Jeff attends our Urban Engagement Book Club meetings every month. He has for over two years.
Jeff is a homeless guy--better, Jeff was a homeless guy. He is no longer!
"Thanks for the apartment," Jeff said Thursday, as we shook hands and greeted one another.
I didn't realize that he had joined our Destination Home initiative that uses HUD grant funds to place chronically homeless and disabled people into permanent supportive housing. We have funds for 50 units of this housing. So far, we've placed about 20 people, including Jeff.
Jeff is a writer. He's been working on a script for a play since I've known him. It's a production dealing with homelessness. No surprise there. Kind of hard to do much serious writing on the street it would seem to me.
As we celebrated his new home, we talked about finding him a computer so that he could work more efficiently on his play.
The "before" and "after" with Jeff was so striking.
Before, Jeff has always been present, but the dirt, fatigue and harshness of the street encased his body and dulled his soul in ways I know I cannot comprehend. His hair was always dirty and matted. His clothes filthy and a mess.
After finding a home, Jeff's hair was still long and silver, but clean and shiny. His clothes matched his hair! He had a brightness about him I had not seen before. He told me he was sleeping like he hadn't slept in years. Sleep as a new blessing. . .wow. Blessing and beauty in the really simple things, huh?
Duh! Having a place to call "home" makes a big difference.
Try to imagine life without that, Larry!
Confession time: I take just about everything for granted.
Gotta tell you, tears filled my eyes as I took in his gratitude and joy! I'm so proud for him and of him.
What a great friend. Of course, that was true before he found his new home.
He's also a textbook example of the simple, immediate and powerful benefits of "housing first" as a model of care and response to most people who are homeless.
I'm also very grateful for the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for their grant funds that we've worked so hard to land.
I know there will be more stories like Jeff's.
And, I'll let you know when the play is done and when auditions begin!
.
4 comments:
Larry,
If you're looking for a director for Jeff's play, I'd love to do it. I'm not kidding. When it's finished, we should talk. (Or even before then--a director can usually help a playwright in the final stages of the writing process.) What a great story!
Jocelyn
Larry,
You are always such an inspiration. Actually...it's the Spirit in you. Your willingness to lay down your life and follow Jesus to the ends of the earth (or the city) is one of my greatest encouragements. THANK YOU. Tho I don't often get to tell you, I love you, pray for you, and am always cheering from you from Nashville. Thank you for always pushing me to follow Jesus more completely.
BST
RIGHT ON, LARRY!!!
Housing First works. I've seen the same changes in people.
Central Dallas MInistries is at the forefront in Dallas for SOLUTIONS to homelessness. God Bless you.
By the way, Larry, I think that we've got Jeff lined up to get that computer he needs.
Jocelyn -- feel free to contact me and I can try to arrange a meeting with Jeff to talk about his play. I know that he would appreciate the counsel.
Jeremy Gregg
Director of Development
Central Dallas Ministries
JGregg@CentralDallasMinistries.org
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