Homelessness…Now An Agenda Item

When I started serving homeless men 14 years ago, their presence in Bellevue, WA (and Seattle) was an annoyance to the community, you know, like a paper cut on the finger.  Now in Puget Sound and Eastside Cities, it is like an ongoing agenda item on city and county council meetings, newspaper columns and on a few dedicated church ministry committees. The problem has become a gaping wound.

Another night with CFH and great food and fellowship

Tomorrow I take a heroin addicted man to detox, then hold a bible study for about 10 guys.  Tomorrow 3 coils I ordered for one of the guys for his motorcycle, will arrive from Ebay, so he can repair his 2 wheel ride and go to his $25 an hour job next week.

Tonight and tomorrow, 80-90 men will be in the winter shelter (120 last week) but state checks come in on the first and many head for parts known and unknown for a week.  35 men will be in the year around shelter fed by volunteers and supervised by Congregations for the Homeless (a positive approach to clearing the agenda).

Tomorrow I would love to see some men and couples step up to mentor these men through their tough times to a changed life. Research proves it is a key catalyst.  I am currently delivering a 6-week budget and career program to 10 men in a wonderful Christian recovery program in Snohomish.  I am privileged to mentor some of these guys…what a joy to see men on the way to productive living.  It will take us all: individuals, government, churches, nonprofit and business to solve the problem……maybe you could mark mentoring as a personal agenda item 🙂