A Recipe for Hope

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

April
26

We all can appreciate good food. And the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is hoping to attract plenty of hungry diners at our new teaching restaurant named Cornerstone Bistro, located in Highland Park, Michigan. Recently, we gave our friends and supporters a sneak peek of the upscale restaurant, which is scheduled to open to the public in May. The restaurant is located in one of our many facilities, the DeVos Ministry Center, a former YWCA building.

We call it a teaching restaurant because our clients at the Rescue Mission are operating it. They’re doing everything — serving, cooking, cleaning and managing the business. It’s part of our culinary arts program in collaboration with Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD). Many of our clients have recovered from drug and alcohol addictions or were left homeless when they lost their livelihood. Cornerstone Bistro provides them with new job skills and valuable work experience. But most of all, it provides them with hope.

All of the people working at the restaurant are motivated to make changes in their lives. They know they are being given another chance to become productive citizens. DRMM is behind them all the way. We provide them with food, clothing, medical services, and a warm place to sleep. However, it’s ultimately up to them to achieve the mindset that will lead to success. This teaching restaurant gives them the tools to begin that journey.

This project would not have been possible without the help of our donors, supporters and contributors. To them, we offer our sincere thanks. We’re excited to bring a new option for healthy dining to the city of Highland Park. And we’re proud to have our people showing the community what they can do. Together, it’s a recipe for hope and good food for the soul.

Make the Homeless Count

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
30

By now, you have probably received your 2010 U.S. Census form in the mail. And as I wrote in an earlier blog, one of the big challenges this year is to count the nation’s homeless. The U.S. Census Bureau is holding a homeless count program called “Make the Homeless Count,” on March 29 through 31. Over the three nights, enumerators will count people living in shelters and temporary housing, those eating at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, and others who are staying at outdoor locations.

Cities across the country are holding events to coincide with the census effort and help boost the homeless count. For example, Los Angeles is collecting donated socks and food that will be given to the homeless on March 30. Indeed, it is important that no one is overlooked in this year’s census. Not only do the final numbers impact how much federal funding states receive and determine political representation for communities, but the count will also raise awareness about the prevalence of homelessness across the country. Some of those federal funds are allocated to homeless assistance programs. So it is imperative that an accurate count is taken and that we do all we can to make sure no one is left out.

Social service agencies such as ours, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), are being encouraged by the U.S. Census Bureau to inform and guide those individuals who look to us for information and assistance. It may mean explaining the importance of the Census to a homeless person who is reluctant to take part. Or it could mean providing information on areas where homeless people are known to sleep outside. Or assuring the homeless that the results are confidential.

It’s all a part of what we do — work to improve the lives and welfare of others. Making the homeless count will ultimately result in getting more people off the street.

From Foreclosure to Homelessness

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
16

This country has never seen anything like it before. The rate of home foreclosures in the nation has skyrocketed to record highs. This increase in foreclosures is resulting in more homeless families. Some of the displaced move in with relatives or friends and some take up residence in hotels, motels and other transitional housing. Others end up in emergency shelters or on the streets.

Ironically, some homeless individuals turn to foreclosed houses for shelter. In some cities, the number of vacant houses outnumbers the people living on the streets. Often, the foreclosed homes are in much better condition than dilapidated, abandoned houses and in some cases, the water, electricity and gas are still working. A 2009 report authored by a coalition of agencies that work with homeless populations outlines the impact of the foreclosure crisis in communities across the country by utilizing homeless survey data. Click here to read the entire report titled, “Foreclosures to Homelessness 2009: The Forgotten Victims of the Subprime Crisis.”

On the flip side, the foreclosure crisis has resulted in a multitude of lower-priced homes. However, banks have tightened their credit requirements, preventing many people from securing mortgage loans. The result: an increase in the number of people becoming homeless.

Federal, state and local governments are attempting to combat the problem by providing funding to slow the foreclosure tide. The money is allocated in a variety of ways — to assist struggling families, create foreclosure counseling programs, prevent evictions, develop affordable housing, and more. Meanwhile, non-profit organizations that provide shelter and food for the homeless like ours, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), are operating at overflow levels. We’re seeing people who were renting from homeowners who went into foreclosure, leaving the tenants without a place to live. We’re seeing low-income families who can’t afford to pay rising utility bills or maintain their homes. And we’re seeing people who are being turned away from relatives’ homes because of reduced household budgets and increased family responsibilities.

Our policy at DRMM is that we don’t turn anyone away. We make sure everyone who needs it gets a good night’s sleep, a nutritious meal, a soothing shower and decent clothing. We offer encouragement and prayer. Everyone deserves dignity and respect and a chance to live the American Dream.

Homeless in the Suburbs

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
2

When people think of homelessness, they often tend to equate it to large, urban cities with a diverse population. However, that’s not always the case. The Associated Press (AP) recently reported on the steady increase of homelessness among suburbanites and rural residents. Shelters are packed with people affected by foreclosures and a lack of affordable housing. The weak economy and high unemployment rates are impacting families everywhere, especially those who had never before sought government help.

I’ve written about this new face of homelessness often, because it is a phenomenon in this country that most likely will not dissipate any time soon. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we are assisting people — and families —we have never seen before. Some are the “working homeless,” who come to us for meals and a warm place to sleep because they can’t afford food and utility payments. It is really a heartbreaking and unfortunate situation. But DRMM helps as much as possible by providing human services to the people who are feeling the pinch of the bad economy.

The AP article cited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) annual survey that found homelessness rose from 23 percent to 32 percent among rural or suburban residents last year. Hardest hit were families, women, children, Latinos and men seeking help for the first time due to a loss of wages or jobs.

However, the bottom line is it doesn’t matter whether you are a city resident, suburbanite or rural dweller. These are tough times that we are living in, and anyone can find themselves in need of a helping hand.

Haiti Still Needs Help

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
10

Recently I wrote about the urgent needs of Haiti’s citizens after a deadly earthquake devastated the impoverished country, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Today, nearly a month after the quake, a lot still needs to be done to provide shelter, food and medical care for people who saw their homes literally crumble all around them.

The recovery work has been steady and ongoing, but an estimated one million Haitians remain homeless. They’re camped out in makeshift shelters as the debate between the Haitian government and its international aid partners continues over how and where to shelter the quake victims. The Haitian president says at least 200,000 tents are urgently needed; others say a more long-term, cost-effective solution is more desirable. In the meantime, the U.S. and other aid groups are sending Haiti more than 10,000 rolls of durable plastic sheeting that can be used to shelter up to ten people per roll.

As the debate continues, another major concern is looming. Haiti’s rainy season is quickly approaching, which could result in the further destruction of buildings and the spread of serious diseases. The images of families living in makeshift tents, consisting of bed sheets propped on sticks, are absolutely heart-wrenching. The need for temporary, durable shelter is imperative in order to provide some sense of safety and protection. I know that a relief effort of this size is extremely difficult and complicated, but the lives of Haitians must be placed first and foremost.

As a testament to human spirit and resilience, there are glimmers of “normalcy” emerging in Haiti. Adults are selling fruits and vegetables on the street, and children have returned to playing games. There is hope among Haitians. Let’s keep them in our prayers.

Looking Past Homelessness

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
2

Isn’t it interesting how some people can leave a lasting impression on so many others? Two recent stories remind me that regardless of a person’s social background or economic standing, it’s the human spirit inside that truly makes a difference.

Guy Myers of Sunnyvale, California was better known as “Guitar Man.” He was homeless, yet he always found a place in his heart to help others. Even more than he helped himself. According to his son, Myers battled an alcohol addiction for several years. He slept in the bushes off a major highway and was a fixture at several Sunnyvale locations where he would strum his guitar and sing for passersby. Tragically, the 58-year-old Myers was fatally struck by a car last month. The community has reacted with an outpouring of support. A shrine was erected outside a 7-Eleven store where Myers often hung out, and he was remembered in several online messages. A retired school employee wrote a poem about Myers called, “Ramblin’ Guitar Man.”

Here in Detroit, regular visitors to our popular Greektown neighborhood — a dining and shopping destination — became very familiar with an elderly woman known as “Greektown Stella.” Stella Paris was believed to be in her mid-90s when she died last month at a Detroit nursing home. For nearly three decades, she lived on the streets of Greektown, frequently screaming in Greek at passersby. The feisty, eccentric woman suffered from schizophrenia. She was loved by family and strangers, but her mental illness often made life difficult. The police allowed Greektown Stella to sleep and wash her clothes at the nearby headquarters and kept a watchful eye on her safety. Despite her quirky and combative personality, Stella was a beloved fixture in Greektown.

Both are examples of individuals who were homeless, but who touched numerous lives. In Myers’ case, he seemed to care more about other people than he cared about himself. He just wanted to make people happy with his music. Stella Paris provided a colorful part of Greektown’s history and will be missed by many. In their own unique ways, they created lasting memories for many.