME and this site! How awesome and COOL is that?!?! I had a chance to meet her, and she is so sweet and bubbly with personality! She’s perfect as a volunteer!! Tell ya, when she told me she came to them because of reading my blog, I almost could have got up and hugged her! LOL. I am so glad to hear of things like this–that I AM making a difference! I sent Pastor Randy an email expressing how happy I am about being able to give something back to them. I feel really blessed and hope they do too. Thank you.

$100 to give away?!

O-M-G! I was sick yesterday and a little dehydrated from it. The library closed and I walked to the park in the middle of the local downtown area. A woman came up to me and gave me a $100 bill and told me to “get a good meal”!!!! I thanked her and we said good night, and only then did I see how much it was! I was completely shocked!!! I thought it was probably a $10 or something, but no it wasn’t–lo and behold it was a $100 Ben Franklin!!!!!

Well, since I was sick yesterday I wasn’t about to go out and eat a fancy meal last night. Actually I am very afraid to eat today yet, but I had a tiny bit at a local church that has a meal kitchen on Saturdays. My eating habits have been in a restricting phase lately so I’ve barely been eating, so I don’t think it would be good to eat a big meal right now anyway. Well, and all my issues with that besides.

It will almost be hard to spend it. There is a lot that I need! I plan to spend some money on train and bus tickets, I am desperate for laundry, and other things I need. Maybe a tarp to put on the ground under my sleeping bag. I still can’t believe it. Like, wow! LOL!

House Bill Protects the Homeless in Washington

Kudos to Washington Rep. Brendan Williams (D) for sponsoring a bill which just passed in the state House on Tuesday which would allow churches to house the homeless inside or outside!  A town in Washington had altered its laws after a local church decided to host the tent city “Camp Quixote”.  The town restricted the homeless to be housed only inside buildings, and not within 300 feet of a daycare center or school.  The town has recently amended the laws a bit, but I am guessing it took the fact that a House bill was up because of them.

This town clearly does not want the homeless!  Is housing the homeless an eyesore?!  I think that offering a homeless shelter shows a community who cares.  Sure there are “bad apples” everywhere in society, not just the homeless.  There are more homeless who are productive in their lives, working or getting medical care or education.  They are clean and look presentable.  You would never know they are homeless by looking at them.  I am one of those people, and I know many others.

I am grateful for churches that are willing and able to house the homeless.  They provide a great service–THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!  You honestly can’t find a better help and care for the homeless than the volunteers at homeless shelters!  It is they who inspire us, give us a good meal and a warm place to stay.  They converse with us and we feel like family.  We feel like we belong and we matter.  They obviously volunteer with their heart.

I have to recommend everyone sit down with a homeless person and talk to them.  There is so much that we can learn from each other!  We need to combat the stereotype that towns like that one in Washington have of the homeless.  Don’t try to get rid of us.  Be a friend and understand that we are actually no different than you and your neighbor.

You can read the article I saw here.