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.

TV vs. Reality

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
16

When you think of the homeless, what comes to mind? Do you picture a poorly dressed, unshaven man standing on the corner holding a sign that reads, “Hungry – Please Help,” and gripping a plastic cup containing donated dollars and coins? Do you picture a woman lurking in a dark alley next to a dumpster in search of food when the sun goes down? Or do you think of average people, like you and me?

There are several misconceptions and stereotypes about homeless people that are perpetuated by the media. The types of people I’ve described above are very likely to be seen in movies. Most times, homeless people are depicted as old, dirty, scraggly, and drunk. In real life, that is often not the case. In the movie, “Hancock,” Will Smith plays a homeless superhero. The moviemakers created a character that is dirty and rude. Movies like this tend to keep alive perceptions about homeless people, but the reality can be quite different.

At Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), people of all backgrounds come through our doors due to a variety of circumstances. Many are not at all like what we see in the movies and on TV. More and more, we are seeing a new class of homeless that I call the “working homeless.” They have jobs and don’t stand on the corners begging for food or digging through trash cans. They have hit unfortunate bumps in the road that forced them to seek shelter, food and other assistance. We give them a safe place to sleep and a warm meal and in many cases, they return to work the next day. Others are sidelined by job layoffs or medical conditions. Watch this story about two men who came to DRMM for help: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1294260/the_new_face_of_the_homeless/.

So, as you can see, not all homeless people resemble the homeless characters often portrayed on TV. Sometimes, just an unfortunate and untimely situation can lead to a need for a helping hand. And that can happen to anybody.

Stimulating the Economy

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
10

President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package is currently being debated and revised on Capitol Hill. The projected $827 billion package is a wide-ranging plan that offers some financial assistance to the nation’s homeless. Although a final bill is still a little ways off, one version of the package included $1.5 billion to help alleviate homelessness. That’s double the amount of the current annual federal funding for emergency shelters. The original bill also included $200 million to help people who are behind on mortgage or rent payments.

Undoubtedly, the provisions in the stimulus package will help many Americans. Many of us are only one or two paychecks away from homelessness. Just think about your own situation. What would happen to you and your family if you lost your income today? How long could you maintain your home and lifestyle without a regular paycheck? Would you have somewhere to go temporarily if you couldn’t pay your mortgage? These are tough questions that thousands of families have to think about as a result of our weak economy.

The current economy is triggering a “domino effect.” Unemployment is causing people to lose their homes. Families who turn to the rental market as an option are seeing sharp rises in rents because of an increased demand. Those who become homeless are finding that homeless assistance programs are getting less funding and therefore have to cut back. The need for food stamps is approaching an all-time high, yet rising food prices cause the financial assistance to run out much sooner.

The proposed economic stimulus plan needs to address all of these critical concerns. Hunger, homelessness and unemployment are on the rise across the nation. Congress should make sure that assistance is available for those who need it. That includes addressing the need for more affordable housing units for low-income families.

I sincerely hope the final stimulus plan will jump start our economy and provide hope for the future. We all need it.

Homelessness on the Rise

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
9

Recently, I blogged about the current economic environment and how it has led to a decrease in donations to non-profits, while the demand for services offered by non-profits is steadily increasing. This trend was echoed in a recent national report by MSNBC.com. The story titled, “Homelessness surges as funding falters,” documented how reduced funding for service providers is being accompanied by a surge in demand. The situation is having a huge impact on homeless shelters, non-profits and churches. Reports from around the country indicate more people are seeking emergency shelter and more are being turned away.

So what options are left for providers like the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM)? Should we reduce the amount of food served to the hungry? Must we turn away people standing in line for hours to get a warm place to sleep? Should we stop providing medical and dental care for people who desperately need it? None of these is a good option in my mind.

When a shelter is forced to close because of inadequate funding and donations, what happens to the man or woman who is entering his or her ninth month of sobriety but suddenly is put back on the streets, usually to relapse? What happens to the woman and her children who have nowhere to sleep, eat or shower? It’s a huge setback in efforts to rebuild lives.

MSNBC reported that experts believe homelessness will continue to rise, most notably among families with children. Already, the number of homeless students identified in school districts across the country in the first few months of the 2008-09 school year are the same number or more than in the entire previous year.

What can we do? There’s a bill awaiting approval on Capitol Hill that may increase funding for emergency shelters. I’ll write more about that soon.