Life can change

When I first met Eddie, he sat in his wheelchair in front of the Downtown YMCA panhandling folks who walked by him on their way to workout inside.  Lots of well-intentioned people, including me, gave Eddie money, meals and provided occasional nights in nearby hotels.  My staff chided me and forced me to swear off helping Eddie in the manner I normally did.

So, Eddie became a friend of CitySquare.  Or, maybe better, CitySquare became Eddie's friend.  There were times when he likely didn't consider us his friend!  Tough love can be difficult.  

Eddie's had a misfire or two on his way off of the cold, hot, mean, lonely streets of Downtown Dallas.  I won't go into anymore detail, it's really nobody's business but Eddie's.  Still, I can't help but celebrate his victories and his hard-won progress.  And, I can't resist the urge to tout the great work accomplished by our team of street workers here at CitySquare.  

Here's a great set of photos of Eddie signing a lease to his new apartment before getting a "new look" for his new start.  I gotta tell you, these photos made my day!

Congrats, Eddie!

Homeless Outeach

Every month I receive a report from our Homeless Outreach Team (HOT Team) that summarizes their activities in Downtown Dallas. 

For the past several years Downtown Dallas, Inc. has contracted with CitySquare to do outreach in Downtown Dallas among the chronically homeless neighbors who call these hard streets "home." 

Here's a snapshot of the November report (with annual totals/YTD included):

• HOT engaged 157 (2266 YTD) different persons
• 76 (1145 YTD) individuals allowed the team to conduct assessments
• 76 (845 YTD) happened to be first time neighbors
• 81 (649 YTD) were returning neighbors
• HOT referred 83 (1252 YTD) for more intensive/extensive case management services
• 1 (22 YTD) person was placed in permanent supportive housing
• 18 (153 YTD) were referred to and placed at local shelters
• 42 (98 YTD) were approved for Dallas Housing Authority apartments and were waiting to be placed
• 4 (38 YTD) neighbors received medical treatment
• 2 (35 YTD) received psychiatric services
• 1 (8 YTD) was referred for substance abuse treatment
• 10 (55 YTD) received bus passes for DART
• Funding was provided for 24 (199 YTD) persons to go back to their homes after a plan was worked out with family/friends at destination
• HOT provided 26 (207 YTD) local transport to various places/appointments
• 50 (211 YTD) received clothing
• 1 (14 YTD) person received food
• 13 (102 YTD) received hygiene packs

CitySquare's HOT team is making a big difference in the lives of homeless persons who move about in the central business district.  Friendships are being made and evidence of progress is seen daily.  Further, public safety has improved dramatically. 

That said, we expect funding for the continuation of these efforts to be under great pressure in 2014 to be cut.  I'm hoping the business community supporting Downtown Dallas will seriously consider extending the funding and the public service.  The benefit will be shared by all of us.

Grant, my friend

Grant Wells and I have known each other for almost 18 years. 

Grant was among the first community volunteers who helped see that low-income families received the supplemental food they needed as they worked hard to keep their families going.  Grant unloaded trucks, stocked shelves, cleaned the floors and did whatever else that we asked of him. 

Grant is a very good guy. 

But a series of problems and issues fell on this man's life, resulting in deepening poverty and debilitating homelessness. 

For years we've attempted to help him find stable housing.  No need to rehearse the whole story here.

Last week the world changed for Grant! 

He signed a lease on an apartment, a home of his own. 

Jesus once claimed that he had come to "preach good news to the poor."  I can tell you the news conveyed to Grant that he now has a home surely satisfies the call of that claim.  What news could be better to a man who has slept on the streets of Dallas for years? 

I had to share a few photos of my buddy. Special thanks to Jonathan Grace, one of CitySquare's great AmeriCorps members and to our Homeless Outreach Team for doing such good work in partnership with Grant.

100,000 Homes Campaign update

Last year CitySquare signed on to be the sponsoring organization in Dallas for the 100,000 Homes Campaign to end homelessness in our community and, in partnership with hundreds of other organizations, to end homelessness in the United States. 

Recently, I received the update presented in the video below.  I believe you'll find it interesting. 

In Dallas, we will conduct a registry process the week of March 25-30.  After a day of training, we will be on the streets from 4:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. interviewing and registering the most vulnerable of our homeless neighbors with a goal of seeing as many housed as quickly as possible.

If you live in Dallas, we need your help!  You may volunteer by sending an email to me at ljames@CitySquare.org. 

Now, check out the video that describes the national plan. 

Tara

Recently, Chris Oliver, one of our outreach workers to the homeless who live on the streets of the central business district here in Dallas, shared the following story with me.  It is not an exceptional story really.  However, it is, like so many others I could report, powerful. 

Actually, this reports on two women.  Tara, a young girl in a terrible spot.  And, Daneille, the dedicated leader of our team of street outreach workers. 

Feed back invited.

TARA

We were first alerted to Tara in May by the Dallas Police Department. Daneille was the first to make contact with Tara, a sweet, scared, attractive 17-year old runaway from Arkansas. Initial contact included establishing trust, with Daneille gently listening to the young girl’s story, even sitting on the pavement with her outside The Stewpot under the hot sun. Though Daneille would get a little closer with each encounter, Tara would constantly refuse any help and run off again to her encampment under an I-45 bridge.

Then one day, as I’m doing some early morning paperwork in the office, in walks Daneille followed closely behind by Tara.

For the next three days, Daneille mothered Tara like she was her own daughter. Daneille spent her own money to feed Tara, let Tara play games on her computer to keep her engaged and occupied, brought in a radio and CD’s for Tara to listen to, called in personal favors to find her shelter and used her personal vehicle to get Tara there and back.

Tara stayed in the office with us from morning to as late as 8-9 pm each day, and stuck to Daneille like glue.

The whole time, Daneille was working tirelessly on accessing services for Tara, both here in Dallas and back in Arkansas. Her persistence eventually paid off as Daneille was able to contact Tara’s support system back in Arkansas as well as get her hooked up with the appropriate agency here in Dallas that would work on getting Tara back to Arkansas safely.

I was with Daneille when she brought Tara to the CPS office at the end of the third day, and though Tara was reluctant at first to go along with the plan, Daneille was able to console her and show her that this was for the best and everything would be alright.

There were tears all around as Tara gave Daneille a big, long hug before saying good-bye. A few days later, Tara was back safely with her support system in Arkansas. Since then, Tara has called Daneille on several occasions to let her know how well she is doing, the most recent of those calls coming just last week.

This is just one of many similar stories illustrating how Daneille has set an example for me to follow by going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we get our neighbors the help they need.