Homeless providers divided, not united

Here is my latest article about how we are all tackling the homeless crisis:
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-charlotte/homeless-providers-divided-not-united

It's been a while...

I haven't blogged in a while. I've been out in the homeless community a lot lately, and undoubtedly, some of their pain weighs me down at times. In spite of this, I still subject myself to feeling their pain on a weekly basis. After all, if they are forced to experience that pain, then I will continue to witness their hardships and feel their heartaches.

Three years ago, I was slightly ignorant about the issue of homelessness, but since then I have gained an incredible amount of insight into the paths that have led them towards becoming homeless, in addition to almost everything in-between. My research and experience point towards one conclusion; homelessness is an extremely complex issue. It cannot be solved by devising one simple solution. Furthermore, we cannot take these individuals off of the street and expect that they can conform to society on their own. In truth they need supportive services long after they are housed.

And as I have mentioned before in a previous article in the Charlotte Viewpoint, housing the homeless is not only a must, but it is far cheaper in the long run. Sometimes, my observations lead me to believe that some of our city leaders don't want to rectify the homeless crisis. In truth, CLT receives a fair amount of federal funding in regards to the homeless population. And, if we actually allocated that money properly, I wholeheartedly believe that we could end homelessness. But instead, the federal money that is allocated towards homelessness only keeps my homeless clients displaced. In essence, we are paying for a form of living which is largely substandard.

Raw and Real
Out on North Tryon, the clan and I came across a new homeless client named James. James was particularly down on his luck during our interaction. Immediately, I felt all of this pain. He explained it by saying that he gets up and then he gets pushed back down. Basically he is describing how even though he is trying his best, society views him as a worthless homeless individual, and therefore, he does not feel like a contributing part of society. It was a tear-filled interaction all around; my volunteers were crying, James was crying, but I wasn't.

While I am not overly emotional to begin with, this interaction should have affected me more than it did. I worry often that I am becoming desensitized out there. Still, I'd like to think that besides the vital supplies we aided him with, we also provided him with a good dose of hope. Before we left him, I gave him a hug and tried desperately to transfer all of my positive energy over to him. I'd like to think that it had a positive effect on him; I honestly drove home feeling horrible. Undoubtedly, I was carrying his pain around.

This past Sunday we had an interaction with a homeless woman that had been out on the street since Friday. One of my volunteers literally gave the homeless woman the jacket off of her own back. That was truly amazing to witness and be a part of. And while Charlotte Center City Partners would like for us to believe that "On the street, real change doesn't come from your pocket," my argument is that it simply isn't that cut and dry. Yes, panhandling is an issue that has to be rectified, but sometimes people need help and cannot wait for an agency to assist them. Our interaction with this particular homeless individual is a perfect example of how the CCCP's theory is flawed.

This homeless individual needed ten dollars to replace her Driver’s License. Without the license, she was not able to check into any of the local shelters. Over the course of the three days she had been out on the street, she visited 38 different churches. None of which would give her ten dollars, they would only pray for her. Forgive me Jesus for what I am about to say...but I do not believe that Jesus alone, will save my homeless clients. Jesus works through people, and if we are discouraged from handing out money when some of them desperately need these funds, then we have failed them completely.

For the record, I rarely give out money on the street. However, I had twenty dollars in my pocket during our interaction with this homeless individual, and it wasn't an option for me to not hand over the cash. I almost never carry cash, and therefore, I knew that there was a reason why I had cash on me on Sunday. The cash was meant for her all along. So thank you Jesus for continuing to work through me. That remains the only way that we will effectively get these homeless individuals off of the street...through Jesus, through you, and through me.

We are blessed...

Here are a couple of pictures from a food and clothing drive that the New Charlotte Church is organizing. As you can see, we are going to have plenty of supplies for our homeless friends.

Obstacles

It isn't exactly effortless to successfully provide food and supplies for 80 homeless individuals every week. In truth, that aspect of our nonprofit takes a great deal of energy to organize. Nonetheless, my volunteers and I happily spend countless hours assisting our homeless community because they are worth it.

And while they are worth helping, recently it appears as though certain measures are being taken to discourage people from helping them. For example, there is a proposed ordinance that City Council will vote on in January, that if passed, will prohibit a homeless individual from being able to sit on a sidewalk or bench, or to sleep in a tent or under an overpass.

In addition, Charlotte Center City Partners had a meeting earlier this week about passing a law that would prohibit the homeless from panhandling in Charlotte. Interestingly enough, there is already an ordinance in place that prevents the homeless from panhandling near businesses and ATM's. Quite frankly, I'm not as overly concerned about this proposal as I am about the camping ordinance; however, based on the Press Release, I have a feeling that CCCPs may also try to prohibit the feeding of homeless individuals.

The Charlotte Center City Partners website states that they facilitate and promote the economic, cultural and residential development of the urban core for a viable, livable and memorable Center City. According to CCCPs, homeless individuals don't belong in the Charlotte landscape. That mentality is another example of intellectual arrogance at its finest. Simply stating that they "don't belong here" isn't going to rectify the situation.

Undoubtedly, the camping ordinance and the anti-panhandling law are both stop-gap measures to remove the homeless from the streets. Both proposals are instances where our city continues to ignore the underlying and debilitating problems of the homeless population. It is completely asinine to propose ordinances and laws that don't offer solutions to ending homelessness.

Furthermore, these proposals are just obstacles that nonprofits like ours have to continue to battle. All in order to simply help a fellow human being...

Warmth...

Warmth: The quality, state, or sensation of being warm; moderate and comfortable heat.

It was cold and rainy yesterday, and my homeless clients were anything but warm. More than likely, they were shivering and suffering. It physically pains me to be sitting in a warm structure...incapable of doing anything about their current discomfort. I feel terribly guilty. Undoubtedly, I feel as though I should be doing more for them...again.

While we have succeeded in warming their hearts and touching their lives, nonprofits and ministries can only do so much when these individuals lack shelter. In truth, with so many in need, there's simply not enough room at area shelters to accommodate these individuals. They literally have no where to go. Can you even fathom not having a warm place to call home?

Society seems to be perplexed as to why a moderate amount of homeless individuals seem mentally unstable...is it really any wonder? Housing fulfills psychological needs, and ultimately, a lack of shelter exacerbates psychological issues. Plain and simple. I for one, would be quite interested in seeing how a wealthy individual would handle being in a similar predicament. My guess is that they would not be able to handle the stress of said situation, and would more than likely have a nervous breakdown. Think about it...

Back to Normal?

____________________________________________________________________


I cannot say with absolute certainty, but it appears as though tensions within the homeless community have dissipated, at least from my perspective it has.

Last Thursday, during Operation Save (Charlotte's Homeless,) our homeless clients were back to occupying both sides of the street on North Tryon. The weather was fairly warm, and therefore, we found and provided food and supplies for at least fifty unsheltered individuals.

It was comforting to see that they were walking around, freely...without being regulated. Still, I wonder if this is just a temporary lapse in supervision. When we walk the streets of uptown and assist them, I look at their faces and I realize that we've gained a lot of ground within their community. They've come to depend on us, but undoubtedly, with all that we've accomplished -- the proposed camping ordinance threatens to wash it all away.

A few months ago, I wrote an article for the Viewpoint about the DNC coming to town and the possible fate of the unsheltered during the event. Undoubtedly, the homeless are politically powerless, and any movement comprised of solely homeless individuals lacks political durability. The article hasn't made it through the printing cycle yet, but I have been eerily surprised at how, even this far out from the DNC -- my predictions have already started becoming a reality.

So back to the proposed camping ordinance; the Charlotte Observer recently wrote an article about what the ordinance entails. I spent countless hours analyzing every aspect of said camping ordinance, and I found a rather disheartening part. Now, for the record, The Observer didn't explicitly state that the ordinance would affect the homeless, but they implied it in this statement: "In terms of camping, the ordinance attempts to close a small loophole. No one can sleep in city or county parks nor can anyone occupy a city sidewalk or street." Also they did touch on individuals who could be arrested for offensive odors, such as urine or alcohol. Both commonly present in the homeless population. Of course, they can't actually make homelessness illegal, just their way of life illegal.

What does this mean for the unsheltered homeless population? It means that, in addition to having no where to go, they now have no where to stop and sit or rest. If they stop and sit on a sidewalk, city bench, etc., then they can be arrested and fined five hundred dollars. Five hundred dollars, none of which they can afford to pay. This means that when they fail to pay the fine, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. And once they are arrested, who pays for that five hundred dollar fine? We do, our tax dollars will pay for this fine, in addition to jailing said homeless individual. It's a vicious cycle that they WILL NOT be able to escape from.

So there it is...I look at how we've been able to assist them, and I understand that it is all in severe danger of being taken away. In truth, the ordinance is now just another obstacle, another instance of where we have to fight for what is right. But, they are worth fighting for, and I plan to devise some sort of strategy that will tackle this ordinance. Sure, I could just stick with feeding the homeless, but as I have said before -- I'm not a play it safe kind of gal. Besides, I'm fortunate to be surrounded by an awesome group of compassionate volunteers who understand that we have to stand up for them. Not standing up for them simply isn't an option.

So today, I ask you all to be thankful for what you have. To appreciate your family and friends, and maybe, just maybe for a few minutes...stop and think about someone who is lacking those things. Someone who has no where to go today, and is alone, hungry, and cold. If you can sympathize with this depiction, then you agree that they are worth fighting for. And, you can help...more details to come. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In the 20's

Last week, the temperature dropped unexpectedly into the 20's. I don't know why it was so unexpected on my part, since it is November. Nonetheless, our homeless clients were not prepared to sleep outside in such frigid temperatures. We were hopelessly short on volunteers on Thursday evening, and therefore, we didn't pass out food and blankets after our meal service. I deeply regret not doing so, and as a result, I couldn't sleep Thursday evening. The realization that our homeless clients were freezing ate away at me all night, and when Friday morning came around -- I knew I had to get blankets over to them.

We went out Friday evening and headed out to their territory. It was slightly intimidating only because we had never approached them under the overpass before. Undoubtedly, once they realized that we were there to help and not harm them, they were receptive to our visit.

It was truly awesome to look past the chasms on both sides, and just interact with them, human to human. We are headed back uptown on 11/22 @630pm. Come on out and join us.

Where to go from here?

Really an off day for me, followed by not one of the best meal services. At week 29, we should be moving forward, but over the last few weeks I feel like we have moved ten steps back. Undoubtedly, I have not mastered balancing everything well, and all too often, my writing career impinges on the nonprofit. Sometimes, I feel like the more that I write about the homeless's hardships and obstacles, the more involved I become in recognizing and feeling their pain. It has become a personal mission of mine to draw awareness to the obstacles that surround them, and I can't break free from it. I also feel as though I an incapable of writing about anything else. Problem is, no one wants to pay me a living wage to write about the homeless population.

In society, the predominant tendency has been to ignore the homeless, to blame them for their problems. After all, blaming them means that society doesn't have to empathize with their situation. Something is seriously wrong with this viewpoint. It is a deleterious approach that affects every aspect of their life. They have trouble getting a job, finding adequate shelter, getting someone to acknowledge them -- gosh, it's nothing short of heartbreaking. Why? Why does society block out or push aside anything that they label as "too painful to feel?"

Sometimes I wonder, are we being affective in their population? Can they rely on us to always be there for them? And then I remember, that I need them more then they need me...I can't imagine my world without them. They have given me strength, probably more than any of them will every know. So when I push through the criticism, I remind myself that fighting for what is right isn't about me...it's about them and I have to continue to do what is right. After all, people will always attack what they don't understand. And that's okay. I forgive them, but I don't accept their criticism. It's theirs to carry around. If I let them affect my decisions, then it hurts the homeless. It's all or nothing for me.

I'm okay with people who don't understand why I have to do this and think that I am crazy, or that "there must be something wrong in my life that I need to fix their lives." All I can say is that I didn't ask to do this. It wasn't one of the top five career choices for me. It just happened, and while I may have witnessed a lot of people come and go in my life b/c of the time spent on the nonprofit -- I don't regret any of it. And, if I had to do it all over again, I would...without questioning it. In the end, I didn't choose to do this, it chose me...and so I don't have a choice, I have to push through.

Tonight, we learned that one of our homeless clients was murdered last night. Because we have hundreds of clients, I can't specifically recall by her name alone, which homeless individual she was. I just have a terrible feeling that it was the one we have been working with on the street. She had been really hard to help, and looking back now, I don't think I did enough for her.

We skipped passing out supplies on N Tryon tonight, and I deeply regret this now...I really should have gone. It literally breaks my heart to think that they are probably freezing on the streets tonight. I am forever grateful that the New Charlotte Church is supplying us with hundreds of blankets, it was just the blessing that we needed this winter.

On my way home tonight, there were countless homeless individuals wrapped in tarps and blankets under the overpass. I almost felt overwhelmed, not in the full sense of the word, but just in combination with the week and meal service...I just realized that I have to do more. I also have to remind myself that my volunteers are truly amazing individuals and that I am blessed that they have a desire to serve -- but I know that the time that they serve is generally a fleeting moment, and I can't always be so dependent on them. It just means that I have to dig a little deeper and realign myself with the quote that started it all..."Be the change you wish to see in the world."

"Always do good to others. Be selfless. Mentally remove everything and be free. This is divine life."

For the record...

I'm not sure if I have ever previously published an article that evoked as much controversy as my Occupy CLT piece has. Wow. Here is something that may be lost in the criticism. I don't necessarily disagree with everything that their movement stands for. I actually wholeheartedly admire their perseverance and their desire to bring about change. In addition, I think that most everyone in our country will agree that it is the best of times for big corporations, and the worst of times for Americans.

My issue lies more in the way that the group is structured, along with their lack of presenting a solution to the things that they oppose. In the end, vigor is useless in the absence of a viable solution.

Originally, when I saw my homeless friends being hounded last week, I too assumed that the crackdown was due to the DNC coming to town. But, then I thought about the current issues, and inevitably, OC came to mind. It became quite evident at that time, that the proposed city ordinance was a direct response to the Occupy Charlotte Movement, not the DNC.

Unfortunately, when people raise awareness about issues, the city has the right to react. This reaction, if passed, will greatly hinder the homeless population's way of life. Under the ordinance, they could be arrested for having an offensive odor, such as urine -- which is a frequent smell among the population. Is it Occupy Charlotte's "fault?" Well, in actuality, they didn't realize that their actions may lead to less freedom for others...but, their actions can be compared to someone driving too fast. Unfortunately, they didn't look or plan far enough ahead, and as a result, their miscalculated actions led to a collision.

In the end, if OC members are forced to leave with less freedom than they originally had, then then they failed at what they initially set out to do.

Week 29

In just a few short days, we will host the 29th week of Operation Serve Charlotte's Homeless. It's a pretty amazing feeling to provide for someone who cannot provide for themselves. In these brief encounters with the homeless, my volunteers and I walk away forever humbled. It's also amazing to have around 60 volunteers on board with this mission. Giving is contagious.

Good things to come...
We have a Christmas Benefits Concert in the works that will also include homeless individuals on the guest list.
We will also take to the streets of North Tryon two additional times in November. Date and time will be emailed to our volunteers.
"You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." John Bunyon

Things are changing...

For starters, we celebrated a homeless clients birthday at our meal service last night. We also had Touch one Productions visit and perform a poetry show. The homeless were really drawn to the performance, as was I and the other volunteers. James, the birthday gentleman, had a smile on his face from ear to ear. It was so awesome to see him light up that way.

And while the lightheartedness of the meal service was uplifting, the rawness of taking to the streets was lurking in the background. As we walked up 9th St towards North Tryon, something seemed off. While it is true that in colder weather the homeless are harder to find, the visual perception was that their presence was nonexistent in the Queen City. However, I am not that easily fooled. I may be naive about a lot of things, but I simply do not believe that any one agency has gone to great lengths to resolve the homeless crisis.

Instead, I fear and know in my heart that great measures are being taken to conceal the homeless population, especially with the DNC right around the corner. And, as we rounded the corner on North Tryon St., we noticed something rather odd -- none of the homeless were present on the left hand side of the street. It was as if they were being "pushed" to the right hand side.

As we reached the First United Methodist Church, one of our regular homeless clients told me that it was the last night they were allowed to bundle up and sleep on the stairs. I instantly became angered. I asked him who said that and he said, "the police." I told him that I would do the best that I could to let them stay there, and the worst part of that encounter was that our homeless client was so submissive. They are used to feeling like they are marginalized from society, and thus, they feel politically powerless to stand up for themselves. They may be politically powerless, but I am not and I know that the tactics used by CMPD are wrong.

Housing, in itself, is a basic human right. Here is an article that I wrote a while back about it: Housing: A Basic Human Right. If anything, they should be harassing lawmakers and our entire justice system, not vice versa. I will get to the bottom of this, I will. "What's right isn't always popular, and what's popular isn't always right." Albert Einstein

The "new face" of homelessness

I published an article today about the "new face" of Charlotte's Homeless.
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-charlotte/the-new-face-of-charlotte-s-homeless-population

One on one

The nonprofit is currently entering the 27th week of our homeless meal service. At times, I am in awe at how something so simple evolved into something quite amazing.

I used to think that I was alone in this mission...and I guess I had come to terms with that. I realize that a lot of people never fully understood why the homeless have always been so important to me, and in truth...that's okay. It hasn't always been easy and effortless, and quite plausibly I have probably doubted myself more than I believed that I could effectively assist our homeless clients. I continued to push through because I realized that it wasn't about me, it was about them. And in the end, all of the criticism, and unsolicited advice didn't hurt me -- but if I gave up and let it affect our efforts, then our homeless clients would have suffered even more.

Somewhere along the way, other people started to share my desire to not only feed the homeless, but to also reach out to them on the streets of uptown. I'm not entirely sure how this transpired but nonetheless, I am extremely thankful and beyond appreciative for the rare few who have followed my lead. This mission may have started with me, but it now has very little to do with me. So many volunteers have made it a part of them, which is truly amazing. A local Pastor recently described our efforts as "Mercy and Grace...a rare combination." And thus...Operation Save Charlotte's Homeless was born.

I really admire that description of our efforts, and if anything...our street outreach and advocacy group will continue to grow. We are set to take to the streets tomorrow night, and then again on Sunday, November 6th @2pm.

While the meal service provides a chance for the homeless to come into the Government building and obtain a meal and vital supplies, interaction is limited because the whole operation happens rather quickly -- and there are often around 80 individuals in attendance.

But when we take to the streets, it gives us the opportunity to converse with them, and it also helps to restore their dignity. I love these one on one interactions, and although at times seeing them suffer can be unbearable -- since they have to suffer and experience this unfortunate plight, the least we can do is witness it and help them to the best of our abilities.

"You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give." Winston Churchill
Giving of yourself is the ultimate sacrifice, but it is the only way to live a full and humble life.

Uptown 10/27

It was a busy night at our uptown meal service, and afterwards, we passed out water and food on North Tryon. I've never experienced homelessness firsthand, and I don't fully understand their world -- but through glimpses and insight, I've seen enough to know that these individuals are worth helping.

We have a completely different approach then most, and so far, it has had a lasting affect on these individuals. We are slowly gaining their trust, and they have started to depend on what we can provide them with.

Here is a picture from the evening. I love that, even though this homeless individual is in a wheelchair (and suffers from things we cannot fathom,) he still gave us a smile. It's the little things in life that make every interaction, and every experience that much better.

HOPE

"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."

This past Thursday, while at our meal service, we said goodbye to two fairly regular homeless individuals. One is headed for New York, the other for California. For the first time in a long time, there seemed to be a little sparkle of hope in their eyes...they seemed a little less deadened to reality.

In the end, hope isn't the same as knowing that something will turn out well...but it's a chance they have to take. I always get a little sad when our homeless clients move on -- after all, they've become a part of our lives and we genuinely worry about what will happen to them. Personally, seeing them every week reiterates that they are "still okay," or perhaps "still alive, struggling, and surviving," could be a better way to describe it. When they stop surfacing, I worry that something bad has happened...occasionally I have been proven wrong, but more often then not my fears are probably valid.

Here is to wishing our two homeless friends well...I sincerely hope that they find a better life out there, and I hope that they will go on to experience all that this life has to offer them.

Save the date...Operation Save Charlotte's Homeless

Two of our awesome volunteers are currently running cold weather supply drives for our homeless clients. When the drives have concluded, we will take to the streets on November 6th, @ 2pm -- and distribute the supplies to the street homeless. We will do this on a monthly basis, at least throughout the cold months. Want to volunteer for this event? Please contact Nichole: nichole@steelecreekoutreach.org

So, what's in a name?

I just came from that other blog that I maintain, albeit, only once in awhile. While switching over, I realized that this blog is dark and gloomy, with a black background and insight into the dismal realities of far too many...while the SCO blog is full of clouds, blue skies, and goodness.

Gosh, the two blogs are polar opposites. What I am about to divulge may come as a shock to some, but I promise it is all for one common cause...THEM (our homeless friends.) Shout it Charlotte is sticking around, but the SCO blog isn't going to make the cut.

When we first started SCO, we were understandably naive about running a non profit, helping those in need, and figuring out the "charitable world." In truth, it has never been enough for me to just feed the homeless, and how could it be when they need so much more. I guess that is why I needed to blog on Shout it Charlotte. This blog became a safe haven for the things that I witnessed but wasn't "supposed to talk about," especially since my world is filled with upper middle class privileges, while the homeless world is filled with lower class emptiness and despair. It isn't right, not to mention the overall societal response to our homeless friends, and the stereotypes that surround them.

So many individuals have questioned my stance on certain issues over the years, and all I can say is... I am who I am. Love me or hate me, I won't ever apologize for standing up for their rights. They needed a voice, someone willing to step out there and raise awareness about the obstacles that they face, in addition to their separation from society. It's what we all should do, stand up for someone who cannot stand up for themselves.

Although I am not sorry for bringing this into focus, in a way I have realized that I simply cannot be both a provider and an informer, at least not on my own. Over the last month, I have entertained a lot of different ideas, I even very shortsightedly announced that I would "just be a volunteer." But, now I am content to say that SCO is getting a new image, a new mission statement, with a new name to go along with it!!

Operation Serve the Homeless will be unveiled shortly. In the meantime, the meal service will continue. Will I miss SCO? Maybe a little, I mean after all SCO could practically be my last name, not to mention that one of my best friends and I created SCO together. But I am also excited about this new mission as it integrates feeding and assisting the homeless. "There are no endings, only beginnings."

I will be the first to admit, I don't have it all figured out. But, today this wonderful idea was brought to life, and for the first time in a long time I feel really good about this decision :)

Tonight I realized...

That you could possibly spend your whole life waiting and searching for that one big miracle. Or, you can embrace and cherish the small miracles that surround you, each and every day. nkj 9/29/11

It was another great night volunteering with the homeless population. We had a lot of leftovers so we walked one block up the street and passed out the remaining food. It was another truly humbling experience. I don't necessarily know if I can put it into words, but if I had to try I would describe it as real. Real and rewarding. Those homeless individuals were so thankful, they all spoke of God a lot...one even gave me a hug. Real, without space or social awkwardness between us -- just a few wonderful interactions, human to human.

Too often, people get wrapped up in who they are supposed to be that they forget to just be real. Tonight, I am so appreciative to all of our volunteers for keeping it real, and for our homeless friends for being real.

Unfathomable

Earlier today, I passed a homeless individual standing on the side of the road as cars exited the highway. I didn't have anything to give him unfortunately, but I watched, almost frozen in time as car after car drove right by him -- afraid to even look in his direction. Out of all of the cars that passed him during this time, only one stopped to offer aid. And then it hit me...has our society really become as heartless as this situation portrays them to be?

I'm not quite sure if I know the answer, but when did it become acceptable to ignore human suffering? When did it become the norm to push aside another persons pain...because feeling that pain would make you uncomfortable. Why is it that anything that threatens our comfort level we discard as inconceivable?

Imagine what the world is like in the eyes of a homeless individual. Life has to seem somewhat pointless...leading nowhere and offering no clear direction. This particular homeless individual fit the description of a homeless Veteran, and to think -- he was willing to fight for his country, more then likely without ever wavering; and the harsh reality is that his country isn't willing to fight for him or any other homeless Veteran.

This sad reality has really taken on an internal battle within me...for three years I have helped offer aid to the homeless. It was/is rewarding and it has largely served its purpose -- but now part of me wants to fully move in another direction and raise awareness about the obstacles that these homeless individuals face. When you think about it, they are doubly cursed. They are poor and homeless, and both social conditions are heavily frowned upon in society.

If only I could make the leap in either direction, then I would most certainly be able to be more effective in either aiding them with food/material items, or helping them regain their place in mainstream society. If only, that is. Undoubtedly, I will never be able to chose just one -- and so I will have to pick and chose where to stand on issues, and hope for the best possible outcome for my homeless friends.

In the end, we all should care more -- but until that happens, I will continue to stand up for their rights...it's what we all should do. "What's popular isn't always right, and what's right isn't always popular."

When your best efforts are simply not enough, you can either reverse direction, start over, or try harder. nkj

It's time

Love this and love my dear friend, Mary Hayes Ickert for sharing: “Your journey has molded you for the greater good. It was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.”

Week 16, writing, and an interesting request...

SCO
Things are going great up at our weekly homeless meal service, and we are entering our 16th week. One of our awesome SCO Board members put in a request at Dominos for dinner for the homeless, so we shall see what happens there. If that doesn't pan out, we will be serving hotdogs and chicken nuggets. The original co founder of SCO will be joining me, and I am looking forward to showing her what she helped create.

We really have assembled quite an awesome group of regular volunteers. I used to believe that this was an impossible feat. The organization has seen its fair share of volunteers come and go throughout the last two years, but our new volunteers are different. They've grown with the meal service, as have I - so too, have our homeless clients. Everyone there has become an integral part of the process. Quite plausibly, we may have created something that will last!

Branching out
I wrote my first article for the Charlotte Viewpoint, last week. The article is about housing the homeless. It will be published in three to four weeks.

Podcast Interview
I received an interesting request this morning. I wrote an article about the recent ruling of the Health Care Law that Obama is trying to pass. The bill, if passed in the Senate, would require nearly 30 million currently uninsured Americans to purchase health insurance, or face a penalty.

The Interview request is for a political discussion about the issue. If it was about poverty, homelessness, or anything in between, I would jump at the opportunity. In truth, when I applied to write for the Examiner I requested to write about social issues, but unfortunately, I was not hired to write about the issues that matter to me most. Instead, I was assigned to write a Public Policy, which actually terrified me because I felt as though I was largely under qualified.

Nonetheless, it was a challenge and I am glad that I went for it. I now have a better understanding about politics and public policy, and of course, I have found interesting ways to integrate poverty and homelessness into my articles.

I'm debating about whether or not to do the podcast. It is a great opportunity to branch out even further, but I'm a little apprehensive because I definitely lack confidence in conversing about politics.

A radical approach

Time and time again, I've sat down with ten open books, eager to "solve" the poverty/homeless crisis plaguing our city. In truth, I haven't accomplished nearly enough, and I often wonder - how can we effectively provide hope to those who have fallen victim to a life on the street?

Clearly, what we are offering/providing isn't working or there wouldn't be a proliferation of homelessness. So what will work? While I don't have an answer, I can offer a radical approach - how about we ask them:

How would they end homelessness?
How would they treat a homeless person?
Would they curb drug/alcohol use if they had a roof over their head?

I think that the answers to these questions would be quite insightful. And if only they (the homeless) had a voice in society, then perhaps, together we could entertain solutions that could end homelessness. If only...that is.

Additionally (I am going to be very careful how I word this,) I think that it is great that there are church groups out there that assist the homeless. I am not a theologian but I think it is important not to give our homeless clients false hope that "Jesus will lift them out of homelessness." They may eventually be lifted out of homelessness, and quite plausibly Jesus will have a hand in this miracle. But I also believe that Jesus works through people, and I want our homeless clients to seek the help that they rightfully deserve and desperately need.

It appears as though we (society) continue to judge their way of life. We must look past the drugs and alcohol, and the social differences. After all, nothing exacerbates a person's issues faster then the lack of food, money, and shelter.

Just thinking...

I have two articles in the works over at the Examiner, but with unemployment, the economy, the debt crisis, or The Depression of 2011, who knows when I will actually get to write about the social issues plaguing our city.

On the back burner...housing. It is interesting that the right to housing is not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution, but it is implied. However, what exactly should the role of the government be to house individuals? Even with the recent government budget cuts to the poor, the reality is that it would be far cheaper for the government to pay for housing on an individual basis, rather than to continue to fund homeless shelters.

On the other back burner...crime. Crime is a more complex issue, and undoubtedly, it will take me a while to figure out the actual statistics in our city. I came across some very discouraging information about the disparities between income among different races. I am still looking for the best approach with this topic.

On a mission...

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
-- Martin Luther King Jr.

I woke up this morning ready to give my two cents about poverty. I just submitted it to the Charlotte Observer, and we shall see if the article makes it to the paper...

In the meantime, I will divulge the title: The Forgotten War...

Have you ever wondered...

why poverty persists? I wrote an article about this and additionally, I am writing a month long series about poverty, homelessness, and the underclass. You can read the first article here: http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-charlotte/how-society-can-mitigate-poverty

Lake Wylie Pilot Interview:

A special thank you to John Marks for taking the time to write about our new program to assist our uptown homeless population:
http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2011/04/26/1103523/expanding-reach-to-help-homeless.html

and here is an article also from the Lake Wylie Pilot about Operation Mayday: http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2011/04/26/1103520/groups-unite-to-feed-neighbors.html

Let's roll...

Meetings have concluded, planning follows, and the continual search for volunteers will remain. Operation Feed the Homeless is ready to go, let's roll!

I feel relieved, elated, with just a touch of anxiety mixed in. I am excited about this new partnership with the Mecklenburg County Government!! I guess walking into somewhat unfounded territory can be a little intimidating. I have faith that it will all work out exactly how it should. With that being said, I am somewhat ready to put aside this serious version of myself for a while.

After we wrapped up what seemed to be a never-ending series of meetings, I was secretly relieved that I could stop studying. I figured I knew more then enough to get by. And then I found this quote: "You will not rise to the occasion, you will default to the level of your training" (English proverb)

And then it hit me that the moment a person becomes idle, they lose ground. I'm glad that I found this quote, it further strengthens my desire to persevere and continue researching. Through research I came across this quote today:

"Until lately the best thing that I was able to think of in favor of civilization, apart from blind acceptance of the order of the universe, was that it made possible the artist, the poet, the philosopher, and the man of science. But I think that is not the greatest thing. Now I believe that the greatest thing is a matter that comes directly home to us all. When it is said that we are too much occupied with the means of living to live, I answer that the chief worth of civilization is just that it makes the means of living more complex; that it calls for great and combined intellectual efforts, instead of simple uncoordinated ones, in order that the crowd may be fed and clothed and housed and moved from place to place. Because more complex and intense intellectual efforts mean a fuller and richer life. They mean more life. Life is an end in itself, and the only question as to whether it is worth living is whether you have enough of it. We are very near despair. The sheathing that floats us over its waves is compounded of hope, faith, in the unexplainable worth and sure issue of effort, and the deep, sub-conscious content which comes from the exercise of our powers."

Wow, this statement has profound depth, think about it...

Nichole Jaworski

Sometimes you just have to write it out...

It has been an exciting, exhilarating, and exhausting last few weeks. As soon as the Mecklenburg County Government offered Steele Creek Outreach our own night at the Homeless Resource Center, I knew that it was an offer too good not to accept. However, I knew that we could not jump into this precipitously. I found it necessary to calculate every step, until we were ready to officially accept.

The first step in unveiling Operation Feed the Homeless: calling in a few reinforcements to help us get this up and running :) The response from my friends and the general public has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am truly blessed to have such a great support system. I truly do not deserve them!

Over the course of SCO's mission, I personally became increasingly aware of and desired to change the stereotypes surrounding our local homeless population. I visited shelters, performed independent studies, analyzed data - all in an effort to understand the misconceived perceptions that are placed on these individuals. After all of this research, endless reading, and near sleepless nights, etc., my final hypothesis will have to lie in the simplest of all statements...People attack what they do not understand. I wish that I had something brilliant to report, something potentially unfounded or some grand insight to offer, but unfortunately, I don't. The reality is that it's just that simple, society attacks anything in which it fails to understand.


With the mystery solved, I should feel relieved, right? Unfortunately, I just don't. Truthfully, I won't feel relieved until we witness real change, until we change the way these homeless individuals are perceived. I often get asked, "why?" Why have I chosen this cause? Well, because "What's right isn't always popular, and what's popular isn't always right. "

Lucky for us, we have the opportunity to bring about real change. This is the first official announcement that Operation Feed the Homeless has been launched, woo hoo!! In just a few short days, we have enlisted the help of Hands on Charlotte, Rira's Irish Pub, The Lifepointe Church, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances through good ole' facebook networking :) Additionally, we wrapped up an interview with the Lake Wylie Pilot last week, and it should be in next week's paper. I have one LAST (WOO HOO!!) meeting tomorrow at the Government building, and then it will be go time!! Afterwards, I plan to catch up on some much needed sleep, check in on some friends, and finally relax (yeah right, lol) at least for a few hours anyways :) The last few months have been rather chaotic/stressful/restless...but hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right :)

So to recap this long drawn out blog post: Operation Feed the Homeless is official! We will begin feeding and interacting with the homeless Uptown in the Homeless Resource Center, every Thursday evening from 6 to 8pm. Because this is a weekly commitment, there will be a reoccurring need for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please email me @ nichole@steelecreekoutreach.org.

WE DID IT! Nearly two years of hard work has paid off, and I couldn't have done it without all of you :) A special thank you to Christina D. for helping out at Operation Mayday today!!

Uptown Charlotte

I took an awesome team of two photographers and two volunteers Uptown on Sunday morning. The goal was simple: hand out supplies to some of Queen City's neediest individuals. In addition, we began filming our documentary today. We have a tentative release date of August 10th, 2011. When the documentary is released, we hope that it will change some of the misconceived stereotypes surrounding these homeless individuals. And with that, I should divulge that the book deal isn't going to happen. When I set out to write Unsheltered, I had yet to sign on as a writer for the Examiner. Now I have the best of both worlds. I get to write and interact with the homeless, and I don't need a long drawn out book to get my point across.

I am still reflecting about our Uptown trip, and a few things linger in my mind from the experience. For one, mental illness seemed to be more prevalent then it was during our other trips. Additionally, Tasha did not surface today so that was a little disappointing - as I had some new clothing for her. Lastly, the first homeless individual I hand picked to document in our movie, denied being homeless. This is certainly a multifaceted avenue that I have not encountered before. In time, I think that I will be able to go more in depth with this but for now I think I am still slightly numb.

I spoke with one of the social workers as well this morning with The Mecklenburg County Government. They offered us our own evening during the week, a time alloted for Steele Creek Outreach to come in and entertain/feed the homeless in the building. This is an awesome opportunity-but if we are going to peruse it then it will require a lot of networking to ensure we have enough volunteers every week to pull it off. I envision offering first aid once a month (good thing we have a trained nurse in our group,) handing out band aids, in addition to feeding them sandwiches or soup, and giving them bags of food for the road. We could also ask some of the local restaurants if they would donate meals-which would take a lot of pressure off of us :) Another week I picture showing them a movie with popcorn and snacks. The other two weeks could maybe be game/meal nights, and maybe we can find someone to teach them how to properly care for their teeth, and pass out toothbrushes and toothpaste once a month as well.

I realize that I am ten steps ahead of myself right now, but I feel this unexplainable gravitational pull towards this opportunity - in my heart I know this is where we are supposed to be.

Picture taken by Mary Ickert, Lake-side Chatter

This is a picture of a homeless man named Nsayi. He has been out on the streets of Uptown for 2 weeks.

Stereotyping and judgement...

Last night instead of sleeping, my mind reflected on the events of the day. There were a couple of things that stood out as rare glimpses of insight. I received an email from an unknown individual thanking me for writing the Observer article. This was definitely appreciated given the somewhat negative reaction the article received from others. In fact, earlier in the week I was asked to just stick with feeding the homeless because it was "safe." I'm just not a play it safe kind of gal. I am fortunate to have friends in the local media industry who have my back, however, I really don't take the criticism personally. After all, this mission isn't about me-it's about the homeless and it always has been :) Once again though, stereotypes are a factor in this equation...Of course total strangers found it necessary to advise me to take 6 homeless individuals back to my "Myers Park Mcmansion"-as if I am some rich snob preaching without the initiative to follow through. Again, I find these preset stereotypes interesting and if anything, it just strengthens my resolve. People's jaws often drop to the floor when I tell them that I do not generate a salary from Steele Creek Outreach. The reasoning behind this is that I don't need the money-and when you mix money with charity, you get corruption. Make no mistake about it, there are some CEO's becoming very wealthy over other people's misfortune. Additionally, I put my own money into the operation of our non-profit, that way, 100% of our donations go towards buying supplies for people in need. I think that the most important thing in life and in any endeavor is to remain real-without pretense. And since I am being real, I can say that I live in Steele Creek-not Myers Park, lol!

Later on in the afternoon yesterday, I had two different conversations about the perceptions and stereotypes of homelessness. These were actually pretty one sided conversations, mainly because I wasn't the one talking...I was listening to their point of view. Sweet, I didn't even speak my mind about the issue and they already had the same realization I have had for years. It just further solidifies that we can spread awareness and hopefully have an effect on people, one person at a time.

"When you finally begin to feel the pain of the world around you, you're not dying...you're finally starting to live." -Nichole

First article for the Charlotte Examiner:

This will be published with the Examiner next week. Here is a sneak peek:

Stereotypical society oppresses homeless
The reasons for homelessness far exceed just addiction alone. Eviction, job loss, illness, and mental instability are all contributing factors of displacement. Many homeless individuals turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, in an effort to deal with their unfortunate plight. Contrary to popular belief, they do not become homeless because they are addicts-they turn to addiction because they are homeless. Society perceives homeless individuals as worthless and lazy-that they either desire or deserve to be homeless. In addition, society tends to oppress those who do not live by our standards. In essence, we are equally to blame for habitual homelessness. If we are ever to combat homelessness, we must first start at the root and dissolve these misconceived stereotypes.
Nichole Jaworski

Charlotte Observer...

Here is the article that I wrote for the Charlotte Observer this past Monday:

Use the money to help homeless, not count them

The writer is CEO of Steele Creek Outreach.

In the Queen City, close to 7,000 people have been labeled as "homeless." That number is almost certainly inaccurate.

Meticulous statistics are impossible to obtain when tallying the ambiguous hidden, erratic nature of homelessness.

Potentially, in any corner of our city and suburbs, an individual has succumbed to a life on the street.

We're entering a new era - that of the unsuspecting homeless individual, the one who fell victim to this pulverizing economy.

Trying to determine a number is a true waste of time and resources. Instead of spending money on useless government assessments, why not redirect these funds towards programs that assist the homeless, programs that will help these individuals transition back into a contributing part of society?

Nichole Jaworski

What Are The Sociological Effects Of Stereotyping?

Stereotypes are very interesting to me. They are so prevalent because us humans, all have a tendency to categorize others into either being like us or not like us. We also have a subconscious inclination to give preference to those people in the same age bracket, same race, and same gender as ourselves.

Stereotypes about individuals of low socioeconomic status are particularly difficult to overcome. At times, when a person is trying to overcome a certain stereotype placed over them, it actually causes the individual to be very aware of the stereotype-and by attempting to act opposite the stereotype, actually validates the stereotype...

Bandaid

What happens when you rip a bandid off? OUCH! So here is the challenge: How do we affectively combat Charlotte's Economic and Social Issues? The time has come to stop bandaging small boo-boo's, and to instead stitch up the major wounds...