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"๐พ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐, ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ช." ๐๐๐
"๐จ๐น๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐ก๐ผ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ โ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ.โโ ๐ ๐๐
โThe time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.โ MLK
In all the rhetoric about Christianity and politics we rarely (if ever) hear anything about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is broken down to it's least complicated definition as being saved by grace through faith.
At it's most honest, the Gospel is available to all, whether immigrant, black, poor, prostitute, addict, alcoholic, muslim, gay, unhoused, women, men, white, latino, asian and on and on.
At its foundation, the Gospel is undergirded by compassion and made alive by slivers of hope. It does not yell obscenities or seek to subjugate the marginalized.
At its core our work of serving the unhoused is an expression of the gospel, founded on God's universal redemption plan.
We (all Believers) are called to go make disciples of all nations and neighbors. And one thing we know for sure is that we catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
For many of us being a Believer is a heart condition, not a prideful social construct based on country or a blue-eyed Jesus. Some of us are compelled to share the Gospel because of all that God has done for us, not to make ourselves feel better, but to praise and glorify Him.
And finally, even though we push dignity and the comfort of a roof over their heads to those we serve, there are times we temporarily sacrifice our own dignity and comfort for the sake of the gospel. The truth is sacrifice is intrinsic to the gospel and inherent in the work, just ask the Disciples or any of our Biblical heroes.
None of this is to suggest we are special, it just means we are really obedient and very likely saved by grace.
"๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ช ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ. ๐ผ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐๐ค๐๐ช ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ช ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ชโ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ช ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ." ๐น๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐น๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐
What we do is based on connection, hope, dignity, and the application of prayer.
We can't buy homes, cure addiction, or pay the rent for people. We simply can't (nor do we intend) to meet all of the needs of the humans we serve.
There's a tension in the work that can only be alleviated by prayer. There's no such thing as too much prayer, the more the better.
You can be an integral part of our Ministry. DM us your email address and we will send you weekly prayer requests for the humans we serve and praise reports too.
We know you will be blessed by praying for people with us.
The blessings go both ways. There is great power in saying names and needs out loud.
And of course there are other ways to support our work, with food and financial resources...
We know not everyone with a heart for the unhoused can join us for outreach. We also know that all of us go to the store and many of us are really good bargain shoppers.
It takes a village to do what we do!
Keep us in mind the next time you are out shopping. This is a list of our common needs for our outreach and shower program. And as you know, the doggos are an important part of our ministry.
Cookies
Frozen cookie dough
Candy/chocolates
Peanut butter
Brownies
Snack packs
Beef Jerky
Dog treats & Dog food
If you've spent time with us serving on the American River Parkway, you've met Arthur. He is one of our most beloveds.
Today Arthur took a giant step towards stable housing. I was blessed to serve as emotional support while @communityhealth_works and @hopecooperative.tlcs coordinated a ride and accompanied him to the social security office.
Friends, this was a very big deal for him. He hasn't been further than walking distance from his camp in years. Please be in prayer for him. For continued resolve, courage, patience, safety and that his paperwork would receive favor. Also pray that Arthur would know how much he is loved.
There will be more big deals to come and your prayers will matter.eeerr.
Does your testimony include God pulling you out of the mud? Maybe He saved your entire life? Maybe He saved you in a bad season? Maybe He saved your children, your marriage, your finances, or your heart?
Each of us has been saved at least once or twice; embodiments of His work on earth, and called to serve. and equipped by the power of our testimonies.
No one is exempt from being pulled from the mud. Whether homeless, addicted, starving, mad or depressed.
Maybe the deeper we are buried, the more worthy we are for God's strength?
HOPE is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. Hope is a source of resilience. Hope is not racist, sexist, ageist or homophobic. Hope is a pathway to change.
Having hope can be hard for a lot of people.
There have been a lot of changes on the parkway encampment. "They" moved 40 (or so) people into the same proximity of 40 other people. It's uncomfortably close quarters. People are agitated. It smells. There's no shade. I described it as anti-hope to a friend. I almost took a picture to use for this post, but my gut said, no. It just felt really discouraging and nobody needs that.
Our friends in the encampment are vulnerable. Many are 45 years and older. 90% have PTSD. Some have been homeless for much of their adult lives. And they have a high rate of physical disability, substance abuse disorder and mental illness.
Even though living in the encampment is voluntary. If we are all being honest, voluntary is a pretty subjective concept in the realm of homelessness.
People with PTSD tend to stay in the same place (even if it's bad) for a long time because they know it and can control it. They perceive it to be safer than the unknown. Their security is more important than personal development or moving forward. They are stuck and it's real.
BUT...
With intention we can be hope crusaders...
When we get to know them rather than their circumstances.
When we walk alongside them and encourage them to make tough but good decisions.
When we listen.
When we share food and hygiene.
And perhaps most importantly, we become crusaders when we remind people that their dreams matter and that homelessness doesn't have to mean hopelessness.
Just a friendly reminder that "๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐จ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ!"
This is Rick. I've known him for as long as I've been doing this work. He's one of the humans God highlighted for me. God does that sometimes.
I spoke to Rick prophetically a few times. That happens sometimes.
I just ran into Rick and he is a new man. Like ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ. He and his wife are living inside now! The story of how they got there is completely radical and slightly supernatural.
It just doesn't happen that way...
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐! I said to Rick, only God could do this. He said, "The power of Jesus makes everything else look so weak."ย He also said he had whispered prayers only Jesus knew about that no person ever heard.
I was low key crying on the corner of 25th and J Streets. Encouragers need to be encouraged too. And today this encounter with Rick was an answer to prayers I've whispered that no person has ever heard.
As you know, homeless ministry is challenging on all fronts. It's dark. If you consider what we know about spiritual darkness, you understand that homeless encampments include all of the tools of oppression, including shame, hopelessness. isolation, indignation and fear.
Fortunately though, scripture is clear; it covers, and encourages us. We've had the privilege to walk alongside people as they make positive changes in their lives. We are not social workers but we've helped people get phones, care for their dogs, expunge their criminal records, apply for General Assistance and help their neighbors.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Psalms 107:4-9 Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.ย โLord, help!โ they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, โDo not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.โ
Matthew 25:40 โThe King will reply, โTruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.โ
Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded towards people who are poor and needy in your land.
Psalms 140:12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
๐๐๐๐ ๐ง:๐ค๐ฆ ๐ต๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐พ๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐พ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐ป๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐.
"Justice is fairness in the way that people are treated."
โโ๐ฏ๐ฝ๐พ๐ ๐พ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐น ๐๐ป ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐: ๐ฅ๐๐น๐๐ ๐ป๐ถ๐พ๐๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐ฝ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐พ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐น๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐, ๐ป๐๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐น ๐น๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ธ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฝ ๐๐๐ฝ๐๐.โ ๐ต๐๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐พ๐ถ๐ฝโฌ โญ๐ฉโฌ:โญ๐ซโฌ-โญ๐ฃ๐ขโฌ
We can't separate the reality of homelessness from the truth of marginalization.
40% of the homeless population in California is black.
Formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely to be homeless.
60% of homeless people have diagnosed mental disorders.
38% have alcohol dependency.
25-50% have substance abuse disorder.
63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence.
49% of homeless have a disability.
10,500 homeless individuals are veterans.
It's not so complicated. Go make disciples.
God used "Ruthโ to stir our spirit. The โBlessing ofย Boazโ is so relevant to our work, especially in this season of pioneering and expansion.ย
Boaz was the bomb; generous, strong, encouraging and obedient. #belikeboaz
๐ฅ๐๐๐ต ๐ฎ:๐ญ๐ฎ โ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฒ๐น, ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐ด๐ฒ.โ
Boaz prayed God would bless Ruth, knowing or not knowing, He would become Ruthโs greatest blessing. Sometimes when we pray Godโs blessings for others, He wants us to be the blessing.
As for Ruth, it was her faith in God and her loyalty to Naomi that ignited extraordinary favor over her life. Ruth did not come to play! #belikeruth
Our most immediate needs are (besides the obvious need of financial provision):
200 total lunches on Wednesdays to accommodate our 3 outreach teams.
50 Lunches for our Monday Shower Program.
Ambassadors for outreach the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ๐๐น, ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐?
We don't engage in politics or advocacy. Our mission is to feed people, spread mercy, use our showers for dignity, and share kindness to the unhoused community.
Our bias is that we believe every unhoused person is a human being. We are separated only by circumstances.
We want everyone to have a home, inside. We are not pro-criminal or anti-business (as some suggest). We are pro-positive outcomes.
On neighborhood websites and facebook groups we found language like vagrants, animals, idiots, scum and worthless to describe unhoused humans. It's upsetting and dangerous.
Our hope is for productive discussions and actual solutions for medical care, adequate shelter beds, mental health care, and addiction treatment. Just to name a few things.
In the meantime, we will continue to do the work we are called to do.
ย ย ย ย What scripture says about serving the unhoused...
๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฉต
I ask my friends about their self-care all the time; especially my friends who are doing the trauma work, healing, enforcing boundaries and being aware of their triggers.
Self-care doesn't have to be fancy, it's the simple things that actually matter.
Childhood trauma and PTSD are root causes of homelessness, as are domestic violence and substance abuse disorder.
Trauma is a cause and effect of homelessness. In fact, homelessness is a trauma in and of itself.
Imagine not having access to the simple things or sitting in your despair day after day. It becomes a rock of hopelessness so deep and heavy, you won't be able to go anywhere.
We spent a blessed morning serving the unhoused in Del Paso Heights. It was significant to us because expansion of showers and outreach into Del Paso Heights is our primary (strategic) initiative for 2024.ย
Strategicโโrelating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.โ
8 months ago, God put Del Paso Heights on our hearts, we prayed about it, God confirmed it, and our Board approved it.ย
Thanks to God, He connected us to the right people and doors started to open.
These images are not intended to diminish hardships, glamorize our work, or demonize the unhoused humans who are living along a 2 mile span of largely public land. They should inspire compassion and highlight that these living conditions exist in our City. Itโs everyoneโs backyard, not just the residents of Del Paso Heights.
Our partner in this project is โNeighborhoodย Wellnessโ. They want the land for parks, bike riding, and a safe place for kids. But they donโt not want to at the expense of dehumanizing the unhoused.
We too want people to live inside! However, hopelessness is not a solution.ย ย
Our work is to cultivate hope in despair through connection, kindness, food, hygiene and hot coffee.ย
We would love your help.ย
Check out these testimonials from Midtown Church Members:
"I am still trying to figure out the right adjective to describe how I've been feeling about Saturday. Humbled of course but it's so much more than that. Blessed to have been a small part and honored to know women and men who lead their lives with the heart of Jesus. I will return." ย Elaine (Saturday showers)
"It was truly a pleasure to participate in this loving and thoughtful community ministry. I have only visited Midtown 3 times and am loving it so far! Tuesdayโs opportunity to serve was an extension of what I have been doing as a solo effort for months. Such welcoming people- Lovely!" Camille (Tuesday packing party)
Our partnership with Midtown Church has been very fruitful, and a lot of fun. We are growing! We have grown in the number of volunteers. We are expanding our territory. We are launching a weekly shower program. And we are able to provide jobs for people in need of employment opportunities.
With this amazing growth, our practical needs have increased. The support of our community will be essential for this season and also for the sustainability of the ministry.
This month we are suggesting 2 additional ways for you to support the ministry:
Imago Dei: โSo God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.โ Genesisโฌ โญ1โฌ:โญ27โฌ
We are sharing images of our friends for Valentineโs Day. The thread woven through each is love.
โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐: In common terms, radical love is unconditional love. Itโs given freely without having to be earned and regardless of whatโs received in return. This type of love is unmotivated by the possibility of reciprocation or reward. Its ultimate purpose is selflessness, compassion, understanding, and gratitude.
If itโs not radical love we donโt want it.โฅ๏ธ
ย January 15, 2024
๐๐ธ ๐๐พ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ฎ, ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ญ๐ท๐ฎ๐ผ๐ผ, ๐ฆ๐ช๐ต๐ด ๐๐พ๐ถ๐ซ๐ต๐โฆ
The life of Dr Martin Luther King and his legacy of fighting for JUSTICE inspires our work of serving the most marginalized and vulnerable humans in our community.ย
- Micah 6:8 says, โThis is what is required of us, to Do Justice, Love Kindness and Walk Humbly.โย
- Personally, I am the product of kindness from someone who saw past my mess and loved me anyway. Her kindness was the spark that ignited hope in me and itโs what drives me to be a spark in dark and messy places.ย
- We created Reality Tours to guide people through unhoused encampments in a safe and respectful way. Our goal is to change hearts by providing a firsthand witness to the injustice in our communityโbefore judging it or avoiding it.ย
- The Tours have changed hearts and activated people to serve.ย
- To learn more about our Reality Tours email taralouise@beencouragedinc.com or call/text 916 956-4974.
Food is the foundation of our outreach program.ย
There would be no outreach without the brown bag lunches lovingly made by our volunteers.ย
We estimate that 75% of the people we serve are hungry when we arrive.ย Some very hungry.
Click on the image above to sign-upย to make brown bag lunches to ensure that we always have plenty.
The more food we receive the more people we can feed.
WE all have a story. Our stories humanize us, and by us, I mean ALL of us. Itโs safe to assume that houseless people have complicated storiesโusually with more trials than triumphs.
We donโt ask people their stories before we know them. It happens organically through connection and trust. We donโt judge or criticize. We help in the ways we can and we hold their pain and stories in our hearts.
These are a few of our friends:
1. โCheeseburgerโ we got to know him over the course of a year. He always welcomed us with a big and smile and booming voice. 8 weeks ago he showed up at Church and instantly connected with our volunteers. Since then he has shared his story with us. He took many wrong turns in life, including gang affiliation and prison, Eventually it became impossible for him to get back on track. He continues to come to church and he volunteers with us every Wednesday.
2. Leoraโs whole face lit up when we put this jacket on her. She loved the attention from us and even bragged to her camp mates that we took her picture. I would describe her as quiet with an overwhelming spirit of sadness around her, you can feel it. Leoraโs 52 year old son stays with her in the camp. She told us once itโs not safe for him to be on his own. He recently went missing. She was distraught. Thankfully she asked us for prayer, which is not very common. The good news is he came home 2 weeks later.
3. The last pic is Lala and her father. Weโve known Lala for a long time. She is literally the best dog. We have gotten to know her dad a little bit, not much though. This week he told us how grateful the encampment is for us. He also said we are the most protected people on the river.
"For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
Be Encouraged Inc is a small organization with a heart to do big things.
The situation for houseless people in Sacramento is dire. During outreach we have come across circumstances you would never expect to see in our city. Besides shocking us and breaking our hearts, we were reminded that what is happening on our streets is more than just an inconvenience.
Serving in the capacity we are called to is not sustainable without consistent help and encouragement. We strive for organizational health and integrity in the services we provide. We have been blessed by our outreach team, and are confident it will continue to grow.ย
ย
Our ask is that you pray about how God would use you in our ministry. Please email us at either Dawn@beencouragedinc.com OR taralouise@beencouragedinc.com withe any questions you have.
There has been a lot of turmoil on the streets. Nobody is happy.ย
Our mission is mercy, dignity and hope. Lately we have been praying for miracles too. The Love bags we delivered today provided a little levity and a lot of smiles. Kindness can spark hope.
Regardless of the judgement so easily levied against the houseless, it is not easy or fun or healthy. In fact, suffering is the norm, and as the houseless population grows, it gets worse.
Iโve never met anyone who said, "I hope to be houseless one dayโ or, โMy dream is to be addicted to opiates, alcohol, or methโ or โIย love that everyone hates me.โ
There are very few shelter beds, not enough housing options, few rehabs, andย limited mental health care.
We empathize with merchants and property owners. We are not pro-crime. It is truly a mess out there.
We hate the situation, but have empathy for the people.
"Going out to people instead of them having to go somewhere and wait in a long line give them more dignity and respect. It also shows that we see them and we care. I have been very blessed already by serving. I feel connected to others and to God when we serve. I have more gratitude for everything I have and I also am able to see how easy my life is. When it rained overnight recently it hit me that it didn't really affect me at all but it would be another difficulty for someone that is unhoused." Leah
"Be Encouraged has done well in showing meย that we are all made in the image of God and deserving of goodness and kindness from one another. My favorite part of serving isย experiencing the gratitude from the people we serve as we pray for their needs...I am moved by their appreciation!" Charleen
For our laundry program, we choose 5 people and gather a load of laundry from each person. We gather, wash, fold, and return the clothes the same day. No strings attached.ย
We know we are barely making a dent in needs of the houseless community. But we remain obedient to the call and to what we CAN do for the people in front of us.ย
Thereโs no dignity without clean clothes or basic hygiene.ย And thereโs no hope without dignity.ย The laundry was done with donated quarters and donated laundry supplies.ย
We are also using the program to move houseless individuals into employment.ย ย
November 3, 2023
We received an amazing holiday gift bag haul from the Bayside Women's Bible Study Group.ย We were blown away by thir generosity and are soย excited to sort and deliver!
