Helping the homeless

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Dec 30, 2020
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#1
Is anybody doing anything to feed the poor and help the homeless?

When Jesus began His ministry, he announced that He came to call sinners to repentance. When I think about the parable of the seeds falling on different types of ground, what better soil than homeless people.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#2
In our town we have a local ministerial organization to which every church contributes. If people need help our church often directs them to the organization.

This reduces the incidence of people going from church to church and sponging off each in turn. Without freeloaders draining a lot of small systems, this ensures the true needy people will be taken care of by the bigger system.
 
Dec 30, 2020
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#3
In our town we have a local ministerial organization to which every church contributes. If people need help our church often directs them to the organization.

This reduces the incidence of people going from church to church and sponging off each in turn. Without freeloaders draining a lot of small systems, this ensures the true needy people will be taken care of by the bigger system.
I'm just curious, what does this organization provide homeless people with?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#4
Usually vouchers to present at a local motel. And vouchers to present at a local fast food eatery.

I work at a McDonald's and I see people cashing those in occasionally.
 
May 25, 2015
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#5
Is anybody doing anything to feed the poor and help the homeless?

When Jesus began His ministry, he announced that He came to call sinners to repentance. When I think about the parable of the seeds falling on different types of ground, what better soil than homeless people.
I did urban ministry back in 2012 in New York City. There was a lot of homeless there and we were told "do not give money to them." So, instead, I approached them, asked them if they wanted food, and took them out to any restaurant they wanted to.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#6
Exactly! (y) A voucher gets the ostensible requested assistance without any risk that the money will be spent on vodka.
 
Dec 30, 2020
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#7
One of the basic needs for all people is to be able to wash their bodies. City and state governments need to step up and provide locations for the homeless to shower for free. Everyone needs to step up and message their government officials to provide free public showers for the homeless. Churches can provide free lunch or diner if they sit and listen to one hour of preaching each time. You never know how many hearts the Father will touch even though they might be there for the food. Just an idea.
 

Mission21

Pathfinder
Mar 12, 2019
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#8
I was involved in 'homeless ministry'...years ago.
- Helping..food & motel ( vouchers, pantry..)
They ( homeless) had to go through the 'interview & paperwork' process.
---
Many of them came from 'affluent' area.
I asked..
- Why do you come here?
- Do you not get help from there? ( affluent area)..from local government, etc..
They told me, "they do not get much help from there."
* We had limited resources.
---
Later on, I found out that they were telling the fact/truth.
- It was an interesting/learning experience..
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#9
community meals at church
free lunches at school
pyjama drives for children
free fridge libraries
not owning more than one house or property, or if one does charging reasonable rent.
praying
donating warm clothes to op shops and distribution centres

I think churches could. do more especially those with baptism pools. Maybe free laundry? foot washing? stuff like that.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#10
A lot of motels have become temporary homes for the homeless. Holiday parks too.
The owners do what they can to provide accomodation.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#11
In London they give homeless people a magazine to sell called the Big Issue, so they can at least have some income without having to beg.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#12
Habitat for Humanity is one well known christian organisation dedicated to the homeless and works on getting decent housing for people.

I would get behind any op shops or charities that support these people. You can volunteer at op shops, food banks, soup kitchens. You can also donate goods.

Any one of us could find ourselves homeless at any stage of our lives. Jesus was also homeless.
 
Dec 30, 2020
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#14
elevatedetroit.com
Wow! THey are awesome. THey need to travel the country helping cities set up the same system. At the same time the homeless can experience the love of God in their lives and be more open to hearing the Gospel.
 
S

SigP226

Guest
#16
Wow! THey are awesome. THey need to travel the country helping cities set up the same system. At the same time the homeless can experience the love of God in their lives and be more open to hearing the Gospel.
A very close friend of mine runs it, I've been involved off and on for awhile. It's a fantastic organization.
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
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#17
That is really nice to know that there are people like you and the rest who are thinking of the homeless people's welfare 🤗

I know someone who gives food boxes to homeless people twice a year during her birthday and during Christmas or whenever she gets the opportunity to help and give something to people without homes. Her only source is her salary and she's doing it alone...coz she left her church long time ago and she is not a member of any organization...Please I ask for your prayers too for her health and for her work. Thank you 🙏🏼 😇
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
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#18
I was watching a program here in the UK about the "homeless" situation in the US, and it stated that some 45,000 people were homeless in Los Angeles, more than all the other major cities put together, it was really quite revealing that the richest nation on earth has such a large problem...

A few years ago, I spent a few days in London and was astonished at the increase in the homeless there from a few years before that I'd been there.

I would take them into a cafe/eatery and buy them food/beverages...
 

France56

New member
Feb 13, 2021
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#19
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Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#20
one book I read by Danielle Steel was inspiring. its called 'the gift of hope, helping the homeless' she no longer does it now but what she did was get a team of people together in a van and they would go out on the streets of san francisco after dark in the cold and wet and give homeless people warm clothes, food, and sleeping bags.

she financed everything herself (she writes bestselling novels, so I imagine she must have millions of dollars!) and wanted to do something after she lost her own son. She did this for about ten years.

I dont know what the situation is like now in SF but its often the richest cities that have the most homeless. I think the warmer areas also would have more.

I know in London, homeless people would just ride the circle line on the tube all day to keep warm.
Public Libraries are also a place where homeless gather. when i was working in them we never kicked anyone out that wanted to come in though we closed for the night they could actually spend the whole day in there.