Housing the Homeless

Housing the Homeless - Lutherville-Timonium, MD Patch

As county officials grapple with homelessness, a local man's story of living under a bridge, panhandling and recovering from drug addiction shows how entrenched the problem can be.

Jeff Lindelof, 53, lives under a bridge. He likes it that way.

Raccoons, possums, foxes, deer and even a bobcat that he named Sable comfort Lindelof. He likes them more than he likes most humans.

If you've ever traveled York Road crossing into Cockeysville, you've probably met Lindelof and he has probably told you to "have a blessed day," even if you screamed at him to get a job.

Three or four times a week, he can be found at the intersection of York and Padonia roads, either sitting on two milk crates or limping up and down the median strip asking for change. He is homeless, aside from his encampment he shares with two others. He is also part of a growing trend in Baltimore County, where more men and women are finding themselves without shelter.

In response, county officials are hosting a series of meetings throughout the weekend to develop strategies for solving the issue.

But, Lindelof said he is skeptical and doesn't want the government's help.

"What are they going to do? Seriously, what are they going to do? They're going to come out, put us in a house or an apartment? They can't afford that," he said. "There are too many like me that want to be out here—that are more comfortable out there than they are in society."

When we help another in homelessness we may find those who are reluctant to accept help or may be happy with their life. We must respect the human dignity to choose ones way. But we can learn and gain insight by their story that will perhaps help another. We must neither reject nor scold them but befriend and help them in anyway we can. [Ed. please see also this related editorial.]

Brother's Keeper now has training opportunities on new ways of working with the homeless and underprivileged on it's Education and Preparation page.

The McKinney-Vento Awards

From the National alliance to End Homelessness
:

Imagine you’re a 7 year old and your family becomes homeless. Every night, you fall asleep in a shelter, in a car, on the street. Imagine moving in and out of the assistance system, shuffled back and forth from shelters to programs to relatives. Suddenly, school, teachers, classmates, and even homework become the constants in your life – anchors of normalcy when everything else seems to be falling apart.

Last Thursday, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty hosted the annual McKinney-Vento Awards, the organization’s yearly tribute to leaders in the field. This year’s awardees included best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich, the law firm Dechert LLP, and the Elzer family of Pittsburgh, PA.

...As the nation continues to recover from the grinding effects of this lasting recession, we can and must do more to extend even the smallest courtesies to each other – especially when the other is a young child. In a time of economic uncertainty and fear, we must work together in order to overcome our national challenges.

Consider what small courtesy you will do today.

Bro Joe

It's not just a personal problem.

"Poverty impacts more than the individuals who struggle to manage in their day-to-day lives. Poverty reflects and reinforces other forms of inequality, and it also has broad implications for communities. While it is common to think of poverty through the lens of individual effort or failure, the economic downturn serves as a reminder that poverty is tied into our social structure. It’s not just a personal problem."

Click over to this article about Harvard and Brookings Institute studies on the true measure and impact of poverty on our society.

Big Bucks From Billionaires

Change We Can Live For.

Once in a blue moon we can see humanity shine in our generation. Both sides of humanity apparently shine in this group of billionaires who have rose to the top of one side... success, money and prestige. Now there is a movement to rise up on the other side of compassion and philanthropy.

The Giving Pledge is an exclusive pact among a group of more than 50 of the world’s wealthiest people (including Gates and Buffet), who have pledged to fork over the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Take Buffet, for instance. He pledges to give 99% of his wealth to charity. With a net worth of $42 billion, he’d still have $470 million left to spare.

And while we all cannot give with such substantial gusto, we all can take the 1% Foundation’s One Percent Pledge of giving 1% of our earnings to charity. It is a place to start for us non-billionaires.

And to avoid too much back patting please pay attention to the comment on the bottom of Change.org's article... there is so much to do and so many angles.

A True Brother's Keeper - Rich Mullins

Rich Mullins lived the gospel life. He was different from his peers and if he had lived he still would be today. A biographer noted :

Starting in 1986, he was a well-known Christian music artist until his untimely death in an automobile accident in 1997. He is best-known for his praise choruses "Awesome God" and "Step by Step", which have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. Two of his albums are considered among Christian music's : Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1986) and A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band (1993). His songs have been covered by the likes of Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Caedmon's Call, and Jars of Clay but his influence on his colleagues in the music business reaches further.

In addition to his music, Rich Mullins is also remembered for his sincere devotion to the Christian faith. He often called St Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) his hero, and modelled his life after him by having great compassion for the poor and adhering to a vow of poverty. In 1997, he composed a musical about the life of St Francis (set in the Old West) called Canticle of the Plains.

Mullins was seen as an enigma to the Christian music industry. Often barefoot, unshaven and badly in need of a haircut, he did not look like the average American gospel music writer. Although he achieved a good amount of success on Christian radio, he never received a Dove Award (a.k.a. the Christian Grammy) until after he died.

Unlike most artists in Contemporary Christian music, Mullins did not consider his music as his primary ministry, but rather as a means to pay his bills. Instead, his ministry was the way he treated his neighbors, family and enemies. Taking a vow of poverty, he accepted a small church salary and spent the last years of his life on a Navajo reservation teaching music to children.

He died in a car accident on September 19, 1997. His legacy is for those who would live the gospel life among the Navajo Indians. He was a true Brother's Keeper.

Does God STILL own the cattle on a thousand hills?

Psalm 50:10 is used by many in the Christian faith as a proof text for the riches of God. But a look at the response to the needy would seem to prove it otherwise. There is an increasing need for help for the needy in America. Given the current economic downturn, America is seeing more poverty and homelessness than ever before.

In most cases the impoverished will go to the social services of the US Government for resources. But now even that is found wanting. Grocery stores continue to be more and more expensive and poor families run out of food stamps long before the month is out. Many must resort to food kitchens and food banks for assistance in meeting their need.

As a believer with some experience in homelessness, I have become increasingly aware of the awkward situation the Church finds itself in. Because most churches are actually franchises in a particular brand of organized religion, the churches themselves are limited in their ability to help a person over the long term. They are restricted either to only help the poor family once every so many months, or until the benevolence funds run out. They are run like businesses and are not the model of the early Christian church.

The early Church looked like this:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ~ Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47

Of note here is the manner in which the believers acted toward their goods and what ought to be done with them. First they were together and had everything in common. Nothing is more appalling, nor capable of drawing a seeker away from Christ as to be told that the benevolence funds were tapped and noticing the choir member whose Mercedes Benz SUV is prominently parked outside. There is something very NOT together about that. Not that a person cannot own the vehicle they like but James is clear about the ramifications of riches in the church.

My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing; and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called? ~James 2:1-7

and

Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. ~James 5:1-3

One could only wonder if the Pastor or Committee had asked the driver of the Benz for assistance at that time. Our biggest failure is that we let the “church” handle things with the “church’s money”. But Jesus never commissioned a benevolence committee to meet the needs of the “least of these”. He commissioned me and he commissioned you.

Philippians 4:19 says “my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” But God will not come down with a check in hand. He indeed owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but he has given man dominion over them and has called men to be their brother’s keeper as well.

I am involved in a ministry to train and support believers in living a “least of these” lifestyle. The lifestyle that does not depend on structures of the church but on what the scripture teaches us about poverty. It is a ministry to mobilize individuals to participate in bringing the Church together and in common, with the result of “adding to their number daily”.

The goal is to network individuals and ministries together that a brother or sister need no longer hear the words,"we've done all we can do for you.", and to teach the incredible patience and endurance of Love as Paul exhorted us to pursue it.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

For more information on becoming a “brother’s keeper” join us on Facebook or email us from our Be a Brother's Keeper page.

The 'normal' psychology of poverty

Poverty happens everywhere and anytime. In these economic times homelessness can land on normal people as suddenly as closing a deal or hitting the lottery. Herein lies the paradox... and begs the question - what is normal? "Normal" is often nothing more than our own image or persona projected on another. We have all said "if I were you" in an attempt to help. But how often is our advise taken? Not very. This is because we tell people what WE would and could do and not what THEY would or could possibly be ready to do. We all abide by social norms as a rule, but personal normal is as diverse as fingerprints and snowflakes.

Mental illness in the homeless has always been a snake that eats its own tail. It is the chicken or the egg, the cause and the effect. The new poor are not mentally ill but victims of society's ills.

Our task is not to compell them to be as we but to care for them as "normal" persons ought.