Volunteers Prepare to Serve 300 Homeless in Seminole County
Filed Under (Local Serving, Longwood, News Room) by Robert Andrescik on 28-07-2008
When we think of a homeless person, what often comes to mind is the proverbial image of someone who’s disheveled, holding a crude cardboard sign, panhandling on street-corners and intersections. But according to experts, that isn’t an accurate picture.
Fact is, families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population, and the dramatic increase in foreclosures nationwide has only contributed to the problem.
Some property owners, when faced with foreclosure, are not notifying their tenants while still collecting monthly rent. As a result, families are receiving a five- or 10-day eviction notice and do not have funds available for security deposits or first and last months’ rent for a new lease, so they end up in shelters or motel rooms that are rented by the night.
As homelessness hits home for many Central Florida families, an event organized by Homeless Services Network of Central Florida and hosted by Northland Church at Longwood is hoping to help hundreds of individuals in need during Project Homeless Connect (PHC) this Wednesday, July 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida sponsors PHC events throughout Central Florida. More than 40 nonprofit agencies, faith-based groups, government agencies and businesses participate in these events.
“These folks desperately need help to become self-sufficient and get out of their homeless situations. These are our neighbors, and they deserve compassion,” explains Cathy Jackson, executive director of Homeless Services Network.
This Wednesday in Longwood, more than 150 volunteers from Northland and surrounding churches and organizations will be assisting 300 people in need.
Each participant will be paired with a “shepherd” so that everyone feels welcome and receives assistance. Available services will include showers, medical care, haircuts, employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health counseling, assistance with benefits, ID cards and legal issues, housing information, vision screening, hygiene kits, meals, and spiritual care.
“Northland is honored to be the host site to support Homeless Services Network and the activities of the many nonprofit organizations throughout Central Florida,” says Gretchen Kerr, Northland’s director of local service.
To learn more about Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, visit www.hsncfl.org or call 407-893-0133. To register please visit www.volunteermatch.org and search ‘Project Homeless Connect’ in Orlando, FL.
Efforts like this are awesome.
It’s also great to see an awareness that so many of the homeless people are just like us…too often we have this stereotype in our minds of homeless people being kind of like aliens.
Indeed, I know I am guilty of this: it seems that anytime I think of someone or some group who has a problem that I am fortunate enough to not be experiencing, that I tend to think of those people as kind of foreign.
I know that’s wrong, and that but for the grace of God I would have the same problem.
It’s time we as a society moved from this ethos and message, sometimes implicit but often explicit, that “you’re on your own” to one of “we’re in this together.”
I sense that we may be at such a tipping point in our society, where we can replace apathy and cynicism with optimism and hope and empathy.
One of the more convicting facts that I learned as a result of this outreach is the quantity of homeless family units, where folks lose their home or rental in a fashion such as what is described above and then are left to live in their car or in a week to week motel. Then they are caught in a trap of not being able to afford the rent and security deposit to get into an adequate rental space or home. Unfortunately, I am not at all suprised that some landlords deceive their tenants and continue to take rent while not informing them that the property is in foreclosure.
I am looking forward to seeing the ways in which this event brings people together from different walks of life. It is very true that there are some who are poor but are very rich in faith and Spirit, and those who are materially wealthy but have the porrest “lives” among us, just as there are those who are poor and those who are rich in both ways.
Gary, I heard a great analogy that follows what you said about us looking at others who are homeless as “aliens.” I recently heard someone say the homeless are often treated as “lepers.” What I am realizing more is that the more these folks are treated like aliens and “lepers,” the more it becomes a reality that they are less connected and comfortable with others in society and the more they fit the role of “homeless.” Just as real is that the more they are pushed to the margins of the community, the more difficult for us not in their situation to treat and view them with the dignity, love, and compassion that God demands and expects from His children.
I know that sometimes a homeless person does fit some aspects of stereotypes held of them. They can be just as ungrateful, mean, selfish, lazy, deceptive, and impolite as folks of any other socio-economic group (which is difficult for some of us because you think that no homeless person should be lazy, selfish or ungrateful due to their circumstances.) But there are so many who are truly grateful, who are willing to work hard, who value honesty, and who treat others politely no matter what hardship they endure. Many are sick (mentally and physically,) many are our Veterans who have no-one else, many have disabilities beyond their control, many have been cheated, and many have arrived in their present circumstances from situations that could happen to any number of others.
If we don’t show up to help any because of the “bad apples,” we will be neglecting the “sheep because of the goats” so to speak.
Josh: you bring up a great point, which is that those who are disadvantaged and suffering often have to cope with a psychological and emotional form of isolation.
Indeed, often we can give material help, which we should, but neglect to offer the emotional support that would really help to heal people.
Admittedly, this is more difficult. For instance, it’s far easier to show up and help build a Habitat for Humanity home for a family and then leave that family behind, then it is to really invest in that family emotionally.
Utimately, this can be a huge strength of the church; that we can help people not only with the material needs of life, but of course with the spiritual and emotional needs as well. But again, this will take a huge commitment.
AS a business owner who works with the people in the community and see it each day. It was an honor to work with the church on this very special day. The peopel might nopt have gotten all the help but they now can see the light
Josh, You are right. We all need ot work together and help one another no matter what it is. I love when we can help people and we see the answer just then even water when it is hot we can give mtehm water and it will meet there need for the timne