HUMANITY MAGAZINE The American Red Cross The American Red Cross is a network of generous donors, volunteers and employees that share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world, through five key service areas: Disaster Relief-The Red Cross responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year. They provide shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. Although the Red Cross is not a government agency, it works in partnership with other agencies and organizations that provide services to disaster victims. Supporting America's Military Families- The Red Cross helps military members, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to the challenges of military service. Emergency communications, training, support to wounded warriors and veterans, and access to community resources help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually. Lifesaving Blood- Your donations of blood are what make the American Red Cross the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the U.S. Each year, nearly 4 million people donate blood through the Red Cross, helping to provide more than 40% of America’s blood supply. Health and Safety Services- The Red Cross is the nation’s leading provider of health and safety courses, such as CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard training. International Services- The American Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network with 13 million volunteers in 187 countries. Each year, we reach an average of more than 100 million people across the globe. For more information go to: www.RedCross.org
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE
Helping the Homeless Through Art Artists Helping the Homeless, Inc., (AHH) was founded in 2008 with 501(c)3 status to fund a Sunday night meal program through art events and sales. As AHH learned the stories and needs of the homeless, they discovered they could link them with resources to help them. The agency was created by Kar Woo, a local businessman and artist whose gallery was near the park. For Woo, who majored in psychology in college, this program brought together his business, art and psychology training. By mid-2009, Saint Luke's Hospital like other emergency services, was experiencing soaring costs for homeless care. Many of the ER cases involved non-emergent issues. When they called a meeting of homeless and emergency services, their homeless clients suggested they invite Artists Helping the Homeless, whose Sunday meals were held in the park across the street.
staff, hospitals provide financial support and technical or in-kind services; and universities provide interns and services through class projects. The homeless benefit from the wrap-around services and care coordination. The result is similar to that described in the Winter 2001 Stanford Social Innovation Review as Collective Impact.
The meeting spawned the concept for the “Be The Change” van to address transportation, a critical need of the homeless. The van program utilized the principles developed through the meal program and outlined in the agency’s mission. When the Saint Luke’s Foundation offered to fund the start-up, Woo closed his store to devote his full attention to developing the program.
Today, Artists Helping the Homeless has grown beyond the original 1½ hour a week meal program. That meal program, along with the one that started the following year in Olathe, have dished up over 65,000 servings. The meals, like the rides, provide an opportunity to know and build rapport with the homeless.
Soon after the van’s launch in February 2010, a daytime operation was added. On the streets every night, the staff quickly built relationships with the homeless, as well as local homeless and emergency services. Over the next few months, the program continued to evolve to meet the needs of both the homeless and community, both of whom Woo considered customers. These collaborations provide win-win situations for the homeless as well as the collaborating agencies. Today, homeless agencies provide services and
The BE THE CHANGE program operates 100 hours a week with a staff of 5 and volunteers crisscrossing the city.
For more information, go to:
www.ArtistsHelpingTheHomeless.com www.HumanityMag.org
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE
The Salvation Army: Serving Millions “With more than 130 years of serving millions of people in the United States, The Salvation Army has a treasure trove of data about the most basic human needs,” said David Jeffrey, National Commander of The Salvation Army USA. “Doing The Most Good." In these four words, our mission- to feed, to clothe, to comfort, to care. To rebuild broken homes and broken lives. By walking with the addicted, we can lead them to recovery. In fighting hunger and poverty, we can feed and nurture the spirit. And, in living and sharing the Christian Gospel by meeting tangible needs, we give the world a lasting display of the love behind our beliefs. The Salvation Army operates 7,546 centers in communities across the United States. These include food distribution, disaster relief, rehabilitation centers, anti-human trafficking efforts, and a wealth of children's programs. Our work is funded through kettle donations, corporate contributions, and the sale of goods donated to our Salvation Army Family Stores. Eighty-two cents of every dollar we spend supports our various missions across the country. From its inception, The Salvation Army has relied heavily on volunteers who support its programs. Over 2 million people of all ages volunteer their time, talents, and resources to assist The Salvation Army's work from year to year. Often referred to as "the army behind The Army," volunteers play a crucial role in The Salvation Army's ability to provide quality social services for the entire community. Volunteers are valuable assets in The Salvation Army's efforts to meet the changing needs of our world. Through the skills and experience they bring to The Army, volunteers make significant contributions to society by positively impacting the lives of those they assist. Salvation Army volunteers change lives, uplift families and support communities throughout our nation every day.
doctrines and disciplines of the Army. There are approximately 450,000 soldiers in the United States. These soldiers may take on volunteer responsibilities in the congregation or help in the Army's social service outreach. Many soldiers give valuable service in directing and leading youth groups in characterbuilding activities. Many take part in the Army's musical programs and teach young people to sing and play. As a valuable means of service to the community, soldiers visit the sick and lonely in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional institutions. Social service programs are enhanced by the commitment of soldiers who often give their time in the Army's basic ministries of shelter and food provision." To learn how you can help the work of the Salvation Army, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
The soldiers of The Salvation Army, the committed laity, are local citizens in communities throughout the U.S. who give allegiance to the
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE cyberbullying. The Mikki High Bully No More Project is proud to make a difference in the lives of young people that allows them to grow into healthy and productive citizens unhindered by bullying. For more information about
The Mikki High Bully No More® Project!! Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing. The Mikki High Bully No More Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating an awareness and educating students, teachers, parents, and community leaders on the severity of bully in schools. Our vision is to make a difference in the communities through establishing a foundation by which all will be empowered to bring an end to the bullying issue through awareness, education, and prevention. Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian. Some bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting, or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorize as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying). They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying). Verbal bullying can also involve sending cruel instant or email messages or even posting insults about a person on a website — practices that are known as
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anti-bullying, go to: www.MikkiHighBullyNoMore.org.
Building Homes and Lives As a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry that builds with people in need regardless of race or religion, Habitat for Humanity welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds. We have more than 1,400 local affiliates in the United States and more than 70 national organizations around the world. Together, we have helped more than 1 million families — representing 5 million people — improve their living conditions since our founding in 1976. There are nearly 2 billion people around the world who live in slum housing and more than 100 million are homeless. Habitat helps by building or renovating simple, decent houses in partnership with those in need. Families left homeless by natural disasters, war and civil unrest often face dire housing situations as they struggle to rebuild their lives. We provide shelter and housing assistance to help these families recover. Habitat for Humanity houses are simple, decent and affordable to low-income families around the world. Whenever possible, we build sustainable, energyefficient and healthy housing. Donations to Habitat for Humanity provide vital financial support to help us build and repair houses. In addition, more than 1 million people each year volunteer to build with us under trained supervision. In the United States, our partner homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses. On a global scale, we use innovative housing finance practices and/or partnerships with microfinance organizations to build and repair homes. To learn how you can volunteer and serve with Habitat For Humanity, visit their website at www.Habitat.org
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE MATTHEW 25 The mission of Matthew 25: Ministries is to fulfill Matthew 25:34-40 of the New Testament by providing nutritional food to the hungry, clean water to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, affordable shelter to the homeless, medical care to the ill, and humanitarian supplies to those in need. Additionally, Matthew 25: Ministries is committed to fulfilling Matthew 25:40 by educating the public on the conditions and needs of the “least of these� and by providing resources for action. Matthew 25: Ministries is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping the poorest of the poor locally, regionally, nationally and internationally regardless of race, creed or political persuasion. By rescuing and reusing products from major corporations and manufacturers, Matthew 25: Ministries provides basic necessities, nutritional supplements, educational materials, micro-enterprise supplies and disaster relief across the US and worldwide. The people we help are not receiving a handout, but a helping hand. It is only when a person’s most basic needs are met that one can become self-reliant. Because of this belief, Matthew 25: Ministries has always placed an emphasis on education, job creation and providing aid to children. Matthew 25: Ministries is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Matthew 25: Ministries began as the
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result of a trip Founder and President Rev. Wendell Mettey made with a group of doctors and nurses to Nicaragua in 1990. After seeing the seemingly endless poverty and devastation, Rev. Mettey made a promise to himself that he would find a way to help the people of Nicaragua and others in similar need. Upon returning, Rev. Mettey developed a system to recover excess products which were deemed no longer useful by U.S. corporations, and redistribute these items to people in desperate poverty. In the early days, supplies were carried to Nicaragua in suitcases, then aboard United States Air Force cargo planes. Now aid is shipped via forty-foot seagoing containers and semitrailers to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Since 1991, Matthew 25: Ministries has grown from a small suitcase ministry to an international relief organization distributing more than 15 million pounds of products each year. In total, M25M has sent more than 150 million pounds of aid across the United States and into more than forty countries worldwide. To learn more about Matthew 25: Ministries go to: www.M25M.org.
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Alabama Teen Challenge
Addiction is a term of convenience and is a common reference dealing with habitual or repeated behavior but does not serve our definition of process or underlying cause. We do not serve addictions per se, we serve spiritual strongholds, we understand them within the context of sin, and we deal with strongholds exclusively through evangelism and discipleship as defined by Scripture – there is nothing else in our model. We don’t do treatment, we disciple. We don’t focus on behavior as much as we focus on identity in Christ. In short – we are an expression of the church. None of the above statements should be construed as critical of clinical approaches, but their purpose is to accurately understand the historical
evangelistic and discipleship identity of Teen Challenge that has been unequivocal for over fifty years. Alabama Teen Challenge does not offer or provide clinical treatment or care for individuals who have substance related disorders and is, therefore, not subject to regulation or oversight by the Alabama Department of Mental Health through its Certification Standards. However, ATC is required to attain a regimented accreditation process, via Teen Challenge USA, to remain part of one of the oldest, largest, and most successful programs of its kind in the world. This program serves as a medium through which individuals who have substance-related disorders are free to voluntarily pursue activities to support their recovery. The world-wide mission of Teen Challenge is to evangelize people who have life- controlling problems and initiate the discipleship process to the point where the student can function as a Christian in society applying spiritually motivated Biblical principles to relationships in the family, the local church, chosen vocation, and the community. Applicants are expected to
be active, informed, and voluntarily participate in the established Teen Challenge program including but not limited to prayer, Bible study, and worship. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer with teens and see your life changed in the process, then visit their website, www.AlabamaTeenChallenge.org.
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE
Friendship Mission: Doing the Least for His Greatest "Whatever you do for the least of these you do for Me"
-Jesus Homelessness is becoming an epidemic in our community and without structured facilities to assist in educating this growing population, there is little hope of improvement. Friendship Mission's goal is to assist people in becoming self-sustaining in the local community. Friendship Mission facilitates a program of healing and progress by working to meet peoples' spiritual, mental and physical needs. Abuse, addiction, dysfunctional environments and lack of education are but a few of the various hardships experienced by the men, women and children at Friendship Mission. Community and church involvement is vital to the success of Friendship Mission. It provides a positive influence helping these men and women build respect for themselves and others. How They Began Pastor Vincent Rosato was the minister of a small, rural church in Hope Hull, Alabama. In 1996 the Lord opened a door for him to preach at a Montgomery homeless shelter and soup kitchen. Vince fell in love with the ministry, felt a great burden for these men and wanted to do more to help the less fortunate. Thus began a journey orchestrated by God and carried out by men that is ongoing today. Vince and his wife, Mary, brought the men to church for a fellowship supper. At first the men were reluctant, but he noticed how the food was a great motivator to get them to come. The number of men grew each week until Vince’s car wasn’t big enough for everyone and they knew that it was time to take the next step and purchase a van. Word got around and people wanted to be picked up and brought to church. Vince concentrated on opening a shelter that could serve the homeless and poor in Montgomery which grew at a steady pace from the start. People knew they could come to Friendship
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Mission, get a good meal with plenty of food (Mary did all of the cooking back then) and hear a message from the Word. "The primary goal from the beginning has been to ease the suffering of our fellow man while at the same time spreading the word and message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.”
Today the Mission is one of the largest facilities in the State of Alabama with a Women's and Men's Shelter. Friendship Mission is planning to open a thrift store. Your support is needed to help them reach their goal of raising $150,000. There are many ways that you can be involved at Friendship Mission. A list of items that are always in need can be found on their website. You can volunteer your time or professional services. To learn how you can donate or volunteer, contact Tammy Middleton, executive director at 334.313.2764 or email tmiddleton@friendshipmission.org.
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Success Stories
HUMANITY MAGAZINE
Veteran Receives Help to End His Homelessness Michael was a Los Angeles-area Veteran who’d fallen hard times. For 10 years, he lived primarily under a bridge along the Los Angeles River. When Michael was first approached by outreach workers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Mental Health America (MHA) of Los Angeles, a VA grantee under the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program, he resisted their entreaties to get help. Like so many chronically homeless Veterans who’ve lived for years on the streets, Michael had come to feel ashamed of his appearance and resisted taking the difficult steps to come in from the outside. He didn’t want to be homeless, but the complexity of his circumstance made him reluctant to respond to offers of support. VA and MHA outreach workers often encounter such resistance in their work to reach and serve Veterans like Michael. They empathized with Michael, but persisted in trying help him. Outreach workers visited his encampment weekly, determined to build a rapport and, most importantly, to earn Michael’s trust. For the first month, MHA workers met with Michael at his tent to assess his comfort level. At first, he remained inside his tent. The visits continued, with workers talking with Michael about housing solutions, VA health care services and potential income sources. A breakthrough came during an unfortunate incident when Michael’s leg became infected and he needed health care services.
through the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. He quickly received a voucher and obtained a home, where he’s lived for at least a year. He has reconnected with his family, and is getting employment skills through Vas Compensated Work Therapy program. Michael is active in his community and is no longer homeless.
Still Michael refused to go to VA, and so MHA outreach workers arranged for the delivery of medical supplies and care tent-side. Michael continued to meet with these health workers outside his tent, and they gained his trust. He eventually agreed to visit an MHA office, where he showered, got a cell phone and accessed a computer for the first time in his life. This initial connection led to MHA connecting Michael to VA mental health and primary care services to address the chronic health issues that had worsened after more than a decade on the streets. This led to Michael getting additional support from VA and the community, including a referral to permanent housing www.HumanityMag.org
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE
Need help? We've listed some local resources that can provide assistance.
Education remediation and career readiness for men and women (Shepura Men’s, Jessie’s Place, Royal pines) Phone number: (205) 323-5878 Email: learningcenter@jimmiehalemission.com
Alabama has eight continuums of care organizations that coordinate services for the homeless regionally, which may also put you in touch with those who provide direct services. These organizations are highlighted below. We have also included in this list other non-profit organizations that provide assistance.
Intermediate shelter for Women and Children (Jessie’s Place) 2305 5th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone number: (205) 323-0170 Email: latonya@jessiesplace.com
Homeless Service Organizations
Homeless Service Organizations - Alabama Bessemer, Birmingham, Hoover (Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair Counties) One Roof (formerly MBSH) Mr. Stefan Kertesz, Board Chairman Ms. Michelle Farley, Executive Director 1704 5th Ave., North Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone (205) 254-8833 Fax: (205) 951-9055 Recovery, and Re-Entry Programs, Transitional Housing, Women Center, Men Center, Outreach and Education Center The Foundry Ministries 1800 4th Ave. North Bessemer, AL 35020 Phone:205-424-HOPE Email: info@thefoundryonline.org www.foundryministries.com 205-424-HOPE(4673)
Jimmie Hale Mission www.jimmiehalemission.com provides the following: Homeless shelter and recovery program for men (Shepura Men’s Center) 3420 2nd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35222 Phone number: (205) 324-2271 Email: vines@jimmiehalemission.com
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Recovery program for Men (Royal Pines Recovery Center) 5 Guinns Cove Road Hayden, AL 35079 Phone number: (256) 352-9444 Email: george@royalpines.org
Florence (Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Winston and Lawrence Counties) Homeless Care Council of Northwest Alabama John Corbin, Chairman PO Box 98 Florence, AL 35631 Phone (256) 383-5610 Ext. 228 Fax (256) 760-6344
Huntsville, Decatur (Madison, Limestone and Morgan Countie) North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless Mr. Ollie Orton, President Ms. Lineise Arnold, Executive director PO Box 2991 Huntsville, AL 35804 Phone (256) 551-1610 Ext. 223 Fax (256) 551-0722 Emergency Services (Shelter and more), Recovery Services, Transitional Services... Downtown Rescue Mission 1400 Evangel Drive Huntsville, AL 35816 Men: Dr. Kerry Walker (256) 536-2441 ext. 302 Women: Cara Henderson (256) 536-2441 ext. 304
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE (Success Stories cont.)
Chris – A Veteran’s Success Story Born in the rural south, Chris, who is now in his early 60’s, moved with his younger brother to New York City when he was 12 to reunite with his mother who had gone ahead a year earlier to find work. Through the years, Chris’s soft, thoughtful eyes have seen a long and hard struggle with intermittent homelessness. This struggle began almost 30 years ago as he fought to adjust to civilian life after being honorably discharged from the army where he had served in a tank patrolling the Czech border. Afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he found it difficult to hold a job and ended up in and out of shelters for several years. Almost from the start drug and alcohol use became an issue. A recipient of the National Defense Service Medal (which he says he lost on the streets), Chris still experiences anxiety thinking back to his service. He vividly remembers sitting in a tank, during freezing temperatures, awaiting orders. With the tank engines running, black smoke filled the air making it difficult to breathe and making clear vision nearly impossible. He recalls a constant sense of dread “not knowing what was going to happen, just waiting, and just feeling helpless too often.” Today, Chris is a positive, energetic and prideful man – as we spoke, he repeatedly suppressed smiles in order to avoid revealing a couple of missing teeth – who is determined to establish and live a sober and productive life. We first encountered Chris through our outreach program about 24 months ago when he was living on the streets in Stamford. Shelter Outreach Case Worker Leroy Jordan found Chris and gently convinced him to come into the shelter for initial triage services – basic medical care and a long
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overdue string of consecutive nutritious meals. As Chris recalls, “Leroy was the first contact for me, he opened the door for me – he got me to the doc, he set me up with food stamps, he helped me get an ID, everything basically.” Looking back on his days living on the streets Chris recalls, “It’s wretched. You disconnect from everything. All ya think about is, ya know, where you’re gonna get your next meal. Your next change of clothes, how you’re gonna get clean, where you’re gonna sleep. Ya gotta stay busy because if ya don’t you go crazy.” Over the following weeks the shelter became a foundation for Chris as he and staff members worked together to stabilize his condition and change the trajectory of his life. Then, about 12 months ago, Leroy Jordan introduced Chris to Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Case Manager Marie Johnson. Marie, whom Chris calls his “angel,” immediately went to work aggressively advocating that he receive a subsidized housing voucher (that would pay rent for him to live in an apartment) since he met the criteria for Chronic Homelessness and need for Case Management Services.... Since March 2013, Johnson has connected five veterans to VA vouchers and they are all currently housed and pay a portion of their income toward the rent. Thanks to Marie and the collective efforts of the shelter staff, Chris has been living in his own apartment now for about six months (he contributes $200 each month towards his rent) and with ongoing help from the shelter’s drug and alcohol recovery program is entering his sixth week of sobriety. When asked to share what it was like to finally have a place of his own Chris shared: “It’s a whole different life for me now. Like now I’m trying to get my health together. Now I have insurance. Everything – everything is coming together.” He continued: “Now that I have my place, I can kinda
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Montgomery (Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and Bullock Counties) Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH) Ms. Charlene Robinson, President Ms. Molly Stone, Executive Director PO Box 242201 Montgomery, AL 36124-2201 Phone (334) 261-6182 Fax (334) 265-3391 Temporary Shelter Faith Rescue Mission 334-262-6024 Friendship Mission 33-281-2395 Salvation Army 334-265-2018 Food, Clothing, Etc. American Red Cross 334-260-3980 Catholic Social Services...334-288-8890 Community Action Agency 334-263-3474 Food Bank 334-263-3784 Department of Human Resources (DHR) Montgomery 334-293-3100 Autauga 334-358-5000 Elmore 334-514-3200 Lowndes 334-548-3800 Family Promise of Montgomery 28 Crenshaw Street 334-265-2010 Friendship Mission 3561 Mobile Hwy 334-281-2395 Faith Recue Mission 334-262-6024 Montgomery Rescue Mission 3823 Mobile Hwy 334-288-6031 River Region United Way 60 Commerce Street 334-264-7318
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Renascence In-Prisoner Re-Entry 215 Clayton Street 334-832-1402 Community of Hope 2403 E. South Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36111-0091 334-517-1473 *Alabama
Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH) Services 5748 Carmichael Pkwy Montgomery, AL 36117 334-273-0668, 1-855-810-2724 Fax 334-273-0669 Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH) 101 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery, AL 334-261-6182 Family Endeavors (for Veterans) 4110 Wall Street, Ste. A Montgomery, AL 36106 334-513-1855 Transitional Housing for Women and Children Mary Ellen's Hearth at Nellie Burge Community Center 1226 Clay Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 264-4108 www.nellieburge.org Mobile (Mobile and Baldwin Counties) Housing First, Inc. Ms. Shirley Jefferson, Board President Mr. Eric Jefferson, Executive Director 2900 Old Shell Road Mobile, AL 36607 Phone (251) 450-3345 Fax (251) 450-3348 Family Promise of Baldwin County Homeless Services 20511 County Road 36, Summerdale, AL 36580 251-947-5641 www.FamilyPromiseBC.org
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE As I was thanking Chris for meeting with me I received a text. Chris reached over, picked up my phone, shook it in his hand, looked me in the eye, and with a wry smile spreading across his lips said “Ya, know, for example, now I’m catching up. Like I don’t even know how to use these dang telephones. I gotta learn that!” I have no doubt he will. (Adapted From Original Story from Shelter for the Homeless) (Success Stories cont.) like plan a little more. Everything is not like snatch and grab. In other words, if you don’t know where you’re gonna sleep, if you don’t have anything to eat and you’re hungry, you’re not gonna think about anything besides getting something to eat and finding a place to stay. If you’re cold, hungry, wet, you’re locked into that. If you wanna change your clothes, simple stuff, you want to get a shower, your mind is always wondering – how long is this gonna last? Because when you got no home you know the carpet can be snatched out from under you any second, you are always on edge. So you just make the best of it – you just survive.” Becoming emotional, Chris continued further: “Now all is good. When you are homeless you tend to hide from people, ya know, kinda stay out of the mainstream. But now it’s different. Even people treat ya different. Rather than try to exclude you, they include you – because they see you are doing better, ok? You are dressed better, you don’t smell, and your outlook on things is different. You’re not gloomy, you’re not running that sad story, so now you can do stuff for them too – not just taking from people – but now you can give.” The road ahead for Chris is a challenging one, but he remains highly motivated and confident he will succeed at his goal of building a healthy, sober and fulfilling life. “I’m starting to think of tomorrow more so than just today, because when you’re homeless that’s all you think about – the immediate, but now I’m thinking about like, I’ve got an appointment with the doctor, I wanna go to school, stuff like that. You know, it’s a whole different thing. A whole different mindset.” www.HumanityMag.org
John was sleeping on the streets of Columbus after losing his home and income as a result of a lay off in 2009. He was born in Russell County, Alabama and has lived in the Columbus area his entire life. This was the first time he had been in this situation. The Homeless Resource Network assisted him with bus tickets, mail service, storage service and assistance obtaining his birth certificate and later a valid state identification card. From July 2009 through July 2010, he utilized their bus tickets to seek employment and get to medical appointments. Through that process he was able to meet his medical needs and obtain employment. He has been gainfully employed and in permanent housing since August 2010. He has even been able to purchase a reliable vehicle to meet his transportation needs. In January 2011 he returned to the Homeless Resource Network to thank them for everything they did for him and to let them know without their services, he would not be where he is today.
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Columbia Women's Shelter 3425 N. Main Street Columbia, SC 803-779-4706
South Carolina Resources The Haven Inc. Spartanburg, SC 29306 864-582-6737 Miracle Hill Rescue Mission Cherokee CountyAdult Rescue Mission Gaffney, SC 29341 864-488-0376
Sistercare Inc. 1820 Morlaine Dr. Cayce, SC 29033 803-765-9428
Miracle Hill Ministries Inc. Shepherd's Gate Greenville, SC 29607 864-268-5589
Revente's Second Chances 3015 Millwood Avenue Columbia, SC 29205 803-799-5900
Miracle Life Mission Rescue Mission Spartanburg, SC 29301 864-583-1628
Sistercare P.O. Box 1029 Columbia, SC 29202 803-765-9428
Family Shelter 2411 Two Notch Road 803-771-7040 City of Columbia Emergency Winter Shelter 855-678-4357 Our Daily Rest 525 E. Main Street 864-271-3424 Transitions 2025 Main Street Columbia, SC 29201 803-708-4861 His House Ministries 520 Center Street W Columbia, SC 29169 803-791-0336 Crisis Ministries 573 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29403 843-723-9477 Midland Housing Alliance 1901 Main Street Columbia, SC 29201 803-708-4803
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Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network 864-271-3424 Salvation Army Stringer Emergency Lodge Anderson, SC 29624 (864) 226-9340 Salvation Army Greenville, SC 29601 864-235-4803 United Veterans Association Shelter Greenville Greenville, SC 29611 (864) 483-0317 Family Promise of Anderson County Inc.Family Shelter Anderson, SC 29621 (864) 760-0670 Anderson Sunshine House Anderson, SC 29622 (864) 225-8586 Haven of Rest Ministries Anderson, SC 29624 (864) 226-6193
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