Fallen through the cracks!

There are gaps in the homeless services, that people fall into every day.

Most recently this has do do with a homeless woman.

I will call her Susan. (not her real name)

Susan is homeless and has been beaten up by her so called boyfriend.

Susan also has some mental issues that prevent her from any type of stability.

The problem comes when a social worker expects things from Susan that she can not perform on her own.

There needs to be an advocate for those who are not independent.

Too many times assumptions are made that don't make sense.

There are very few resources for Susan. 

There are very limited resources available period!

Especially when it comes to housing.

She doesn't qualify for housing because her symptoms are not severe enough.

On days when she is around she is allowed to crash at the church in order to catch up on her sleep.

Susan is a great person. She has a sweet spirit about her.

She is lost.

She has fallen through the cracks and has been stuck there for YEARS!

I have tried to help as best I can.

I would love to hear from anyone who has housing for the mentally ill who are homeless.

A New Home.

Today I got the news from a friend.

"We got a place!"

The story starts several months ago when I received a phone call.

Pastor King called me to say that a family was being evicted in three hours with no place to go.

Can I help?

I didn't know what to do, but I called some other folks to help.

The church stepped in and guided this family through the extremely complicated web of services available to those in need.

The family had no resources and didn't know where to turn.

The church put them up in a hotel for a time while we could pool together all the other resources.

Connections were made and the family ended up at Home Again.

In a matter of a couple of months Home Again helped the family find a home.

Today the family came up to me after the service.

"We got a place!"

They were so excited! 

They fully understood how God had blessed them.

They now want to share their story and encourage others of how God has moved through the people of the church.

They truly want to help and serve others as well.

This is the way the church can make a difference in the life of a family!

Everybody needs to get involved in some way and watch God show up.

Call to ACTION!

Last week was a tough week of learning.

I learned more about the lack of resources in our great city of Richmond, Va.

I have been working with a homeless couple for the past few months.

They were referred to me by another friend.

They have been homeless for several years.

The other day I received a text from Sally (not her real name) stating that Bill (not his real name) had hit her in the face, broken her nose and fractured another bone.

Bill was taken to jail and Sally had no place to go.

The streets are NOT a safe place especially if you are a woman all alone!

Being attacked and/or raped are the norm for a woman on the streets.

One of the reasons you don't see many women alone on the streets is because they sell themselves to stay off the streets.

Sally is in a relationship with Bill for protection.

She still sees Bill in a positive light because that is all she knows.

She has no one else.

When I called the battered women shelters they said they could not take her because she was not in immanent danger.

The other shelters are full as well.

Bill was in jail thus no immediate danger.

I don't blame the shelters because they have limited resources.

The needs far out way the resources that are currently available.

This is where I believe the CHURCH needs to step in and provide the necessary resources.

The CHURCH can fill in the gaps that exist.

The CHURCH can work with other non profits to help those in need.

The CHURCH can be the GOOD NEWS!

If we all work together we can make a huge impact.

Let's open up our hearts and take action to make a difference.

Step out in faith and watch God show up!