Hope for 2009

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
5

The New Year typically brings new hope. We feel as though we are embarking on a new beginning. We can wipe the slate clean and start over again. There’s a lot to hope and pray for in 2009.

Number one on my wish list is a positive economic outlook. The magnitude and impact of the current economy has been shocking. The record amount of home foreclosures and massive job layoffs across all industries have resulted in a huge number of people finding themselves in a situation they have never been in before: homeless, hungry and needy. We’re seeing a lot more people who are coming to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) for food and shelter. The numbers of “working homeless” have increased. We see people who line up for meals while wearing their work clothes. What a heartbreaking sight! They have never known this type of lifestyle and they stand humbly, but are certainly hurting inside. Additionally, there are more families who need help with food and securing a warm place to stay.

The perception has long been that the number of homeless and hungry seeking shelter and food intensifies when the weather turns cold. But now, in this economy, it is no longer only a winter occurrence. It’s not seasonal anymore. All year long, our beds at DRMM are 100 percent filled. On many days, all of our 250 shelter beds will be taken by 3:00 p.m. Yet there’s another 300 people waiting outside, hoping to get a place to stay, food to eat, and a place to shower. So we improvise the best we can by placing extra mattresses on the floor and providing chairs to sit and sleep in.

If I can offer just one major resolution for 2009, it’s “Don’t Give Up.” This too shall pass. Things will get better. In the meantime, remember that the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and its caring staff are here 24/7, 365 days a year to help in these difficult times.

Medical Help for the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
24

What happens when you’re homeless and need medical attention? In most cases, the uninsured and underinsured do not receive the medical treatment they deserve, just like anyone else.

Well, we’re doing something about that here in Detroit. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) has partnered with S.A.Y. Detroit (Super All Year Detroit) — a non-profit charity founded by best-selling author Mitch Albom to help improve the lives of Detroit’s homeless — to open a free medical clinic solely for homeless children and their mothers. It’s the first of its kind in the area. At the grand opening, children were given free flu shots and their mothers received diabetes screening and blood pressure testing.

The Children & Women’s Clinic was created and funded through the generosity of local residents and businesses. It is open 24/7, 365 days a year and is staffed with nurse practitioners and on-call physicians, including a pediatrics specialist, OB/GYN, and nutritionist.

More than 550,000 people in the Detroit area alone have no health insurance. Almost 100,000 of them are children ages 10 and under. Imagine what the total number is across the country! It’s mind-boggling to think about all the people who are not having their basic medical needs met. And it’s even more disturbing to think about the children who are not receiving immunizations or having minor health issues taken care of before they intensify.

The homeless are entitled to medical check-ups, inoculations, examinations — basics that we take for granted. After all, we’re talking about saving thousands of lives.

Keeping Dignity Intact

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
24

I firmly believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their social and economic status or circumstances. Unfortunately, too often, the nation’s homeless do not receive equal treatment. They face discrimination and receive scornful stares. Many times, they’re treated like second-class citizens.

This only helps to increase feelings of isolation and hopelessness among the homeless. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we look at all individuals as human beings, regardless of their backgrounds or life’s choices. Our number one goal is to preserve their dignity and respect. Secondly, we let them know that there is someone who loves them unconditionally and will care for them: God. And third, we treat their immediate needs and then delve down below the surface to address their deeper needs, whether it’s physical, spiritual or mental. Otherwise, it’s likely their issues — hunger, addiction, homelessness, poverty — will return in the future.

The homeless and disadvantaged need compassion, not disdain. They need a helping hand, not just a hand out. DRMM extends a helping hand to all who need our services. Life on the streets is very tough. The homeless need access to all of the things that you and I take for granted. For example: a hot shower, a hearty meal, warm shelter and career/academic opportunities. We provide for those who cannot, at this time, provide for themselves. If it were you on the streets, wouldn’t you welcome the help and the kindness of strangers? Think about that the next time you see someone living on the street.

Help Wanted: Managers with a Business Mind & Servant Heart

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
17

We need to talk. The responsibilities of managers of non-profits have changed drastically. In earlier generations, the typical non-profit manager was judged by and guided in daily decisions by the kindness of his or her heart. Today, that is still a baseline requirement. However, in addition, the non-profit manager must be able to comply with laws, maintain fundamental accountability for all resources entrusted to the agency, and recognize that non-profits are part of the engine of social order. The non-profit leader needs to be equipped and skilled to manage staff, reduce costs, manage their human resources, increase production, lead in times of financial crisis, and be very effective in fundraising and public education efforts.

Consider the demands of laws, rules and regulations. As a faith-based non-profit, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is sometimes criticized for accepting government funds under the mistaken belief that we must be compromising our faith to get government dollars. People miss the concept that — like it or not — whether you run a religious organization, social service or community organization, or a foundation, government plays a role in your funding and operations. Whether you take government money or not, they are still in your business if for no other reason than that the government gives your donors tax breaks when they donate to you as a tax deductible organization. Whether bound by the rules that govern non-profit organizations or simply because the donor trusts the non-profit to provide quality services to the public, the non-profit should always excel in obeying rules and regulations and meeting the highest standards of the industry. It’s an ethical obligation.

The non-profit world is now operating in times of a very stressed economy. Not only are they providers of services needed by increasing numbers of people, but they also employ people who perhaps would not have otherwise considered non-profit work. It once surprised people to see a smart, young professional leading a non-profit. The perception was, “That’s the kind of work you do when you are ready to give something back, during your retirement years.” That thinking guaranteed a non-profit organization the benefit of skilled leadership at a lower cost, because the salary paid to the seasoned manager was supplemented by the manager’s Social Security and other retirement income.

There is always a need for seasoned managers who want to give back, support and surround the paid non-profit manager as a mentor, Board member, participant in a strategic planning effort, or to help bring resources to the non-profit. At the same time, we should not be troubled to see younger professionals leading the non-profits.

The question is not whether to hire a non-profit manager who believes in the cause as opposed to hiring a good manager. It is whether the non-profit management candidate really loves and believes in the cause and brings the needed skills and knowledge to what they do. With fewer resources and more competition for those resources, the highly qualified manager who can manage under stress and in complex situations, who is experienced in sound management practices, and who can master taxation and accountability rules, is in higher demand than ever before. We need managers who have a business mind and a servant heart.

The best reward of leading a non-profit is the experience of giving back, improving the organization you love, believing in your cause, and being able and willing to acquire and increase the knowledge needed to do the work. The very best is to welcome the competition and possess a strong desire to match and model the skill levels used in the for-profit world. When we gain that mind-set, we poise the non-profit community to give its very best services to clients without fear of tomorrow.

The Forgotten Vote

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

October
6

As we approach one of the most significant presidential elections in our history, it’s important that everyone has the right to vote. That includes the homeless and poor. Having no home or money should not hinder a person from casting a vote for an administration that will undoubtedly have a huge impact on his or her future. Homelessness can occur for many reasons, including the state of the economy. The loss of a job can lead to the loss of a home. We see that happening more today than ever before with the high rate of home foreclosures across the country.

So what efforts are being taken to ensure the disadvantaged have a say at the polls? Some states have launched campaigns to register thousands of homeless people to vote in the presidential election. In Ohio, advocates are driving the homeless to election offices to take advantage of a one-week period that allows people to register and vote on the same day. In other instances, the homeless are getting assistance applying for absentee ballots, which will be sent to the shelters and returned with postage that has been purchased through fund-raising. A coalition in Philadelphia held a rally calling on the major presidential candidates to not ignore persons who are homeless, low-income, disabled or ex-offenders.

No matter what the method, getting the poor and homeless to vote in this historic election is key. They have a huge stake in this year’s election. The critical issues that have affected their economic status need to be heard and examined more closely. Strategies need to be devised to provide more help for those who are homeless, disadvantaged and addicted. After all, we’re talking about a group of people that number more than 2 million nationwide. The impact could be staggering.

I’m interested in hearing what you think about voting rights for the homeless and poor. Send me your comments.

We All Count

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

October
6

“Every Person Counts.” That statement is so very true. Especially when we think about the tens of thousands of homeless people living in the Detroit area. They count too. In fact, “Every Person Counts” is the name of a citywide campaign to literally count the homeless. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), Homeless Action Network of Detroit, University of Detroit Mercy’s Leadership Development Institute, and several other groups are involved in the initiative. The count helps determine government funding for homeless services.

While the required count will take place in January, there was a preliminary count taken this summer. Teams of people fanned out around the Detroit area, locating and counting the homeless. From grassy fields to abandoned buildings to cardboard houses beneath freeway bridges, team members went in search of the homeless to ask them basic and detailed questions about their background, health and family status. The counters passed out bottled water, personal hygiene kits and gave the homeless phone numbers to shelters and other service providers.

Counting the homeless is important in planning services that meet their needs. Counting the homeless also raises public awareness about this population’s plight. Although DRMM services nearly 1,300 people each day, there are still thousands of disadvantaged and addicted people who call the streets home. Some choose to remain there; others may not know where to get help. Some are visible to the eye; others remain out of sight. DRMM tries to reach out to all of them, because we believe that every person counts.