Everyone Counts

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
9

On January 28th, teams of volunteers fanned out across the country to count the homeless. In 2007, there were 671,888 homeless people across America. With the depressed economy, it’s likely that this year’s final count will top the last census. Philip F. Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, told the Associated Press, “You would have to be naive to believe that the loss of over 850,000 homes and over two million jobs wouldn’t have an impact.”

As I see the lines of people get longer and longer here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), I know firsthand the impact the economy is having on our community and the nation. More and more people are looking for a place to sleep and a warm, nutritious meal. It is an unfortunate reality that we must face. There are thousands of people who are sleeping in alleys and abandoned buildings because they have no place to call home. They suffer nights with no food and are put in dangerous situations because of the recent wintry weather conditions.

Here in Detroit, our community partners — the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND) and the University of Detroit Leadership Development Institute — assembled about 150 volunteers to go out and count homeless people on the street, in abandoned buildings, under bridges, in cars, and in shelters and transitional housing. The count helps organizations like HAND and DRMM better understand the conditions of those in need and allows us to effectively evaluate our services. Once the official numbers are tallied across the country, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will determine federal funding for programs like ours that help the homeless.

Almost everyday we hear about thousands of jobs being cut. As a result, more and more people are being forced to give up their homes because they can’t pay the mortgage or utility bills to keep the lights and heat on. That is sending them out onto the streets. But whatever the cause, the homeless need our support. Everyone counts.

Surviving the “Golden Years”

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
4

There’s a particularly disturbing news story coming out of Michigan. A 93-year-old man froze to death in his home just days after the municipal power company installed a “limiter” device that restricted the man’s use of electricity, because he owed more than $1,000. The device limits power to the home and shuts off the electricity when usage rises past a set level. It’s not known whether the elderly Bay City man — a World War II veteran — had been told how to reset the device to restore power. When his body was discovered, the temperature in his home was below 32 degrees.

What a heartbreaking story! The golden years are supposed to be times of rest, relaxation and joy for our seniors who have spent the majority of their lives working and raising children. But too often they find themselves in situations where they face life and death choices, such as whether to have heat or buy groceries. Or whether to buy medication or pay utility bills.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we see senior citizens who are experiencing these painful circumstances. They may need a good, nutritious meal. Or they may be unable to pay their heating bills and need a warm place to sleep. Sixty-five year-old “Jonathan” came to DRMM after a fire destroyed his home and he had nowhere else to turn. Medical problems, including a cancer diagnosis, made the future even more frightening and lonely for him. We provided Jonathan with a roof over his head, clothing, food and access to medical care.

Our seniors have a lot of pride. It’s difficult for many of them to ask for assistance. After all, they’ve survived life-changing events like the Great Depression, World Wars, civil rights disturbances, and natural disasters. Through it all, they made a way for themselves. Don’t we owe them some compassion in return?

Centennial Celebration

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
30

Without a doubt, 100 years is a long time. Some people are fortunate to live that long. Some businesses survive 100 years of ups and downs. General Motors recently celebrated its 100th birthday and Ford Motor Company marked the 100th anniversary of its Model T, an invention that put the world on wheels.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is also among the centennial celebrants. On February 14, 2009 we will commemorate the Mission’s humble beginnings as a soup kitchen that provided church services, shelter, food and clothing for the homeless and downtrodden. Founded by a minister named David C. Stucky, the Detroit City Rescue Mission — as it was called during that time — operated out of an old poultry store. It changed locations several times and added services to meet the needs of the ever-changing community. Those services include substance abuse treatment, transitional and permanent housing, job preparation and educational courses.

Since the beginning, we have rebuilt hundreds of thousand of lives destroyed by addiction, homelessness and poverty. We’re a firm believer that you have to treat the whole person to make a permanent change and that’s what we do. You’ve got to help the homeless help themselves.

Our main mission at DRMM is to find permanent solutions for the disheartened and disadvantaged so that they can look to the future and not look back at their past. Many of our dedicated employees have been there and done that. Today they give back to others who have found themselves in similar situations. You can see examples of these success stories at: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1297082/drmm_success_stories/.

Yes, the need today is greater than it was 100 years ago. And unfortunately, I don’t see that changing anytime soon. But as long as people are in need, DRMM will be there to offer solutions. We’re looking forward to another 100 years of providing hope on the streets.

The Power of Prayer

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
29

“Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’… And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…” —Luke 11:5-6 & 9-10

If a friend came knocking on your door in the middle of the night, would you give him three loaves of bread to share with his friends? Unlike the man in the Bible scripture who did not get up to give anything to his friend, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) accepts individuals with open arms. They ask, and they shall receive. We don’t turn anyone away.

Regardless of the situations that brought the people to our doors, we are compassionate about helping them. It is through the powerful act of prayer that DRMM is able to provide for the individuals and families in need that come to our facilities. Additionally, it is through their prayers that they were able to find us. And it’s with your prayers that we can rebuild lives.

We provide for those in need 24/7, 365 days a year. DRMM is not just a place for individuals to come eat a meal and stay warm; it is also a place of worship and prayer. We pray that those struggling in our community are able to get back on their feet. It is not always easy to provide supportive services for 1,200 people per day, but with God on our side we are able to make it happen. The power of prayer should never be underestimated.

God has given me and others at DRMM the chance to be that friend that one calls on when he or she is in need. Through Him, prayers are answered and we are able to provide people with the necessities to survive through these rough economic times and the current frigid winter weather.

If you believe in the powerful act that is prayer, keep praying for DRMM. We believe that prayer is the number one tool for our success. And if you’re in need of spiritual nourishment, log on to our Web site at https://www.drmm.org to request prayer.

Fighting Poverty

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
21

The fight against poverty in the United States has a new proponent — President Barack Obama. Not only is his presidency an historic occasion, but he also brings his own blueprint for change.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we see firsthand the impact poverty has on individuals and families. It is heartbreaking to see so many people in need. Mr. Obama has a plan to decrease the poverty rate in this country. He promises to invest more than $1 billion in transitional jobs and career programs over the next five years to help low-income Americans succeed in the workforce, increase benefits for working parents, raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011, provide tax relief for low- and middle-income workers, and work to increase the supply of affordable housing.

Here in Michigan, the unemployment rate is climbing higher and higher. Right now, it stands at 9.6 percent. That’s compared to the national rate of 7.2 percent. Michiganders make up a large majority of the unemployed citizens of this country. As a result, DRMM and other homeless shelters are overcrowded. Whether it’s for food, clothing or heat, people who can’t support themselves turn to us for help. It could be your friends, families, neighbors or colleagues who are suffering right now. Even President Obama has experienced some of the hardships that people are going through today. When he was a child, his mother briefly received governmental assistance to help feed her children.

Think about this: What has occurred during your day by 3:00 p.m.? Chances are you did not wake up hungry because there was no food in the refrigerator. When you flipped on your light switch, your electricity was most likely working. Unfortunately, that is not the case for thousands of people in this country today. By 3:00 p.m. on any given day, all 250 of the shelter beds at DRMM are filled and another 300 people are waiting outside, hoping to find a place to rest and nourish their bodies and souls.

From 2000-2007, the number of people living in poverty increased by about six million. That is heartbreaking. Hopefully, with the leadership of new President Barack Obama, this country can meet the challenges that lie ahead. I pray that God will guide him as he embarks on this journey.

Donations Down, Needs Rise

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
13

The current economic crisis is taking a toll on us all, and it has really impacted the non-profit world. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), it is our mission to help support those individuals who are greatly affected by these challenging times. But as needs rise, donations decline. Just about everyone is cutting back and that impacts DRMM and other non-profits who depend upon financial contributions and grants from local, state and federal government, as well as from generous individuals and businesses.

According to a recent article in the Detroit Free Press, “about 71 percent of more than 300 non-profits statewide noted a spike in demand for services in the past year . . . meanwhile, 63 percent of the metro Detroit agencies surveyed reported a drop in financial and in-kind support.” These statistics are from a survey conducted by the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University.

With the economy in a slump, DRMM is seeing more people than ever before who are looking for a helping hand. That means we need food, clothing, bed sheets, hygiene kits and much more for the 1,200 plus people that we service on a daily basis. Stop for a minute and think about what it takes for you to survive each day. What resources do you need? How much money does it take to cover all of your bills? Now, pretend 1,200 people are living in your house and need the same things you do. They’re using the gas, water, and electricity. Plus they’re eating three meals a day. Those are the kinds of expenses that DRMM faces regularly. And we don’t turn anyone away.

We understand that not everyone can give during these trying times. People first need to help themselves. But if we don’t reach out to help others, the results can be devastating to our entire society. It can lead to increased drug use, a jump in the crime rate, rampant homelessness and tragically, even death. Through prayer and people uniting to help others, we can overcome this situation together.

I’m curious to hear how the economic crisis is affecting non-profit organizations in your area and what they are doing to cope. Drop me a line.