Today’s post is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. Each day of April (except Sunday,) we write a post corresponding with that day’s letter of the alphabet. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

My theme for this years’ A-Z Challenge is An Intimate Look at the Homeless and Mental Health Epidemic in America which just happens to be the subtitle of my next book, The Stranger in My Recliner. The book is the true story of Sophie.  She was the eighty-year-old homeless woman that my husband brought home one night. She lived with us for nearly three –years. The book will be out this fall.

Organizations that refer to other organizations

When my husband brought Sophie home I was sure the following day I would be able to find an organization that provided homes for homeless people. It seemed like someone was always collecting money and food for the homeless so I thought it would be a snap.

The first place I called was the Assistance Office. It took three-days to actually speak with a human being. The human being told me because we took Sophie into our home she was no longer considered homeless. Three weeks later he offered fifteen-dollars a month in food stamps and in order to receive those I would be required to sign ‘landlord’ paperwork.

I was so upset I decided to call our congressman’s office. From them I got an e-mail with a list of resources for the homeless. One was the assistance office then the social security office, county organization on aging and a list of shelters.

City Team- For adult men. You need photo ID to stay there. After five-nights they charge five-dollars a night.

Life Center of Eastern Delaware County:  The evening meal program is open to the public and anyone who is hungry can come here to eat.  Thanks to over 40 churches, synagogues, and temples, over 200 meals are served every evening, from 7-8 p.m.  A community shower program is also available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.  Shelter residents receive multiple services, including:

Aids Coalition: testing and counseling every first and third Mondays from 6 – 8 pm

A.A Meetings:  Thursdays 4-6 pm & Saturdays 12 – 1:30 pm

N.A. Meetings:  Sundays 10:30 to 12:30 pm

Life Skills classes on Tuesdays from 2-3:30 each week.

The Life Center also hosts two health clinics, one in the spring and one in the fall, that are open to the public. Nurses from the University of Penn conduct the clinics.

Wesley House Emergency Shelter: Wesley House is located at 701 Madison Street in Chester and contains 17 rooms for families or single women.  It is typically at full capacity of 70 people on any given day and serves an average of 240 individuals (75 households) per year.  Wesley House has a state-of-the-art computer training room for clients to improve their computer skills, search for employment, and secure permanent housing. Financial literacy (Money Smarts) classes are offered here as well as the Catholic Social Services’ Out of Poverty Program, enrichment classes, nutrition classes, medical assessments through Horizon House, respite care for needy children, toys during the holiday season, and Planned Parenthood classes.

COUPLES: SHELTER POLICIES

Shelter programs have varying policies regarding placement accommodations for “couples”. Most

programs require that “couples” work together on a Family Service Plan. Below is a brief description

of the policies at each shelter.

Warming Center – Couples are accepted, but must sleep separately.

Connect-by-Night – Couples are accepted, but must sleep separately.

Life Center – Couples are accepted, but must sleep separately.

Wesley House and Family Mgmt. Center – These two shelters have the appropriate

accommodations to allow couples to reside in the same unit if they present as a couple and agree to a joint service plan.

And the list went on. The problem with the shelters was every one of them was in a bad area, they did not open until 7:45 at night and most of them required you to leave by 8:00am.

I tried a few other politicians’ offices and received the same list.

If you are an 80-year-old homeless woman with no car and no cell phone how do you call all of these places? How do you get there? It was so frustrating.

I didn’t really want Sophie living with us but I was not going to leave her at any of those dangerous places, no way!

I came across this agency in Arkansas. This is another organization that ‘gets it.’ Homeless people need homes.

Ending Homelessness…One Life at a Time

Rock of Hope is a faith based charity that is working to eliminate homelessness in Central Arkansas by creating a network of love and support for our homeless friends. We are pioneering a new approach to help participants achieve a sustainable exit from homelessness.

Our unique approach helps our homeless friends by matching each one with a personal “champion” who becomes involved in their lives and guides them through each step of the journey toward independent living. This personal approach, along with other services such as short term transitional housing and transportation services, is creating a lasting impact and reducing the homeless population of Central Arkansas one life at a time.

For more information or to donate to this charity: http://therockofhope.org

Thank you for reading.

Doreen

I’m one of Lisa’s Live Wires! Lisa is a challenge co-host Lisa Buie-Collard

My fellow live wires:

Rhonda Albom –   Bob R. Milne –   Tamera Narayan –  Stephanie Faris –   Heather McCubbin –   Randi Lee