Latest News – Page 70 – Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

In a recent blog, I mentioned the “tent city” in Sacramento, which has come to represent a particularly disturbing reality of our depressed economy. At last count, about 150 homeless people have set up tents along the banks of the American River. Now comes word that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pledging to find state money to help Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson close the tent city and relocate the homeless to an expanded shelter on the state’s fairgrounds and to other local shelters and longer-term housing units. The cost to close the encampment by the end of April: $1 million.

Of course, the biggest concern among local and state officials is to make sure the homeless tent dwellers are moved to a safer, healthier environment where they have access to hot meals, fresh water and vital services. The tent city is being looked at as a new “symbol” of homelessness. It garnered even more national and international attention when Oprah Winfrey recently broadcast a segment about the encampment. Media from around the world converged on the tent city with cameras in tow. Many of the homeless did not understand what made their habitat such a “spectacle.” And believe it or not, some of the tent dwellers are reluctant to leave because they fear what type of environment they will be placed in, the rules they will have to follow, and what will happen after the fairgrounds shelter shuts down at the end of June.

This situation in California greatly illustrates the critical need for a permanent solution to homelessness. It is a chronic problem, further exacerbated by growing job layoffs and record home foreclosures. People are being pushed to the brink, finding themselves in situations they never imagined. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we are focusing on this expanded makeup of the homeless population and how we can set things in motion for their futures by offering a more permanent solution. We cannot look away and pretend homelessness is not on the rise. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Helping Others

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
24

Think about the last time you helped someone out. How did it make you — and the other person — feel? Chances are you experienced the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile and the person you helped was greatly appreciative.

The willingness to help others is a wonderful quality. God praises those who lend a helping hand. I get a good feeling knowing that the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is helping someone in need every single day. Our country’s sinking economy is causing more and more people to come to our doors looking for a warm place to sleep and a hot meal to satisfy their hunger.

Reaching out to others is definitely one of the special qualities God looks for in His children. Flashing a simple smile and nodding hello to a stranger on the street, complimenting a co-worker, or volunteering your time at a non-profit organization like DRMM are just some of the little things you can do to show others you care. Believe me, it can make all the difference in the world.

Volunteering can also help change a life. Tutoring a young child increases the chances that he or she will have a promising future. Cooking meals for the homeless provides them with the physical strength to survive. And ministering to the disadvantaged will build up their self-worth and spirituality. In the end, lives are touched and you have done a good deed.

DRMM is blessed to have volunteers and donors helping us in our mission of rebuilding lives. For example, take a look at this video.

Are you willing to open up your heart and give of your time to help others? I guarantee your life will also change in the process.

Children on the Streets

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
24

You’ve heard the saying, “Children are our future,” but it’s getting increasingly difficult for kids to get the proper education and home life needed to become successful. In fact, many don’t even have a place to call home. A recent report from the National Center on Family Homelessness shows one of every 50 children in America experienced homelessness from 2005-2006. That means about 1.5 million children were impacted by homelessness at least once during that period. That’s astonishing!

The report indicates several states do not have adequate plans to address the problem of homeless children. And it’s a problem that is worsening because of foreclosures and job losses. The 2006 data show Hurricane Katrina was a major factor. Because of the upheaval caused by the catastrophic storm, Louisiana had the most homeless children per capita, followed by Texas and California.

Children are greatly affected by homelessness. He or she can have problems in school, making it hard for them to grasp the academic tools they need. The National Center on Family Homelessness report says homeless children are far more likely than other children to repeat a grade and drop out. Additionally, they are more likely to suffer from hunger and chronic health problems.

The report shows a need for more homeless shelters that cater to families, along with more extensive state plans to curb child homelessness. It recommends increased federal spending on low-income housing, assistance to struggling renters and homeowners, and investment in child care for homeless children. At Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we provide entire families with shelter, food, clothes and medical assistance. We make sure the kids have access to academic, recreational and drug/alcohol prevention services.

Is it possible to end homelessness for all U.S. children? That’s a difficult question, but the entire country must begin to help these innocent victims.

President Obama Helps the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
20

President Barack Obama’s administration has already made moves to help the nation’s homeless. Last month, the President awarded nearly $1.6 billion in homeless grants to thousands of local housing and service programs across the nation. The funds, administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care programs, will help hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals and families find stable homes and much-needed services. An additional $1.5 billion in funding has been earmarked for homeless prevention as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Obama.

During a time of record home foreclosures and unemployment, this assistance could not have come at a more critical time. It’s estimated about 6,300 projects that assist the homeless will benefit from the HUD grants. Here in Michigan, we have been hit harder economically than most other states. With an 11.6% unemployment rate, many families in our state are losing dual incomes and facing homelessness. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers quick housing assistance to those dealing with a sudden economic crisis — especially families with children. The recovery plan includes short-term rental assistance, housing relocation, or security and utility deposits. A pilot program to rapidly re-house homeless families will be created in the Kalamazoo County/Portage area.

Specifically, the HUD homeless grants will be awarded to programs that target:

Chronic homelessness
Permanent housing solutions
Families with children
Homeless veterans
Housing and support services for severely mentally ill clients
Homeless individuals with substance abuse problems

This encouraging news of additional homeless funding from the Obama administration comes as we watch in amazement as a “Tent City” takes shape in Sacramento, California. The pictures are unbelievable. So are the numbers. Each week, 20 to 50 people are setting up tents along Sacramento’s American River Parkway. They are people who have lost their homes and jobs and have no where else to go. What a sad sign of the times. I’ll write more about this later.

Overcoming Drug Addiction

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
6

We all know that drug addiction can lead to homelessness and a multitude of other afflictions. Substance abuse can rob a person of his or her health, mental capacity, lifestyle and hopes for the future. At Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we provide substance abuse treatment to thousands of people from various walks of life. Drug addiction is an “equal opportunity” disease. It doesn’t discriminate. No matter what ethnicity, gender or age, you can succumb to substance abuse and its negative impact.

Some treatment programs help people get off drugs for a short period of time and then they return to the streets and often to their former lifestyle. That type of treatment is simply not enough to turn around a life, especially after years of drug abuse. You have to provide addicts with the tools to kick their drug habits permanently. That means offering a continuum of care that includes life skills, job training, academic courses and spiritual counseling.

That’s what we do at DRMM. Our focus is on helping people become functional and contributing members of society. That’s the only way to conquer the substance abuse that has held them down for so long. Our detoxification program and 90-day in-patient treatment are followed by intensive case management and aftercare services. Community collaborations are essential in regaining and maintaining this sobriety. Whether it’s the Health Department, Corrections Department or Housing Department, we all have to work together to assist in recovery efforts.

It is also extremely important for recovering addicts to reconnect with their families, churches and the community. They need to know that someone cares about them and their future. Everyone has the right to put a negative past behind them and move on to a positive, new beginning —much like the woman in this video who came to DRMM to beat a longtime drug addiction: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1288082/drmm_services_with_elaine_s_story/

And that’s just one person’s story. There are thousands more like it! Help us help them by supporting our mission and keeping us in your prayers.

Supporting the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
24

In many cases, the homeless and disadvantaged are not looking for a “handout,” but rather a “hand up.” They simply need a helping hand and spiritual nourishment to get back on their feet and stay the course. That’s why supportive housing and services are so important. The homeless need physical and moral support, as well as services that help them grow in mind, body and spirit. Only then will they be ready and able to tackle the road to recovery and the many challenges along the way. They must learn anew to live independently. Recovering from homelessness, drug addiction, abuse or any other hardship requires a step-by-step process that takes time, discipline, hard work, direction, and a love of the Lord.

Think about it. A person who gets keys to his or her own apartment after years of living on the streets has to learn how to pay bills, wash clothes and maintain a clean, functioning home. It may be second nature to you and me, but it’s different when all you’ve concentrated on for years is simply surviving. At Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we feel it isn’t enough to provide one night of temporary shelter and food and then send a homeless individual back on the street the next morning. There is an urgent need to help the homeless beyond emergency shelter. Our transitional and permanent housing programs gradually give our clients the structure they need to become productive, independent members of the community and enable them to jumpstart their lives with a fresh outlook.

Men, women and children at DRMM can receive housing, meals and support services for up to two years. This transitional program does just that — helps them “transition” into the mainstream society. It teaches them about responsibility and gives them a foundation to build upon. While maintaining a temporary residence, the client can search for a job, go to school and learn about finances and budgeting. At the same time, residents continue to receive support such as case management, child preventative services, substance abuse treatment, mentoring, health care, transportation, life skills training, and much more. After successfully completing the transitional housing program, clients can be placed in our permanent housing. We make sure that they have progressed to the point where they are prepared, comfortable and ready to move forward to this next phase of their recovery process.

Homelessness is a huge problem in the United States. And there is no fast and easy fix. You must treat the root issues that have caused the persons to become homeless and gradually integrate them back into society. Supporting their growth and stability is a great first step.