HUMANITY MAGAZINE “Promoting awareness of social and non-profit organizations that sustain life�
It's Been A Wonderful Year!
Humanity Magazine Celebrates A Year Against Homelessness.
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Humanity Magazine is a publication that promotes awareness of social and other non-profit organizations that sustain life. We exist to make the lives of those afflicted by homelessness and hunger better. We ensure this primarily through education and community support. Our publication also serves as a resource for those who are homeless by featuring local and national agencies, organizations, and businesses that help homeless families, youth, women and children, and veterans. The magazine has been working hard to campaign against homelessness in the past year throughout communities in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Over the summer months, many volunteers took their posts to distribute literature and magazines to educate and raise awareness of this social epidemic that affects nearly 500,000 Americans. It has been a year of tremendous success and a learning experience for many of our outreach workers who were called upon to spread the message about our homeless population. Over the past year, our campaign has gained support from many churches, organizations, businesses, and individuals. We are so grateful for the financial contributions from all involved. We especially thank the many businesses who sponsored our information booth kiosks and assisted us with raising awareness about homelessness. With your help, many people have been encouraged to do more to help those in need. In the past year we have had our first annual community outreach to the homeless community in Montgomery, Alabama. It is largely because of a community-wide effort that we have been able to reach many. Be a part of this exciting anniversary and spread the message: The End of Homelessness Begins With Me! To contact us by email or learn how you can get involved with this movement go to: www.HumanityMag.org/contact. To donate go online to www.HumanityMag.org and click on the link provided. Thank You again for making this a great past year for Humanity Magazine.
A Voice for the Homeless
www.HumanityMag.org The Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Ludie LeMont Hoffman 1 and the Staff and Workers of Humanity Magazine
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Are People In the U.S. Getting Enough To Eat? Unfortunately, even though the U.S. is bountiful and the world’s biggest individual exporter of food, millions of Americans actually are not. Each year the Department of Agriculture runs a nationwide survey to determine how many people go hungry. The latest figures show almost 6 percent of households – about 18 million people – are consistently not getting enough to eat. Another 8 percent – 30 million people – have occasional problems feeding themselves. Altogether, about 14 percent of U.S. households – roughly 48 million people or one in seven Americans – go hungry at some point during the year, and not because they are trying to lose weight. This number actually underestimates the problem because the survey excludes the homeless and transients; groups that almost by definition lack enough food. Given the size of the problem, you might think it’d be a prominent issue on the campaign trail this year. Yet none of the presidential candidates discusses this issue, even as they attend endless breakfast meetings, lunch roundtables and dinner fundraisers. It doesn’t seem to be on their minds, perhaps because they are surrounded by food. While the candidates, their staff and protectors are well fed, the news is not as good for the rest of the country. In other words, why do we have such a tough time ending hunger in America? What hunger really means If you are like most people, you know what it is like to think yourself, “I’m hungry.” You have probably said as much to a friend or family member. In addition, your hunger is real. It is a feeling of emptiness caused by a lack of food. However, being hungry in the moment – maybe you skipped breakfast or missed lunch – is not the same as hunger. Hunger is not knowing if there is a next meal, which is quite different from being temporarily hungry. The 48 million Americans who face hunger and food insecurity are found across our nation. Yet, poverty, lack of education and state programs as well as infrastructure combine to concentrate hunger and food insecurity in the South and especially in Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina and Kentucky.
This article is republished with permission from The Conversation. A Voice for the Homeless
Defining food security Food security is a simple concept. People who are “food secure” have enough to eat. People who are “food insecure” do not. Not only are the numbers large, the Department of Agriculture survey shows the percentage of households experiencing food insecurity has climbed slightly since 1995. The survey tracks hunger each December by asking if the following statements apply: * “We worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more.” * “The food that we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t have money to get more.” * “We couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals.” Using these questions and a few others, each household is classified as “food secure,” “low food security” or “very low food security.” We often think of hunger as something happening far away, but many Americans are also food insecure.
Can we end hunger in the U.S.? Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hunger. It is a problem that will persist. Yet we do have some ways to fight hunger and, with luck, reduce food insecurity. Aid is a good place to start. By donating our time, money and food to local charities, we become part of the solution. No one should go hungry or feel insecure about their next meal in the U.S. in the 21st century. As the 2016 presidential campaign slogs on, we can be part of the solution by both giving of ourselves and asking our leaders to address this vital issue and promote food security as a sacred right for all Americans.
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Genesis serves homeless, displaced, disabled, female veterans in Middle Georgia and surrounding areas, because they have served unconditionally for us. Even as the Pentagon lifts the ban on women in combat roles, returning servicewomen are facing a battlefield of a different kind: they are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population; an ofteninvisible group bouncing between a soft air mattress, overnighting in public storage lockers, living in cars and learning to park inconspicuously on the outskirts of shopping centers to avoid the violence of the streets. The staggering number of women returning from active duty to homeless-ness represents a significant challenge that can no longer remain overlooked. How we target this concern will determine how we respond to incarceration and homelessness for many years to come. Mindful of these challenges, and that limited resources for these women are linked to recidivism and mental illness—they are calling for partners and community leaders to help alleviate these problems through creating programs throughout the community. They are asking individuals and businesses to partner with them, and to walk with them as they take the first steps to accomplishing what has been seemingly an unreachable task. Their clients may reach out to as a result of variety of situations: (1) homelessness; (2) the loss of a job or home; (3) the dissolution of a relationship; (4) release from incarceration; (5) release from a drug rehabilitation program; or (6) an abusive relationship. Genesis help women remain drug and alcohol free, obtain decent housing and employment, gain access to education, reunite with their children, secure resources for them, and maintain physical and emotional health, in a Christian environment, rather than engage in behaviors that result in abuse and homelessness.
the needs of all homeless and at-risk female veterans. Genesis has partnered with Daughters I Believe In You (D.I.B.I.Y), a mentoring ministry headed by Prophetess Sconiers that fosters growth and legacy among women who are hurting or have lost confidence because of the struggles they have faced in life. Prophetess Sconiers’ community involvement has placed her in high demand at a variety of ministerial and professional venues. She is best known through her teachings and respected voice among circles of women, and is forward in her approach to the advancement of Genesis' mission. They believe that higher learning academics are an essential part to any rehabilitation model. Their desire has always been to develop mentoring and training programs that foster the most growth. They strongly believe that through incorporating God’s Word in a system of learning, participants will become strengthened in every area of their life. The information taught and communicated through the Genesis Joy House Model will encourage individuals to be a part of a unique and life changing program. They are excited to announce future partnerships with universities and other educational institutions that will contribute to a high impact season of learning and development for our participants. They offer participants hands-on executive training. These intense hands-on executive level classes are specifically designed to give participants high-end corporate and marketplace experience. There’s a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We can’t stop earthquakes, we can’t prevent droughts, and we can’t prevent all conflict, but when we know where the homeless exist, then we can help. This is an excellent
Genesis encourages women to connect with services that help them to become independent and continues to ramp up our programs to meet
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www.GenesisJoyHouse.org Mailing Address: PO Box 6425 Warner Robins, GA 31095
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Community Improvement Organization
from College/Universities, High Schools, Middle Schools, Elementary Schools & foster homes. This program appoints tasks & duties participants to further develop skills in the areas of their interest & academic requirements, by participating in the development & implementation of community improvement projects.
Mission Statement Their mission is to revitalize distressed communities by improving the living conditions of underprivileged children, the elderly, people with special needs, and low-income families; as well as to further and strengthen the education of college/university and K-12 students through hands-on service learning and civic engagement.
Their organization is currently running daily operations from the city hall of Hialeah Gardens. In an effort to acquire the necessary resources to enable their organization to provide assistance to needy members of our community the organization is engaged in a year round fundraising campaign, as well as building strategic partnerships with local organizations & local charities, as well as continuously searching for new sponsors. For more information about Community Improvement Organization visit: www.improvingourcommunity.org.
Community Improvement Organization History Community Improvement Organization Inc. (CIO) was established on July 11, 2008 as a 501(3) nonprofit organization with a public charity status, in Miami, FL. Iris Paguada and Juan Paguada are the original founders of CIO. Iris Paguada currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer and Juan Paguada currently holds the position of Chief Operations Officer. CIO has provided services to over 13,600 members of the local communities of which include: providing food to residents in need, rebuilding of homes, and several park beautifications. Current Activities Their current activities include the ongoing implementation the Basic Needs & Emergency Assistance Program & Hand-On Service Learning Program. Through their Basic Needs and Emergency Assistance Program, they provide emergency services & basic necessities to low income seniors, people with special needs and low income families. Through this program they provide assistance to over 4000 individuals yearly. Basic Needs & Emergency Assistance services include, provisions of food, clothing, blankets, bed linens, utility payments, household products, furniture, infant needs, prescriptions, rent down payment, shelter for homeless people (thought-out our partners), bus fare, gasoline gift card, small car repair, transportation, personal hygiene products, assistance with letter writing or completing applications, household items, etc. Their Hands-On Service Learning Program is a year round program which enrolls over 250 students
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Covenant House Imagine walking in the footsteps of a kid who has run away from home to escape years of physical abuse, a dangerous human trafficking network, the chaos of life with a drug-addicted parent, or a house overflowing with rage. The Crisis of Youth Homelessness One out of every 45 children – some 1.6 million – in the United States is homeless, according to a report released by the National Center on Family Homelessness. The majority of the children are under age 7. The number of homeless children in 2010 exceeded even the total in 2006, when thousands of families displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita produced a historic spike in homelessness. Last year, at least 60,000 more children were homeless. Youth Homelessness 1.2 Million. This is the number of homeless and runaway youth that Covenant House has helped with food, shelter, warmth, and love since opening its doors more than 35 years ago. The needs are greater than ever, though, as each year more than 2 million kids in America will face a period of homelessness. What Would You Do to Survive Homelessness? Would you climb into a dirty dumpster filled with trash, because at least inside a dumpster you would be shielded from the wind and covered from the cold? Would you find your way into a dark and abandoned building, huddle under newspapers, and try to ignore the rats scrambling on the floor around your feet? Would you escape underground to the subway and lie on the dirty floor, praying that no one will kick you or hurt you while you sleep? If you were a homeless kid, you might do any or all those things ... you might not have a choice. Every day, Covenant House gives shelter to homeless kids and responds to their most
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Last year alone, more than 55,000 homeless kids got help in Covenant House programs. Youth homelessness robs our communities of the potential talent and energy of these young people. They are our future, and they need our support. Covenant House is committed to providing a place of shelter and support for every homeless kid who passes through our doors. How Human Trafficking and Child Slavery Hurt Homeless Kids There is a grave misconception in this country that human trafficking is a trend relegated to foreign soil. But the painful truth is that human trafficking – one of the world's fastest-growing criminal industries – is a monstrous issue in this country. In fact, 85% of confirmed sex trafficking victims are U.S. citizens, mostly runaway children. Often disconnected from family and friends, homeless kids are particularly susceptible to traffickers who will lure them with the promise of food, warmth, and even false love. Once snatched from the streets without anyone noticing, they are sold for the highest price, their dignity and sense of self destroyed. Covenant House receives many of these young people after they've found the courage to escape capture, have been freed by police raids, or have made contact with Covenant House outreach staff combing the streets day and night looking for kids in need and at risk. We must ignite, state by state, a movement by schools, civic groups, police, social service agencies, and child advocates LIKE YOU to speak out for those who have been victims, work together to raise awareness of the crisis, and empower our government to protect America's children.
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE To learn more about how Covenant House is helping to confront youth homelessness, visit their website at www.CovenantHouse.org. If you are a youth needing help call 1-888-786-2929.
Can you tell us about the factors that led to you being homeless? My mom has been on social security since a few car accidents in her 20’s. Things started changing for the worse in her 40’s. I was in junior high when she
TRUE STORY: I WAS HOMELESS This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/amazing/ challenging things. This is the story of Salena and her time being homeless. Tell us a bit about yourself! I’m 19 and I grew up in California. I wouldn’t call myself an artist, but I love to draw; mostly anime and comics. Recently I’ve started doing commissions which is a very big accomplishment for me! I love creating and discovering, storytelling and adventure. Currently I’m enrolled in college, finally completing my first semester in the spring after 3 or 4 tries. I hope to transfer to university after getting an AA in Arts to study Japanese and English. What was your life like growing up? My mother worked hard to raise me on her own. We moved to California when I was 6; soon after that we moved into the house I’d call a home for 11 years. She had a boyfriend for a time, whom I hated with a 5th grader passion. My mom worked a lot, more than she was supposed to even, to make sure things stayed normal. She made sure to do something with me every Friday after she came home from work; she bought me books when I ran out of things to read, drew Disney characters so I could color them. I realize now that she’s the World’s Greatest Mom. I was lucky.
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lost her job. Her boyfriend had been saying that he would help pay for the bills [he was living with us] but never gave up the cash. Fast forward to losing her job, now on top of that she’s in quite a bit of debt towards the house she owned and maintained for 11 years. And social security decided to stop giving my mother benefits! According to the law, a person on state benefits is allowed to work part-time as long as they make under a certain amount of money every month. One month, Mom got a 25 cent raise, resulting in about $100 extra income at the end of the month. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, especially now that I know how long $100 lasts for two people, but social security deemed it enough to stop her benefits. Of course, they were taken to court, however, this time she didn’t win. Now, on top of the job loss, social security also claimed that both my mother and I (she was receiving benefits because of me) owed back all the money paid out to us between the time they notified mom of her termination and the final court hearing. By this time I’d starting my first year of high school. We managed okay for a couple of months off workers’ compensation, but one day I came home from school and our old real estate agent was sitting at the table with mom. Before I knew it, the house is sold, we’d packed everything
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them pray at us (no really, I love Jesus personally, but these people prayed AT us, every time)
Can you tell us about a day in the life of a homeless person? It’s actually boringly normal for the most part. Wake up, find a bathroom, wash up, brush teeth…etc. Go eat breakfast. Run errands, find a way to not be homeless. If there’s nothing to do just hang out, go to the library, a movie. Take a nap. Eat lunch. Sit around and wait for the day to be over please. Dinner. Find a place to settle down, find a bathroom, change clothes, sleep. There was no real reason to stop normal habits.
We ate mostly meat and potatoes but there were a few places that served us nice things, like pasta, casserole and vegetarian options. After that there was more cleaning, moving of objects, then the 50 sometimes plus of us would stealthily battle from a spot to sleep. No one wanted to sleep next to the snorers or the booze-reekers or the insomniacs or the ‘monitors table’. After a few months my mother and I got a hang of it. Lights out at 10pm and on again at 6:30 am. More cleaning. Maybe breakfast, depending on where we were staying that night, loading the bus, driving back to home base which closed at 7:30 am. Then we were left to fend for ourselves for the rest of the day.
How did you deal with the logistics of homelessness? Where did you shower? Where did your mail go? What did you do with all your ‘stuff’? In the beginning mail went to my aunt’s house, then a P.O box, then an office that offered services for homeless people. Home Base of the shelter offered showers. But before that there were hotel rooms, and before that we made due with park bathrooms. Our stuff went into storage for the three years we were homeless. During the fourth year we had a late payment and they auctioned everything from our two-bedroom home off for $400. We got $98 of it. We stayed in one area, where my school was located, until I graduated. Did you ever live in a shelter? What was that like? I had school from 7 to 2:30 during the week, so I was occupied. My mom sat in the park mostly, waiting to pick me out. At 3:30 the shelter opened its doors, which lead to another 3 hours of waiting before the first 50 of us were loaded onto a bus with padded mats and garbage bags full of blankets and the like. The drive to the churches was usually between five minutes to one hour, then we’d unload and eat the dinner the churchgoers had prepared after letting A Voice for the Homeless
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about homelessness? Or homeless people? * That homeless people can just up and get a job because it’s way more complicated than that. Especially when you have limited clothing and nowhere to really rest and a shelter that closes its doors to anyone not there by 3:30 pm every day. * That homeless people can just save money. Like it’s that simple, like living doesn’t require what little money, if any, they get.
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What advice would you give to someone facing homelessness? Or someone whose loved one is facing it? Don’t judge them. For whatever reason you or someone you know has been rendered homeless, don’t guilt them or pressure them or scorn them because of it. Sympathize. Someone just lost everything, there’s nothing left. Keep your wits about you. Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but be careful who you tell. Don’t settle, something better will come along. Don’t stop living your normal life. Go to the doctor, shop for a new dress, go out with friends, keep going to school. A home doesn’t make you, so don’t act as though your life is over.
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Homeless Service Organizations Need help? We've listed some local resources that can provide assistance. 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. 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
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 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)
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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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
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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American Legion The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.
Homeless Veteran Outreach The American Legion supports the efforts of public and private sector agencies and organizations that aid homeless veterans and their families. Additionally, the Legion supports legislative proposals to provide medical, rehabilitative and employment assistance to homeless veterans and their families. The Legion recognizes that aiding homeless veterans requires a sustained coordinated effort, which should provide secure housing and nutritious meals; essential physical health care, substance abuse aftercare and mental-health counseling; as well as personal development and empowerment. Homeless veterans also need job assessment, training and placement assistance. The ultimate goal is total self-management for the homeless veteran. The American Legion has stepped up its support for homeless veterans, coordinating a Homeless Veterans Task Force among its departments to augment homeless service providers and fill in the gaps where no assistance programs are available. All departments have a Homeless Veterans Task Force chairperson and an Employment chairperson who are capable of providing assistance to any homeless or financially destitute veteran who contacts them. The two chairpersons also can coordinate activities with posts in their departments to aid homeless veterans and their families and prevent future homelessness among veterans. Homeless Veterans Taskforce The American Legion places special priority on the issue of veteran homelessness. With veterans making up approximately 11 percent of our nation's total adult homeless population,
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Montgomery (Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and Bullock Counties) Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless 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 Rescue Mission 334-262-6024 Montgomery Rescue Mission 3823 Mobile Hwy 334-288-6031 River Region United Way 60 Commerce Street 334-264-7318
Community of Hope 2403 E. South Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36111-0091 334-517-1473 *
Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless Svcs 5748 Carmichael Pkwy Montgomery, AL 36117 334-273-0668, 1-855-810-2724 Fax 334-273-0669 Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless 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 Co. Homeless Services 20511 County Road 36, Summerdale, AL 36580 251-947-5641 www.FamilyPromiseBC.org Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast P.O. Box 18 Elberta, AL 36530 Administrator: Glenda Messina Telephone: 251-986-6200 or 1-866-823-4674
Renascence In-Prisoner Re-Entry 215 Clayton Street 334-832-1402
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Note: Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH) Services serves remaining AL counties.: Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox.
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE there's plenty of reason to give the cause special concern. To help our struggling brothers-in-arms, the Legion works on a global level, lobbying for legislation affecting veteran homelessness, and acts on a local level, directly assisting veterans who have fallen on tough times and are without a place to live or facing the prospect of it. This direct assistance is coordinated by the Legion's Homeless Veterans Task Force, which works to ensure local services and resources are available to homeless veterans and their families. The Task Force, which has chairpersons in each department, collaborates with government agencies, homeless service providers and veterans service organizations to develop and implement initiatives that will help homeless veterans. Additionally, Homeless Veterans Task Force chairpersons can provide direct aid to veterans and their families who reach out to them. A veteran who is homeless or facing possible homelessness can contact a chairperson, who will provide guidance and assistance to the veteran and his or her family. For all inquiries on veteran homelessness and Legion outreach efforts, contact: Mark Walker, Deputy Director, Economic Division mwalker@legion.org (202) 861-2700
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County) Tuscaloosa Continuum of Care Group West Alabama Coalition for the Homeless Ms. LaShonda Hayes, President West Alabama Outreach, Inc. PO Box 2947 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Phone (205) 759-8470 Fax (205) 366-9001 Anniston, Gadsden (Calhoun and Etowah Counties) Homeless Coalition of Northeast Alabama Ms. Tara Breiner, Chairman Ms. Becky Henson, Co-Chairman The Salvation Army PO Box 218 Anniston, AL 36202 Phone (256) 236-5643 Balance of the State of Alabama *Alabama Rural Housing Coalition for the Homeless Ms. Amanda Ship, President Ms. Felicia Watkins-Jackson, Executive Director 3521 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222 Phone (205) 324-9822 Ext. 19 Fax (205) 324-9311 Russell County (AL) and Muscogee County (GA) Homeless Resource Network Ms. Elizabeth Dillard, Executive Director PO Box 811 Columbus, GA 31902 Phone (706) 571-3399 Fax (706) 571-0707
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE We initiate coordinated local efforts that bring communities together to help homeless families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. Providing a Way to Help Americans are a compassionate people. Enormous numbers of people would help their neighbors in need if they had a way to help. We bring people in need together with people who want to help. We provide the framework that turns compassion into action.
Family Promise When Family Promise began, it was a local response to problem in Union County, New Jersey. Twenty-eight years later, we are a national movement involving more than 180,000 volunteers and serving more than 50,000 people yearly. But the core of what we do is still local— partnerships within a city or county changing lives. Family Promise makes that possible by developing and supporting Affiliates that address family homelessness right in their own community. Our Mission Our mission is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response. We recognize that poverty is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted response. We respond by integrating educational outreach, smart programming, effective policies, and the handson work of thousands of volunteers. We provide food, shelter, and support services for homeless families. We provide advice and advocacy for atrisk families to prevent their becoming homeless. And we educate people about poverty and the means to combat it.
Empowering Compassionate Individuals The issue can seem overwhelming and individuals may feel powerless to change the lives of people in poverty. As Family Promise volunteers, more than 180,000 people have found a way. Working together, they provide temporary housing, meals, and services to more than 50,000 family members annually. They mentor at-risk families. They teach financial literacy. They help find jobs and affordable housing. They create programs to meet specific needs in their communities. And they advocate for public policies that alleviate poverty and promote the economic stability of low-income families. Our Vision Our vision is a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. Family Promise 28 Crenshaw Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone 334-265-2010 www.familypromisemontgomery.org
Tackling the Problem of Poverty Poverty is a complex problem. It won’t yield to a simple solution. It requires an integrated approach that reaches beyond immediate needs.
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Saint John's Programs There is no easy way to escape living in crisis. Since our founding on the steps of St. John’s Lutheran Church in 1985, we’ve challenged many homeless mothers with children to grapple with that difficult truth. And not everyone can. It takes a certain type of woman to stand up to everything that’s ever damaged or broken her and take full, complete control of her life. It’s difficult. It’s painful. And again, it’s not for everyone. Saint John’s is for the woman who wants to make the leap. Who will fight the pervasive influence of homelessness, poverty, and abuse. Who will make an empowered decision to rise up and become a productive community member. Who understands, unequivocally, that the decision to create a better life – for herself and for her family – rests entirely on her. The time for excuses is over. Make a stand. Reach out, and create a powerful, lasting change – for you and your children. When a family enters Saint John’s year-long rehabilitative program, they are immediately encircled with structure, with mental health therapy, with alcohol and drug counseling, with parenting education, with budgeting classes, with healthy relationship training, AND with hands-on employment training. All services are onsite and required. The program is designed to support these women in taking responsibility for themselves and their families. Each family receives an average of 675 hours of services each month. 96% of mothers are placed in non-subsidized employment upon completion of our employment training!
examine her life, past and future, receive in-depth counseling, and further her education. She must participate in employment training at one of our social enterprises, Plates, Plates Midtown and First Steps, in which women build work ethic and on-the-job training skills. This sets them up for a new kind of success and presents them as viable candidates for the workforce and a new life. In the past eight years, Saint John’s has evolved from providing emergency shelter only, to a yearlong program that provides real change in the lives of women and children who have become homeless. During that same period, we have reduced our reliance on public funding to less than 20% of our $5M budget to have the flexibility to require sobriety of our clients which is no longer allowable if you accept HUD funding. We rely heavily on private funding to fuel the programs we provide to families who have become homeless. We provide more than shelter and food. We provide the ability to rise above devastating, negative elements and achieve job-readiness and self-sustainability. Entry into the program is limited, and each step is extremely rigorous. But those who see it through end up with rewarding, happy, and productive lives – for themselves, and for their children. To learn more about St. John's, go to www.SaintJohnsProgram.org
Saint John’s is dedicated to the eradication of homelessness for each woman and child it serves. We require a far greater commitment from her than she has ever made. Program residents are not required to pay rent, but must commit to a long-term, all-encompassing program. She must
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HUMANITY MAGAZINE Success Stories in Ending Veteran Homelessness
Homeless Alabama Veteran Home At Last
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Army Veteran April Rencher is building a new life for herself with a little help from her friends at the Tuscaloosa VA. PHOTO BY APRIL JONES, TUSCALOOSA VA MEDICAL CENTER
By Tom Cramer
Thirty-eight-year-old April Rencher, who spent eight years in the Army, didn’t plan on becoming homeless. She didn’t plan on ending up in rehab, either. “I lost my employment late last year,” she said in a tired voice. “I’ve been working since I was 14, so it was frustrating, losing my job. On top of that I had a crisis in my family, so everything sort of snowballed from there. Things got unmanageable for me. I guess I just got tired. My whole world came screeching to a halt, and I ended up homeless… “I had become a very dark person,” she continued. “But then I finally got to a point where I could ask for help. It’s hard for us Veterans to ask for help, but I went to the VA here in Tuscaloosa and got into their residential rehab program. I knew I was going to get the care I needed. They’re helping me get well. They’re very supportive of me.” Rencher paused for a moment, then added: “They saved my life, to be honest with you. They turned me around and helped me walk in the right direction. I still have good days and bad days, but I know I’m better today than I was yesterday.”
“I’m working on building a new me.” A Voice for the Homeless
Rencher said learning about herself is playing a big role in her fight to recover her health, and her life. “When I first got here my mindset was scattered,” she said. “But I’m working with the health care professionals here. They’re helping me answer the ‘why’ of things. They’re helping me clarify why I’m having some of the problems I’m having; why I was doing what I was doing. That was the main thing for me. That’s what made a big difference —understanding the ‘why.’ “I learned that I’d been neglecting myself. I was always focused on other things, this person or that person, and I never once looked at myself. But now I can actually look in the mirror and see the transformation that’s happening… “For me to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and like who I see…that’s very big for me,” she continued. “I can look at the sunshine now and appreciate it. I can look out the window and see the cats playing out there in the yard and that makes me laugh. It’s cool seeing them playing and not having a care in the world.” The Army Veteran said one of the most beneficial aspects of residential rehab is the comradery she discovered there. “The Veterans here support each other, pretty much the way we did when we were on active duty,” she explained. “Going through this transition with other Veterans makes it easier for me. They understand what I’m going through. They get it. I’ve met some really wonderful people here that I want to stay in contact with them.”
Rencher said the next step in her journey is finding a place to live after she leaves rehab.
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Homeless Alabama Veteran Home At Last (continued)
They have apartments right here on the grounds at VA!” she beamed. “I’ve filled out an application for one. I’m waiting to see if I get it. The place is called Valor Grove. If I could live there that would be good, because it would be easier to keep my appointments here at the hospital, easier to keep my treatment going.” “We’re hopeful she’ll be able to get in there because it’s right here on our campus,” said Dave Gay Jr., Tuscaloosa’s homeless program coordinator. “We hope it works out for her, because all the support she needs is right here. This is what we’re here for…to help people put their lives back together. That’s why we come to work every day.”
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“I still need some fine tuning, but so far so good,” Rencher said with a smile. “I’m working on building a new me.” Article reprinted from the Fall/Winter 2015 issue of VANGUARD magazine (page 8).
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