tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231440618443822462024-03-08T10:53:13.089-05:00MoreLikeMarthaLife in the City of Richmond; when you feel called to make a Difference, Can you? Will You? I felt the need to try to make a difference with the "Working Poor" in Richmond City. Walk with me.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-34168022686869222082016-10-14T11:27:00.003-04:002016-10-14T11:27:56.122-04:00Paying Attention to What is NOT Being Said: Work Days With VCU ASPIRE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once a month we have work days with our community, together with volunteers and on behalf of our non profit; Hands Up Ministries. This past Saturday was one of those days, except that it was raining. So this past rainy, work-day Saturday did not disappoint, there is ALWAYS a life lesson being taught. Unbeknown to most, on workdays we have people who are working along side of us, community members, neighbors, homeowners, children of homeowners, who are living a life struggle of poverty everyday. People who come quietly to serve, to get lifted up, to be an encouragement to others and some to earn a little extra money. Most times no one even knows, we don't usually bring it to any ones attention.<br />
Our non profit is multi layered, its not always the obvious, and usually most mission work is that way also. People most time miss the Big Picture. "Why are you serving? Why are you here? What did you do? What did you Learn?" People ask themselves these questions and others ask these same questions to volunteers. I have done "this" for along time, and its been over time that you realize, so many layers exists in mission work. I often pray, "I hope they get the big picture. I hope I see HOPE among the Hopeless, I hope I am taught something I didn't know before today."<br />
I am rarely disappointed with our work, in fact I am often energized and fired up after a work day. Some days are even hopeful. It seems to be taking along time for racism to decrease, poverty to decrease, eyes opened to real issues, and what are the answers to such BIG problems as "Black Lives Matter?". We have a board member who is also a community member, we ask her to help us this year to focus on what "Black Lives Matters" means. "We need to do more together, black and white. To dispel myths, to grow closer, to live and learn together." So we will try to focus our HUM efforts on building lives of more meaning.<br />
This past Saturday we worked in and out of the rain, but at the close of our day we had a neighbor who was working along side of us, "Darius"(not his real name), was asked if he would share his story with the group. Quietly, he agreed. As the VCU students and volunteers listened, Darius shares his agony of being a 30+ year old man who cannot find work as a felon. He has 4 young children ages 12-2, all of which live with their mothers, Darius cannot keep the money or food on the table.<br />
Asked where he felt like he failed himself he quickly states, "I should have never quit High School." At 15 years old, living with a drug addicted mother who was herself struggling with demons and wasn't able to give proper guidance, Darius walked out of school. He said he thought he knew all the answers to life. "What it got me was time in prison.'' SO now here he sits, a man without direction, his shoulders and head hang low, you can tell he is ashamed of not being able to provide for his family. Asked about his parents today, his father passed when he was just 21, murdered. His mother has recovered from drugs and he lives with her for the time being, but prospects of Darius working are slim.<br />
Darius' story is not uncommon. The part you rarely hear in a story like this one, is the most important factor: Darius loves his children, just like I love mine. Our life stories don't even come close to comparing. Darius will not make it, he is involved with a girl now who states, "Stay out of trouble or you will not see your two year old son." He is petrified of this, and he's petrified of going back to jail because he cannot pay child support. So his 4 children face the same story of so many kids in poverty, father's who cannot provide for their kids, because they too made poor decisions at a young age. High School graduation among boys in poverty, without stable parenting and no father figures are staggering. We fail are kids here. Kids who lack support at home or from extended family or teachers or friends are leaving school at a faster rate than kids who have support. Most will be headed to prison without guidance, support, or an active pursuit for a trade or business idea that they can make come to a reality.<br />
How can we help? How can this person's life story be turned around? This is a real person here, with real dreams and he wants to provide for his kids. He remembers what its like to not have things, food, support, a father. We give him HOPE by giving him a second chance. I trust him. We worked side by side. You can see it in his eyes he wants better. His heart is broken. He showed up in the rain to help out on our worksite just incase we could provide him with a little work and a few extra dollars, "it helps me buy pampers". Gut wrenching.<br />
The answer is to give Darius a trade or some skills, give him a business and he becomes an entrepreneur. The only hope is that he becomes self employed, no one will hire Darius regardless of his character today because his record states "FELON." If he is hired, the wage is so minimal, it never pays for him to live on his own, pay child support for four children and prosper. His outlook is grim with darkness. <br />
Darius' story is so like so many other young black men who quit school, lack support, go to prison at a very young age, come out re-offend, and go straight back into prison. This has to stop. Where? In school. The only hope for our future of young black men and women in poverty, is to keep these kids in school. Prepare them with a trade or get them to college before they even step foot out the door. We (Collectively) don't help the babies of the poor schools realize their dreams. We throw them away. It is a society issue, for all. Do your part.<br />
One last thing Darius adds to the college crowd is "Stay in school, pick your friends carefully and hang with people who have like dreams." Something a person of stature would say to their children. We throw so many people away, just because they made a few bad decisions before the age of 20. Who hasn't? The moral is those who succeed, usually have support somewhere in their corner.<br />
<br />Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-9805138075143822432016-04-25T10:40:00.001-04:002016-04-25T10:40:42.790-04:00"Luke" & "Laura": Glen Allen Baptist Answers the Call<b>CB at Glen Allen Baptist writes:</b><br />
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Well yesterday was an amazing day. Actually the past couple days have been. Nearly 30 people donated to help these folks and we took it down last night. Let me say this, the faith and fellowship from Glen Allen Baptist Church was AMAZING. I will say this, I was beat from running around all day Saturday to pickup goodies. I was so thankful for Paul Tilley, Allen Jenkins, and my father in law to go down with me and help unload. At first "laura" was very standoff-ish and had to think about shaking my hand. "Luke" was there at first as he was coming back from the store with toilet paper. Wish we were a little sooner because they should be set with that for months now. "Luke' and a friend chipped in and help us move things in. We had A LOT of stuff for them. A truck load, Expedition full, and a large trailer with goodies. Full bed with all the sheets and foam pads, blowup mattress, dishes, plates, cups, dinnerware, silverware, couches, dresser, bath towels, hand towels, coffee pot and coffee, microwave, toaster, table, 4 chairs, can opener, cooking utensils, pots and pans, skillets, new pillows, more toilet paper than you can imagine, paper towels, all kinds of personal items, and a HUGE double box serving of baked spaghetti. I think I woke "Laura" up from her spot in the bedroom upstairs. When I came up the stairs with the mattress she cracked a little smile and her face certainly washed over with delight. We told her we weren't through and had more bed items to come. The mattress and box springs were up in the room and cleaned up and when I returned with the bedding and mattress pads she had already moved them into place and had laid out the ultra sound pics of her baby boy. She didn't say anything about them but it was obviously she was letting us know about her special news. By the end of the visit she was talking about the baby and had a full smile on her face. It was an amazing blessing because she is certainly troubled. As we finished unloading and bringing everything in I gave "Luke" some envelopes with other gifts for them. 2 -30 day unlimited bus passes, money for the CARITAS signup, and some letters from folks who donated. On the phone Friday night "Luke" was getting very emotional as I was trying to prepare him for what we had coming down to him. He asked me, can I ask a favor of you? "Could you please give me a list of all the people who have helped us so I can send them a thank you note." My heart melted. "Yes sir, I will do that Luke." When I gave him the list and he realized so many people loved him and wanted to help he was overjoyed enough that I got the biggest bear hug ever!! It was awesome. We ended with a prayer outside of their place and "Luke" joined in. May God watch over these two and keep them in his arms. To God be all the glory!<br />
<br /><b> Cassie Writes:</b><br />
<b><br /></b> Amen....I can assure you as I write this line, Chills are running all over by body! THIS MY FRIENDS is THE BODY OF CHRIST, To HIM be the Glory. Let us reach out in love and Kindness, let us remind others we are blessed beyond measure, from this moment I pray we will not only love this couple with our money, we will love them with our hearts, time, and soul. They need LOVE(like we all do) for a lifetime to survive. Loving is sometimes painful, so we will not hurt them with our overindulgence of "THINGS", but commit to loving them with our time. We love them, God heals them.<br /> To Glen Allen Baptist, I am so thankful and super proud of your witness. When you are Called, YOU Move! And thank you for moving immediately, esp. once you met them and saw, they moved from the woods to an empty apartment, and they are children of God!<br /> Loving you all SO much! I know they will be busting! Hoping to see them at "Homeless Mondays!" Not so Homeless anymore!<br /> Love, Cassie Matthew<br /> Thank you to "CB" for taking the ball and running with it. I assure you, you were eternally blessed, and you will never again be quite so afraid!"Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-19048972057717053032016-04-20T10:18:00.003-04:002016-04-20T10:18:59.283-04:00"Luke" and "Laura" - An Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Good News - They were able to get an apartment on Monday, based on "Laura's" pregnancy. They are super excited to be out of the woods, able to take showers, and hopefully begin something that is at least safer.</div>
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Dilemma of the Homeless & Disabled:</div>
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"Laura" is on SSI, her income is $733.00, her rent is $210, they have phones( no judging please they are all but 12 y/o) $110<br />Bus Fare is $3.00 round trip for each, ($6.00 per day x 5= $30. Month will cost them $120 for Bus fare.<br />We are now at $283 for both Luke & Laura to live for one month and she is 3 months pregnant.</div>
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"Luke" could work, if he had an ID, If "Luke" marries "Laura", they LOSE all her benefits, (how encouraging), money, and housing. If RRHA finds out that "Luke" and his friends( from the woods) are living together in "Laura's" home, she will lose her housing benefits. Right now, its not even possible "Laura" could live alone and make all her apts, and take care of this unborn child and herself, she is completely off all her meds. Sweet baby girl could not even carry on a conversation with me, I quickly could tell she was very uncomfortable surrounded by tons of people, she focused solely on her phone.</div>
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So how can we help these two and their baby?<br />First, they have NOTHING, if you look carefully at "Laura's clothing, she is wearing old clothes from our clothes closet.<br />They are sleeping on the floor, they are cooking nothing b/c they have come from the woods into an apartment, no cooking gear.</div>
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Need: Beds, kitchen cooking ware, linens, lights, dressers etc.<br />"Laura' needs clothes, summer clothing, she is a pretty small girl.<br />"Luke is in all winter clothing.</div>
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Here is the deal; If you want to donate, YOU will have to deliver.<br />They need the bare MINIMUM right now, no fluff like: pictures, designer wear, purses, pumps books on marriage etc.<br />NO Baby stuff YET....They live in church hill in a very nice apt. I will give you their address and their number. I told "Luke" I will TRY to help them, and I'll have to give out his number and address, he agreed.<br />When/If you call, they might not be perfectly polite, they might not even say thank you a thousands times, they might even be embarrassed, just go to give because its the right thing to do, not because you want them to be thankful. We need to give because they could be our children who are in need, because its called "LOVE."<br />Be brave, Be an example, Be blessed.</div>
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Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-50122673546541121732016-04-15T09:17:00.002-04:002016-04-15T09:17:37.924-04:00Homeless Mondays - "Luke"I tried to speak to "Luke" he was spitfire mad( many homeless are) b/c he can't get a job, insurance, assistance of ANY kind, without an ID. He's from NY, he's clean from Heroin, he is "Afraid" to go back. Sweet Luke was told by "the system" he must go BACK to NY to get his documents, no ride, no money, and no possible way to get there....on his own. Secondly, its not the truth. We can get his documents from NY here in Va. little more work, a lot more money, and A lot more time, but we can do it. He was so PISSED, he would NOT listen to me, SO ANGRY, SO HURT!!!!!<br />
It took a few minutes, but I finally got him to sit, by the time we were done talking, tears were running down his face, I was rubbing his sweet face, just like I would my own 22 year old son who is sad for reasons that don't even come close to this sweet babies. Luke's worries are so real, and so hard, and so NOT FAIR, you cannot even wrap your brain around them, and guess what, he looks like my children, he could be yours.<br />
A Little tiny back ground:<br />
"Luke is 24", no job, no family here, off heroin for only a short time, and if you know anyone with a addiction(addictions come in ALL families, they are not "exclusive") he is Terrified he's going to "fall off the wagon"; and we are not talking just any drug, heroin is Powerful and Pleasing, esp. if your life really is full of pain and has no purpose, and you have ZERO FAITH!<br />
"Luke" was adopted at 6, molested by a powerful family member, siblings age 6, 4, 2, all given to the system, same time, split up & adopted, never saw them again. He's a "cutter", he feels very little, he's so out of control, he is spiraling down so fast, he will be lucky to be ALIVE in one year. What reason does he have to live? Right before he left NY, his dying mother(born 1964) gave him train fair with his promise he'd get clean, she died of cancer, he wasn't there. He has not spoken to any one in his family in years, remember, "Luke is a mere 24."<br />
In Va., no ID, Living in the woods, first time at homeless monday's, so angry he's hard to speak to, and if you are hard to speak to, no one cares, and you push any possibility of help away. His "autistic girlfriend" is pregnant, 6 weeks. "I'm so stressed, I cannot get her to help herself, go to the doctors, go see her case worker(they are in the woods together, in the elements) and last night we had a fight and she "LEFT" in the middle of the night! "She scared me to death", I'm not sure I can do this!"<br />
So what do you say? I'm not sure you are going to make it my friend...is what I'm thinking. I told him I can help him get his ID, quickly SNAPS BACK "NO YOU CAN'T!" I can. "No ONE Can help me!"I said: If you trust me with ALL your personal information, I want to try, please. He gives me ALL his info, we sit down, he tells me a 4 minute glimpse of his life, most( or I better say many) of us cant even sit and listen to our OWN kids 4 mins we are so BUSY!<br />
I took his number, ALL I committed to was "Trying" to get his documents, so he can get a $10.00 Va. I.D......You guys have no idea the hurdle we place on individuals just to get an ID! We are not even talking a Drives license, just a simple Identification card.<br />
This sweet, little broken boy, who has cut marks on both arms, who wants to take your head off, who has a dead mother, no father, adopted at 6, never knew what happened to his siblings, no connection to ANYONE....wants a $10 dollar ID to work! We are so ridiculously screwed up in this city, we make it nearly impossible for our friends to get off the STREETS, even when they want to...and now, he has a pregnant (autistic) girlfriend, who he Loves!<br />
My head was spinning. At first he just wanted a belt. "I just need a belt" he barked. Another homeless man took HIS out of his bag, and gave it to him. Grace. Pray for our friend. I pray I can really get his documents, I pray I do not pummel the DMV with a smart bomb( makes you understand smart bomb). I pray God does something big with this baby boy, the odds are so against him. I knew another kid like "Luke" he came into my life for almost 2 years, and his story was so similar, Joe killed himself at 20 while I was in Haiti.<br />
What will happen to our sweet "lukie?"<br />
My final words as I stroked his sweet little face( his beard) was "your mama loves you" and "God gave you a redeeming purpose" and "You are NOT going to get any help being so angry at people!" "I know why you are ANGRY, you are broken just like ME, but you are empty brother, and you need your cup filled!" Please, be patient, take care of YOU first, and I will try to help you get ONE $10.00 ID! He walked off with his bologna sandwich and his applesauce.....starving.<br />
Just take note: my 22 year old son eats 4000 Calories a meal as an athlete, Luke is eating his bologna sandwich. Heartbroken for our friends, "Please Lord help him!, I pray.<br />
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<br />Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-66164386083846636452016-01-28T08:34:00.001-05:002016-01-28T08:34:49.010-05:00Farewell, "Percy"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">If I had to spend one day in "Percy's " shoes, I'd be defeated. More like, I'd be a Quitter! Meet our new Bestie, " Percy" with his permission I write. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Percy talked to many on homeless Monday, including the teenage boys. He so wanted to share his story of being homeless in Richmond, and he had only been here a week. I was curious how he was being treated through our system, it's far from "Southern Hospitality!" He saw us drop off our goods at the overflow during the storm, the next time we saw each other was Monday. The last time we saw each other was saying " Farewell " on Tuesday as I dropped him at the bus station. Let's just clear it up, being homeless is not an easy gig. I'd fail. For most it's not a choice, it's a a stream of unlikely events. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Percy's story is no different. He spent the last 9 years in Prison, of a 30 year sentence. Robbery. For the next 20 years Percy is under fear of making any more mistakes. The offenders call it " borrowed time." They live in fear of being accused or wrongly accused and being sent back to prison. It doesn't take much and he's locked back up to FINISH his remaining time.Can you imagine always being under suspicion. One of my friends( prison buds) says it better to " time out"(do your whole sentence) then be sent out on parole because of the way you are treated on the outside. I was shocked in my little naive squeaky clean life. Percy's story starts in Hillside Court, the projects on Southside. One of 5 siblings; he's the baby. He mother has since passed, his father and his siblings are estranged. Most have / had drug issues. I asked Percy " why?" Just a simple question. He said I've never been asked " why?" Why did you veer down this path? At first he doesn't understand, then I explain drugs are a symptom of a broken journey. Tears begin to stream down his 6'9 body. He was molested as a boy. He said not ONE person in his life had asked him these questions. After 9 years in prison, he had never received any kind of therapy, just continued drug use behind bars. He was given to the foster care system early in age, " I was hyper and slow"!" That is what he was told, that's how he remembers it.That is who he thinks he is today. The rest is history, a life of hurt equals brokenness, drugs mask the pain, crime buys the drugs, we lock him up and keep him fearful. We don't even know the WHOLE story, this is just a sliver of his pain. So we did what we could with band aids, Percy fled Roanoke a week ago, quit his job and came to Richmond with high hopes. Upon arrival to our beautiful city HE was robbed of all his personal belongings that fit in a bag, a duffle, his birth certificate, his phone his clothes. Gone. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Thanks to Tracy Bruce Clark and Chris Clark, Percy has new clothes, a hot shower, ( thanks to 2nd Presbyterian) and clean clothes he was able to wash at the Church. Please note: anything can land him back in prison if he makes one mistake. He was working in Roanoke after leaving prison in September; lived in a boarding home and ran into the wrong crowd. He feared he'd make a mistake and fled to Richmond due to circumstances surrounding his housing. Unfortunately, you can't leave town without notifying your Parole Officer, he did not. Yesterday he felt panic, he was due today to check into his PO's office by 6pm, take a drug test, you don't miss your apt., no one cares why. We(Percy, myself & Ginger) called all day, left messages, no return call. So he had to get back to Roanoke. ASAP. Ginger Evans purchased him a bus ticket and he was on his way by 8pm. We heard today he made it safe and sound. He wants to come back to Richmond. He has many hurdles to overcome to make that happen. He did get his job back in Roanoke, at the waffle/ chicken house. Sweet Ginger called for him, he said "I'm not fired?" They love him, he's a hard worker.Where will he stay? When he was here he stayed at the overnight shelter. Sleeping in chairs that were once court room chairs. No sleeping on floors the homeless were told. He cleaned the bathrooms for food. This is not the way people, real people, with real names, real stories, should live. What is wrong with RICHMOND, Va.,that we as a city cannot Fix this issue of homelessness? I don't really see it as such a hard hurdle to overcome. You cannot know people by name, "Percy", and not want to FIX homelessness. You go to bed praying for men(i do) byname. "Lord, let him get there on time, let his PO be kind, let him please get a break, someone give him more than min. wage.Lord, are WE the Answer?' "YES", WE ARE! I woke up tuesday went to my car and there was an envelope on my dash, i opened it, it was ALL of Percy's itinerary, his ticket, hotel stay, confirmations.....I was sick. I drove off from Greyhound and never looked back. Thankfully, he had Ginger's phone number, thankfully some dear soul "allowed" him use of their phone, he called. He just can't get a break. Pray for our friends, more than that SCREAM for solutions. And when asked, give what you can....we know them by name.</span></span>Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-38964267146409377702015-12-19T10:22:00.000-05:002015-12-19T10:22:23.439-05:00Letters From Prison: Leaves me awake at night with hurt and frustrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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December 19, I receive a letter from my P.O. Box from a state prison in Va., every couple of months this happens. Sometimes I just hold onto the unopened letter for weeks, not wanting to open it. Deep in my gut, before opening, I know I won't be able to help. Sometimes, they are from old tenants, that have gone back to prison, I'm not up to talking to them anymore. I'm spent. I have a "wheel house" we all do, mine is just loving people and telling folks they are worthy, I really can't fix much, not alone. I do the best I can with what I have, but I will tell you, prison letters kill me, on so many levels, I didn't sleep all night, which for me, is the worse thing in my life, not sleeping. I'm not good for many when I worry at night about others. Really, last night I felt anger about the person who wrote me, but ultimately, I know it didn't start as his fault, I'd guess he grew up with others going to prison, that's what we do, we emulate our parents, or guardians who raised us, or who we saw that gave us a small sense of direction or purpose. This writer; I'll call him #54321, that's what prison calls them, numbers, not even a name, you are no longer even a person in prison, just a number so that you don't go missing and they come after you, by your number. Mr. #54321 wants a place to stay, because he found out that is what HUM can do, having no idea how this happens, unless he has access to google searches, but HUM is pretty clear, we are a "working, housing, non profit, rent to homeownership." This person tells me, he has a small amount of money, disability, but may lose it now b/c of prison, he's been there awhile b/c he's not sure he has it any more. The more I read, the more questions I have, the more angry I get about a system of punishment that really sets up people to be a FAILURE the rest of their lives, which my guess is, leads them back to prison, we call this "recidivism." After reading this letter my heart says; he will always be poor or in prison, we are lacking in resources to get these guys out of poverty, he will lead a life of crime.<br />
I'm sure by now, YOU have answers, stating "No, he won't." He can do WHAT? He can't work, He is a Felon, a criminal, he has no money, no family, no one who cares about him, weather he ever comes home. But guess what, he has kids.....yes, he procreated before going to prison, unmarried, and "the babies momma let them go into foster care." That is what he said. All night I thought of those babies, all night long. They were LET GO! Those poor little broken babies, and the cycle begins again for those tiny little babies who did NOT ASK to be born, and now will suffer the system of foster care. Maybe they will be loved, maybe they will be molested, the truth is, no matter what; they just want to be with their parents; one is a crackhead, one is a prisoner. This takes me to "ProLifer's", I think of this all the time, because I spend my days dealing with broken adults, who were not loved, and they led a life of hurt and angst, and survived, and by Grace and Mercy they are trying to put their lives back together, but those who "make it" are few. People are "Pro life" as infants, but once they are no longer babies, we are no longer caring about "LIFE". These babies go to prison, because no one loved them.<br />
All I can think of is who cares about those babies? No one. I want to write a letter of angst, where are you for these kids? Why did YOU leave them, why aren't you in school? Why aren't you TRYING to better yourself in prison, get a trade, something you CAN do when you get out. Apparently, our prison system isn't set up that way in every prison, some just sit and wait for time to pass, playing cards, eating, getting tattoos, wasting, but passing time. Costing tax dollars to climb, and do nothing with this man to prepare him for exiting prison. Now it is 7(seven) months before #54321 gets out, and he is concerned he has no place to go, because in prison, you need to tell someone at the prison gate, where you will live, if you have no where to live, you stay a little longer. Our systems of punishment don't work, neither on the inside or the outside, and especially never for the babies of prison families. You get punished for bad behavior, but what we forget to do is teach people how to live, after they have been punished, and the cycle of poverty begins: for the inmate, for the baby's mama, and for those precious "pro life" babies everyone wanted to have, until now, they are in foster care. When will we have solutions that work for this ferris wheel that never stops hurting people?Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-639057546904755492015-12-15T08:45:00.000-05:002015-12-15T08:45:09.236-05:00Meet our Homeless Monday Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Timothy" is sporting new shoes! He was SUPER grateful! He couldn't wait to show me! He is "close" to getting a place to live after one year on streets. He has had a case worker working with him the ENTIRE time! Thankful for warmer weather!<br />
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We found 68 year old "Allison" who is sleeping in the woods! The whole homeless group agreed Allison should have this new sleeping bag! </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Fifty gifts given from Restoration Church, My homeless friends were so AMAZED and Thankful! </span>You all made so many friends so Happy! Thank you, and "Homeless Denise" helped out in giving and felt so good! Super fun day!</div>
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<i>"Jesus experienced homelessness at Christmas so that we could experience a love we could never lose."</i> - Timothy Keller<br />
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Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-39881450298625984932015-12-10T10:41:00.001-05:002015-12-10T10:47:24.669-05:00Homeownership with HUM<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJXIvAIWmA0" width="480"></iframe>Video by Noah Carpenter<br />
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial,Times New Roman","serif";">In the Summer of 2015, we decided to convert all HUM rental properties to homeownership properties. The current tenant at 5<sup>th</sup> Ave wasn't interested in homeownership or taking proper care of his home, so he decided to move out. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seven months</span> and </span><span style="color: #222222;">$16,000 in rehab later, we discovered a working family who had the dreams, desire, and fortitude to purchase the home.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people ask a single question, " Where do we find our families?". Most come from referrals and an application process that is normal. Many of us know a family who needs a second chance, a break, works hard and is willing to try. That is who we are looking for. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want to know, "How long have you rented? What are your stumbling blocks for homeownership?". Many times it's young age decisions that have "PILED" up. No longer can you manage your mistakes, so you don't. WE want families in homes, but we also want families to take care of their history, so they can live free and clear of their skeletons! And, believe me, we ALL have them. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone must put down one month's rent, then they need to save a 10% deposit for homeownership. For example, if you purchase a home for $50,000, you are going to need to put $5,000 down to start a homeowner contract. If you foreclose, you lose that $5,000. We call that "having skin in the game", something you do not want to lose. Typically, HUM gives that family one year to save. So far, HUM is the micro lender, charging a 1% interest rate to the homeowner. Legally, that is the LEAST amount we can charge. We do not give furniture to every family, if they have what they need, but we make sure the house has a washer & dryer, and All appliances necessary for a great start. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HUM makes sure every possible plumbing and electrical need is addressed, because owning a home can cause some renters to be fearful of what "may" happen in the future. We make sure our families know the importance of saving, because SOMETHING IS going to happen in the years to come. We do not want one broken down car or appliance to set a family spiraling into foreclosure, so saving in a bank is a priority. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, we have begun to work with HOME, a housing non-profit that helps families repair their credit and get a conventional loan, with a grant included if they stay the course. We have three families in the homeownership program. All have been successful thus far. Zero have missed a single payment, and HUM is really proud of our homeowners and their desire to live in properties that they can feel proud they purchased. Homeownership leads to stable neighborhoods and to increased city tax dollars coming in, which in turns changes the city schools for the better. For any child or family, permanency in one home leads to success and stability in many ways.</span></span></div><br />
Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-44949718073348182015-08-12T10:59:00.002-04:002015-08-12T10:59:48.938-04:00Video Prize for the Amazing Raise<a href="http://youtu.be/Yt-yy5U5chk">Hands Up Ministries and The Amazing Raise</a><br />
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Help our non-profit, Hands Up Ministries, compete for a video prize in The Amazing Raise. Watch this video by clicking the link above and share it from YouTube with all of your friends and family. Hands Up could win a $1500 prize if we come out on top with the most views. The winnings will help us continue to support affordable housing in Highland Park. Thank you for all the support!Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-43854296636317341982015-08-06T09:20:00.001-04:002015-08-06T09:20:37.940-04:00"Jason" and "Roger"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dk3wt0MGuaU/VcNdvAVySII/AAAAAAAAWd8/lMIzNgc6skE/s1600/Jason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dk3wt0MGuaU/VcNdvAVySII/AAAAAAAAWd8/lMIzNgc6skE/s320/Jason.jpg" /></a></div>OK...for all those who are tired of the stories about Richmond's Homeless!<br />
This is "Jason". He is here for LUNCH..a FREE Lunch, and some are, just helps. Jason I met the very first Monday I came to 2nd back in April....Jason was from Fla., no id, no phone, no job, living in shelters and on the streets, self conscious about a missing tooth. I think he is about 23/24. I looked for his story but can't find it!<br />
He is SO HAPPY...ME TOO..Called his mom in Fla. That is ALL I DID...the rest Jason did...he needed his Identification Documents...Act OF CONGRESS! <br />
5 Months Later...he is back in the game again, and so very happy! So proud...sometimes it takes months, sometimes years, sometimes never....You never know who you are going to touch, encourage, Love, or motivate...but you have to TALK to the friends in order to do the above...It always starts with Love. "What's your name? My name is Cassie!" Come....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ekkXFrtCFQ/VcNefttvevI/AAAAAAAAWeE/08_lQbvg3cg/s1600/sweet%2Bman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ekkXFrtCFQ/VcNefttvevI/AAAAAAAAWeE/08_lQbvg3cg/s320/sweet%2Bman.jpg" /></a></div>This sweet man works at the "Penny Pub" washing dishes, says he's been here 3 times looking for me to see if I can help him find a place to SLEEP(Like a ROOM). "Roger" has been sleeping in the streets, he only makes $400.00 a month, never will<br />
he find a place to live for $400.00 a month. I tell him, you need to work more, ask your boss.....get another job..."Cassie, I made so many mistakes when I was young. I was the oldest of 6 boys, lived in the projects, ran a muck, made super bad decisions..by 15 I was in prison until I was 33! I forgot to tell you, he COULD NOT READ WHEN HE WENT TO PRISON! His mother said: "You better get ALL the education out of there you can..." He listened to her....came out with an associates degree, he said learning to read was the hardest thing he had ever done. We re killing our kids with Poor schools.<br />
His story is heartbreaking, his story is not atypical. I asked him is he DONE? "Done?"<br />
Yeah...ARE DONE RUNNING THE STREETS, ARE YOU DONE living a life of crime..."I am so done." Of course I can see in his eyes..he is done. My gut...he will never make it.<br />
The system doesn't work well with Felons...very few care....he said he had to leave, he had to eat his lunch on the fly, he has a bike at 56, he didn't want to be late to where ever he was going. <br />
I said can you drive? "If I could pay off my $8,000 fines from prison." $8,000 may as well be a million.....DMV runs the world. <br />
Of all the people I met today....this is who I would pick to help....My gut says...he wants to MAKE IT!<br />
Of course I want to help them all...but this man...never had a chance from the day he was born. These are the stories that break my heart for Jesus.....<br />
This job is the very hardest job I've ever had....there are just no answers some days!Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-19217805809794939152015-06-03T12:43:00.001-04:002015-06-03T12:43:49.320-04:00Meet "Andy"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11Ktlfy9OHU/VW8uhc_8HZI/AAAAAAAAWb0/rEG3wmVsY7A/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11Ktlfy9OHU/VW8uhc_8HZI/AAAAAAAAWb0/rEG3wmVsY7A/s320/images.jpg" /></a></div>Meet Andy: I am unsure of his age, he indeed looks older than he is, he is divorced, he has 4 young children, and lives under the hospital street bridge, that is in Highland Park. <br />
Initially, he came over to me, we spoke last week he needed glasses, this week he asked for a second pair($2.00) and of course I gave them to him. He said he met an elderly lady in the park whose glasses were broke, he gave her his. WE talked for a long time, and he has many isssues,: one he lives under the bridge, two, he owes child support, and IS paying it, but this leaves him with $360 for the month to live, lastly, he rarely speaks to his kids, he said "they don't want to talk to me", If you look at his eyes closely, this is the end of our conversation, when we spoke of his children he got teary eyed. We also spoke of his parents and I asked him about thier whereabouts, he said "I don't have a relationship with my father or mother." "He wasn't a good father"<br />
Then we talked about how that felt...blah, blah, blah, and isn't it ironic, the very things we HATED the most as children, we have somehow repeated as ADULTS, even when you SWEAR as kids, I WILL NEVER do that to my kids.<br />
Here is Andy, alone under a bridge, 4 baby children he created with his then wife, home alone without a father....the cycle continues. We talked about that. It made him sad, It makes me mad. Fathers, are really important, parents are really important. Families are really important, we damage our kids when we put our feelings first, or when we have children and we are so broken, we shouldn't have had them. I am rambling of course, but hurt people, always hurt people. Andy is hurt. We offered Andy a place right on the spot, he was to call "Lester": last night....Lester had a room for him. Andy didn't call. Lester went looking for him under the bridge, he is a special man"Lester". Andy is special too...someone forgot to mention that to "Andy" when he was growing up...now he lives under a bridge with no teeth.<br />
<br />
UPDATE:<br />
Andy DID NOT Show up to get his ride to Lester's house, saw him today and he said he "lost" his number. I told him "Lester" came looking for him under the HP bridge, he was surprised. We talked to him today, told him about reducing his court costs for child support...."Andy" is happy or at least "Content" under the bridge. He is NOT ready to move..So what do we do? We move on.<br />
Pray, love him, call him by name, sometimes that is enough.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-62769001606761122882015-05-20T12:15:00.000-04:002015-05-20T12:15:00.229-04:00Simplicity of a Thin Mint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzj-0hoLWeo/VVyyhDCFLQI/AAAAAAAAWaE/ShS-QZN_bCo/s1600/thin%2Bmint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzj-0hoLWeo/VVyyhDCFLQI/AAAAAAAAWaE/ShS-QZN_bCo/s320/thin%2Bmint.jpg" /></a></div>Homeless Monday: "Simplicity of a Thin Mint"<br />
Thanks to Stacy Dokos, from NHPC, she donated 30 cases of Girl Scout cookies to the Homeless Feeding Program at 2nd Presbyterian on Monday's.<br />
The cookies were a "Hot Ticket Item" because there are no cookies to give to the homeless from the food bank.(keep that in mind when donating to feeding programs. Although we know we love to donate tuna, beans and peanut butter, the guys and women of the homeless program yesterday went "BONKERS" over three thin mints each. Plus, I swore to my colleagues, I couldn't give them away free or I'd be breaking the "NO FREE BOXES OUT RULE" to anyone. So in compliance, it made the day so beautiful. I'm not really sure if it was to THIN MINTS, or the LOVE that was in the room, but the two equaled a really happy day at 2nd yesterday. For the last four weeks we have all been going (Myself, Robert Morrison, Lena Robinson, and yesterday we added the love of Loretta Wallace), it was like have the dynamic duo plus two with me yesterday. We laughed and we cried, there is really very little the four of us can accomplish alone, but you add Love by listening, and perhaps throw in a cookie and spirits were higher yesterday. I'm so thankful for the trust in given to me to make sure the cookies go "where I say they will go", there is something magic about being honest and authentic with everyone we come in contact with. The homeless pour theirguts out to us, most times its such a harsh story that a hug is the only offer we have, but we give them one. One man said to me, "I haven't been touched in years, I appreciate that my smell doesn't offend you!" ME: "Are you kidding, what is more important than giving away love, that you just have laying around in your heart?"Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-64064309083508277322015-05-20T12:03:00.001-04:002015-05-20T12:03:41.777-04:00"Barbara"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW5QnOW4T3I/VVys1GdoBTI/AAAAAAAAWZw/z4p3kI4X140/s1600/11267199_951263001575141_4996936167323048239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW5QnOW4T3I/VVys1GdoBTI/AAAAAAAAWZw/z4p3kI4X140/s320/11267199_951263001575141_4996936167323048239_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3qTM_xnpmqA/VVys1DnEQgI/AAAAAAAAWZs/AvzsZg6eEbI/s1600/11295537_951262998241808_1492616120712330070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3qTM_xnpmqA/VVys1DnEQgI/AAAAAAAAWZs/AvzsZg6eEbI/s320/11295537_951262998241808_1492616120712330070_n.jpg" /></a></div>Meet "Barbara" she is homeless and sleeping behind the convention center, with "men that are creepy". Barbara is so broken, sick, and really at the end of her rope. Barbara is 52, with a 4th grade education, she states she has brought her reading up to a 5th grade level, she says that with pride. After I lifted my mouth off the table i said..."How does this happen?" We are the same age, she walked out of the 4th grade and NO ONE ran after her. She said my parents were druggies and drunks, there was no one who cared. Lena states:' She took care of herself." Barbara agrees. Her problems are so big, i don't even know what to say or do. Lena(I Love Lena, she has a beautiful way with EVERYONE!) puts on her red cape and begins with: "Darlin' you just sit right down here with me, everything is going to be alright." I listen, knowing, it's not. Wondering how Lena can make this OK.<br />
We brought her over to our table, she does get SSI(for most of us that is disability, usually $776.00 to last a month).<br />
Every question Lena Robinson asked her she had tried, she told Lena "I do everything I am told, still no place to live." Her thoughtful sister tore up her BC(Birth Certificate), cut her EBT card and her SSI card up. (like a MasterCard, that her SSI money goes straight onto every first of the month)<br />
You wonder HOW these people do not jump into an oncoming train, their lives are so messed up. Their families are equally messed up, or have "QUIT" on them. Many have stories and long histories of drug usage, Barbara admitted to being a cocaine user in her day, admittedly has HIV, but then there comes a time you wake up in a fog and ask yourself "How did I get here, and How do I get out?" If we believe in what God tells us, that every life matters, and that there is a plan for all of us, do you think this was HIS plan? I try to think not. Is it that Jesus wants US to take the "little tiny Barbara's by the hand" and love them anyway. I know for sure, I have been unlovable, but it didn't look so painful, and my story never got me HERE. By the time Lena & I and Robert (we made her feel like she was in a crisis intervention) were done with her, she had a new pair of glasses($1.00) she had found her phone, (she had lost it with all her contacts) and Lena had made a few calls, but truly, nothing was different. But if you look closely at the before and after photos, Barbara's face has changed, there is new light. She has a little more energy, and a little more hope, even though, nothing really got her out of living behind the convention center, I thought of her last night, as I laid in my AC home, under my crisp cotton sheets. Wondering, "How is Barbara tonight?" I did ask God, 'what is my part in this whole debacle of homelessness? How can we let this happen in Richmond, Va? What is the answer today for Barbara. If only We could get a few philanthropic folks to throw money our way, we could give Barbara a bed, a toliet and a hot plate, her life would FEEL like mine. Precious.<br />
<br />
UPDATE<br />
Update on Miss Barbara: Who last night slept behind the Richmond Convention Center<br />
Today Lena Called me(5 pm/ish) and said she heard from "Barbara" and she has been housed in "Section 8" housing, she was given a two bedroom home with help. She will no longer sleep on the streets, she called Lena crying today...and "Thankful for giving her HOPE to get through another night!" <br />
Loving Barbara through. If you are interested: Barbara will need household items: I will give her a bed(double), dresser, a small amount of 'used' furniture...She will need towels, sheets, household cleaners, trash bags, you know..a starter kit. Please, if you can only afford ONE item, make it a new item. One new towel. One new sheet set. No junk please. No Nick Nacks, Just one thing.<br />
God is good!<br />
Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers! Listen & Love!Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-78271513018255696902015-05-16T11:30:00.000-04:002015-05-16T11:30:38.110-04:00When is it time to QUIT?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jx_bWDxLI4Y/VVc8XGTFAzI/AAAAAAAAWMs/UZFw4hebmck/s1600/stronger.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jx_bWDxLI4Y/VVc8XGTFAzI/AAAAAAAAWMs/UZFw4hebmck/s400/stronger.jpeg" /></a></div>We have turned a really hard and rigid corner, we have done the very best we could and we still are not qualified, capable enough to do what we "Dreamed" we could do. I dreamed of putting homeless into housing, mostly men; poor men who depend on housing from women, working poor men, men from prison, men from rehab, men with disabilities, men who were kicked out of thier family home. Why? Because so many men are so hurt and broken from a very early age, men are not aloud or taught to share hurt, at the very start of preschool, then puberty, by now, they know....something hurts but they are unable to articulate the pain, and No ONE ASKS. So many MEN were left as "Babies" and "Boys", "man up son....go out and play." Those were the answers they heard, "No Crying!"<br />
I am a mother of three boys, and there is not a moment I wouldn't hesitate to hold them so tight they couldn't breathe I love them so much, unfortunately, boys/men don't always get the love they need, girls too, but my interest was(is) men. In this city, a poor mother with children gets benefits and attention, the more children, the faster they are housed, men get nothing in comparison. They need to go WORK!<br />
You see it everywhere in the streets of the poor, boys raised without loving fathers, absent fathers, WHO IS MY FATHER? <br />
It always comes down to one basic concept: LOVE. Can you Love me enough to get me through life? Is there ANYONE left who loves me? Most of the men I work with have been through everything, abandonment, beatings, ignored, failures in school, suspensions, kicked out, joined gangs, began to find value in "things", and the last step to the beautiful journey of what "unfathered boys and broken homes of men have gone through" we then send them to Prison. <br />
I often say, we want "pro-life", but we don't want to LOVE these Babies THROUGH LIFE! Let them be born, into the worst of scenerios, but forget the most important concept that without love, we die, at least we die inside. LOVING hurt and broken people is not easy, and it is a full time job. Never forget, we are all broken and hurt in some way, it's your support network and Faith that saves most.<br />
<br />
Just giving someone: a nice home, private bedroom, clean place, new bed, cable, internet, washer and dryer, fresh linens, new everything, as we discovered....just wasn't enough. HUM has two homes that were prepared for 8 men (total), we started in 2011, and we are OFFCIALLY DONE with that adventure, and many nights and days, it was more than an adventure we were willing or capable of dealing with. <br />
<br />
Calls like: "I need a comb. I can't figure out the internet, I don't know how to work the computer, I need a tutor, Jimbob won't clean the bathroom, Billy, won't clean the stove, Jimbob left pee on the seat, Jimbob is trying to kill me, he has hidden a Butcher knife in the Trix box, calls to the police, changed locks everytime someone left mad(12 times), someone is using my soap, someone is stealing my food, someones is using my butter, Jeff is using Heroin, drug testing the whole house(often and expensive), Jerry is having prostitutes in the house, Mark is having his homeless friend spend the nights on our couch, no one will cut the grass, I did it last time, I can't pay this time, I only have enough for my methodone dose, I need a ride, My bike was stolen, I don't want to put books into our little library. Why can't we smoke in the house? Who is supposed to buy cleaning products and trash can bags? At Christmas, my roommate won't let my family come over, can you come help? Jerald is back in jail for shoplifting, can I have his stuff?" Can we have pets, can we eat in our rooms, we have mice now, Mike flooded the Washer & Dryer, John yelled at me, now I'm not speaking to him, he is not the manager.....the house is cold the house is hot, I need AC in my room...NOW. Exhausting.<br />
<br />
After 5 years of a lot of drama, more drama that we could possibly handle as two people, we have decided to close both homes and sell to homeowners we have relationships with. Two families have transitioned to homeownership(HUM is the micro-lender), and HUM could not be happier, July 1st we will once again start over with a new model: we will rent only to families interested in home ownership, accountability, respect for thier own home, and want a different life, a better life, a chance at owning a home regarless of criminal background, regardless of credit HISTORY. We all have a history, but who is willing to try hard for the American dream?<br />
<br />
You must hear me, it hasn't all been difficult, we have shared great moments of love and success: first cars, first boats, gone fishing, taken a first vacation, getting out of debt, paying fines, learning the computer, learning blackboard, learning how to print a document, back to college, first apartments without roommates. Some were very appreciative, many were entitled, many forgot we were just people, trying to make a difference. Many learned to open up a bank account, buy car insurance, pay off debts, pay child support, cut thier first CD, finish a project for the first time EVER in thier lives, pay rent on time, buy clothes for the first time, get all their affairs in order, call thier families for the first time since getting out of prison. Driving to Wilson N.C. to see a person's mother, since prison, for the first time clean(drugfree). Tearful moments, heartfelt moments, but as the end draws near, we want a Non Profit that can focus on those who WANT success, and there are real people who want that. We are finding them daily, we just cannot buy homes fast enough to place those deserving families, singles, couples into those homes that are needed.<br />
<br />
In July we will purchase our 4th home into the non profit, after we once again, re-gut a home that the tenants decided wasn't worth thier time to take care of. That is what we are done with: disrespect, entitlement, freebies, no accountability, no ownership.<br />
<br />
Pray for us. We really believe we have THE best life ever, we are NOT Done until God closes the door, we are not DONE with what God has called us to. We have done nothing but learn from our mistakes, our failures and our successes. <br />
We have learned more about the City of Richmond than we ever knew, and it's not all good, far from what is needed. We have learned that the systems are over loaded, broken, taxed, workers have too big of case loads, many hate thier jobs, most are a little jaded with people. Many of the big non profits pay a lot of money out in salaries and get all the grants....We are not done yet. <br />
<br />
With every failure or mistake we grow wiser and we just keep adjusting our methods. At many times it feels a little like a cat and mouse game, or "Survivor"..."Out Wit, Out Last, Out Play!"<br />
We have a model that works, now we find those people interested in real life changes, and can take on the accountability and responsibilty of homeownership, which is not easy. If you have never owned a home, it's scary, if you don't have a savings, it's scary, you live in fear something will break. Many in poverty live in Crisis, we, HUM, are digging in until we succeed! We are not exactly sure what that looks like, but I think in time, we will be able to "FEEL" it!<br />
<br />
Thanks to so many who continue to support our dreams and visions, we are determinded to make a difference in our lifetime. We know, we have a sustainable model, we intend to succeed. We feel called.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-38720822079507650642015-05-16T08:29:00.001-04:002015-05-16T08:29:48.786-04:00What can you see?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cD_7V7aLUqI/VVc4DJFW_bI/AAAAAAAAWMk/l0D3KnVCHlg/s1600/no%2Bglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cD_7V7aLUqI/VVc4DJFW_bI/AAAAAAAAWMk/l0D3KnVCHlg/s400/no%2Bglasses.jpg" /></a></divStory #2<br />
The first day I worked in the feeding program, I learned MOST Homeless over 50 cannot read. Not because they are illiterate, because the need simple reading glasses.<br />
Purchased 25($25) pairs from the DOLLAR store, quietly asked people to read for me from a devotional book, to not cause an UPRISING..simple method.<br />
If you cannot read, you cannot fill out applications, forms, read what you are signing..etc Reading helps you dream you can make it! I bought every level but 1.0, most are past that.<br />
Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-67917883917476235412015-05-16T08:25:00.001-04:002015-05-16T08:36:21.002-04:00Can You give 5 mins of your time?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNgMjS62yJo/VVc26Ra_bhI/AAAAAAAAWMc/kRE76t4zWds/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNgMjS62yJo/VVc26Ra_bhI/AAAAAAAAWMc/kRE76t4zWds/s400/blog.jpg" /></a></divStories from Homeless in RIchmond Va. (Coversation might last 5 mins (4th Monday)<br />
I met a mother & son, Donna(age 60) & Jeffrey(45), I sat down and asked how we could serve them bettter. Mother replies, "We are happy for the free meal". Asking if they are homeless the mother replies "No, we are both on SSI(disability) and live in a dowtown hotel, that takes most of our money to live, by the end of the month, we have very little left, so we are thankful to this church for serving lunch(2nd Pres)." They cannot afford regular housing, thier only options are cheap hotels, they tell me it's clean, and they get thier sheets changed once a week. I look at the son, who I later find out is my sisters age, b/c he gave me his birthdate. I tell him he looks sad, "are you OK?" He replies, "I'm Bipolar, I haven't had meds for one year." Me, "that must be tough, is there a reason you went off of them?" "I lost my medicaid card, we've moved so much, they told me it was sent a year ago, but it never came." <br />
I offered to call for him, at first he was reluctant to give me his info, I got as far as I could with medicaid, they wouldn't give me his info. I did call them at thier hotel, and tell them what needed to be done, They told me "We'll see you next Monday, the hotel charges us for being on the phone!" The were tickled to get the Medicaid NUMBER (Toll Free), Donna needed reading glasses, to them, thier world was better.<br />
BTW: There is Disability housing in Richmond, the application is 65 pages long, its available. I don't know enough about it. It's more prorated for thier income. I will find out more about it, but this couple tells me they are moving to OHIO at the end of the month, going to move where family is.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-37393972116463365962015-04-17T09:58:00.005-04:002015-04-17T09:58:59.185-04:00What have YOU learned over the last 4 years? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv4BBunK2Kw/VTAtQTl2-WI/AAAAAAAAWK4/I-rE5mMHuRw/s1600/graduation-cap-four-years-later.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv4BBunK2Kw/VTAtQTl2-WI/AAAAAAAAWK4/I-rE5mMHuRw/s320/graduation-cap-four-years-later.jpg" /></a></div>
In April 2012, I went to Atlanta Ga. to meet Bob Lupton, author and Urban leader for 40 years of Urban Community Development and planning. Meeting Bob Lupton changed me for the following 4 years(and still), I feel like I have been in college once again for the last 4(8 years total, could have had my Ph.D by now) years, sadly graduation doesn't look like it's in sight. I have been in touch with Mr. Lupton every year since meeting him in Atlanta, last time we met was Dec. 2014, again, he filled me with great inspiration and great recommendations, still more changes and learning that needed to take place.
When I started thinking I should be "doing more" for MY community, I was green and naive, had zero idea what lied ahead for my life(thanks be to God), EXCEPT, I knew, what I was doing on a daily weekly basis wasn't what I was being called to do. I had such a tugging, but had no idea what I should do or what it all meant.
2007 Help was needed in a church food pantry in the Northside, friends told me, it was thier home church, so I said..."Let's go!" This is where God had me start, right here in the thick of things, good and bad.
2009 I was still helping in that corner of the back of that local church, still not content that what I was doing was really making a transforming difference, I of course wasn't thinking that deeply, just doing what I knew, but knew very little. Each day that passed I learned and loved, I wasn't even sure what my purpose was except to build relationships with the community, I only knew that for sure. Love.
2009 We began the process of becoming a 501(c)3: Hands Up Ministries www.HUMinistries.org Finalized in 2009
As we waited for our non profit, JT(my husband) and I agreed, to liquidate our IRA, and we purchased 5 homes with our own money, in Northside(affordable housing was our thoughts) certain folks would follow, that was something that never happened. We now own 6 homes, including our own, we were bonkers, having no idea what was in our future again, Thanks be to God!
2011 Hands Up Ministries took another HUGE leap of Faith, we discoverd by random surveys, what most of our friends talked about repeatedly, was Housing. Affordable, Landlords Not Slumlords, and the possibility of Home ownership. "Holy Smokes Batman!", it was a leap of Faith we needed to take, we purchased our first non profit home, 2600 sq feet with non profit funds, we finally had enough money saved to buy this home in cash, then had to sink another $20,000 into renovations before we could let the first resident move in. There was a great need(and still is) for housing for single men, LONG STORY, but we were willing to try. We were definitely a wreck, this was the first home of this type. We dreamed of 10 men first, 2 in each bedroom, then we learned many had served YEARS in prison, stacked man over man, the dignified thing to do, was one person per bedroom(5 bedroom home). We thought we would open the house to those leaving drug rehab, and prison, but we were smart enough to insist on a job prior to moving in. We were highly unqualified for this group of people, with addictions, but we were willing. We were not successful in every aspect, but again, we learned a great deal. I was able to finally discern crack from heroin, something new in my life. I was lied to constantly, I was too kind, taken advantage of, rents weren't paid, it was a tough road, but we tried it, and we once again, learned a great deal about recovery and addictions. What we didin't do, was hire a manager who had years of recovery to guide us. Lesson learned 101.
2015 Four years of renting to men, we have changed our M.O. The above home will soon be a home for a family of three, we have finally found our niche, when we can find a family or singles who WANT a home, who can take care of a home, who value the accountability and responsibility, we are finally onto something. June 1, we move our first family into this HUGE home, we have housed over 50 men in this house, finally, with enough grit and grind, we are praying for a smooth 2015/2016 and more lessons learned. Currently, we have three non profit homes all 3 homes are filled with familes and couples who HUM is the microlender, no banks involved, the families save money, they would not have other qualified through a mortage brooker of ANY kind, this is a win win, for HUM and it becomes a sustainable non profit, and our tennants (through lots of education) become homeowners. We currently have mortages they all can afford and are no higher than they were paying in rent. This is how we will develope the neighborhood, take out the blighted homes, the folks who are peddling drugs will see, there is a new sherrif in town, not me, but new HOMEOWNSERS have reason now to take personal responsibility for THEIR neighborhood, it's not my neighborhood, its taking the neighborhood BACK, and not through gentrification.
More personal stories to come, just wanted to quickly bring you up to date.
Still in school, have learned a GREAT deal and willing to learn more, 8 years later. Hanging on nails embedded tightly, with God's Grace.
Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-57302853119998842772015-04-16T07:39:00.003-04:002015-04-16T17:34:11.002-04:00Nuts and Bolts of Running a Non Profit: Everyday stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUYyCpN_FBE/VS-VJualj_I/AAAAAAAAWKU/S-HFY6Xm6vo/s1600/nuts%2Band%2Bbolts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUYyCpN_FBE/VS-VJualj_I/AAAAAAAAWKU/S-HFY6Xm6vo/s320/nuts%2Band%2Bbolts.jpeg" /></a></div>
I'm back, my head is full of stories, ups and downs, and they are long at times and they are painful. They are joy filled stories and they keep me plooding along in the trenches. The last time I wrote was April 2012, hard to believe I even wrote that long, but now, I know writing saves me.
Running and starting a non profit isn't easy, keeping it running isn't easy, I heard a statistic that most Non profits crumble after 3 years, well I can see why now, but that will NOT happen here. Not today. There is so much work to be done, people to meet, houses to fill and give to families who qualify. What is taking so long? I want to share some of our stories, that you may not have heard.
Yesterday, we have a home that is close to 100 years old, the HVAC was being replaced,($8000) last month, same home a broken water pipe from the city meter tour house of course...! More cash. I decided to walk downtown while the guys were working, I talked to the tennant, who is really a great friend, he agreed he would help watch the car, while I went downtown. The last thing he said to me when I got back, was "I cannot believe you, a white woman, would walk 8 miles, through the worst part of town, not be scared, and not be afraid."
I thought about that as I was walking, I wasn't afraid, I had friends yell out to me..."Ms. Cassie, why are you walking?" Just walking. So happy to be there, and realizing my friends WALK everywhere, everyday! I look at it as: "Oh goody" I'm gonna TRY to walk 8 miles today, they are doomed into walked 8 or more miles everyday. What I call exercise, is life for most in the city without cars, bikes, or bus fare.
I walked by so many beautiful churches, empty buildings, empty warehouses, and I walked by many homeless spots, where feces was present, cardboard was waiting for another night. The cardboard keeps the ground cold from seeping into your bones, or the bugs from easy access. These spots were a little hidden, not too much, because I stayed on the sidewalk. I noticed police walking around, like at any MOMENT, there would be a HUGE disruption, walked right past me, didn't speak. I need to teach classes on kindness. If I didn't speak yesterday(I was listening to music) I SMILED BIG, and you knew I was smiling at YOU! My friends smiled back, most. In fact I was on 3rd ave, coming back home, waving like Princess Diana to families on their porches, and I rolled my ankle, the side walk is NOT level. Something that Wyndham never experiences. I really enjoyed my walk, but my heart was so angry at ALL the delapedated, blighted empty homes in the city, something we as "suburban haves" would NEVER tolerate. These empty homes cause so much danger, fires, loss of lives, squatting, unpaid taxes, risks to passerbys. I saw one home with bricks on the roof...i was wondering..."what in the world?, Who would heave bricks on the roof"...silly me, the chimney had collapsed. At any moment, those bricks will fall off and nail someone in the head, they will probaby die, who is at fault? People are and can sue for anything, but when a brick falls on your head as you are walking on the sidewalk...who is at fault? NOT THE CITY! YOu cannot sue the city, we have tried. It is so hard to see the INJUSTICE of the HAVE NOTS and JUST because we have "money" we are considered the "haves." We just pick up our fancy phone, and let the "county" know, there is some stuff going on next door and I WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF! Heartache in the city, what can YOU do? What can I do more, I have done very little.
Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-77873016722136947652012-04-02T23:36:00.001-04:002012-04-02T23:40:47.822-04:00What Spending a Day with Bob Lupton Does for your soul<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itKK4eGKc04/T3pwVHWkHeI/AAAAAAAATDQ/LGfomOuYSIc/s1600/poor.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itKK4eGKc04/T3pwVHWkHeI/AAAAAAAATDQ/LGfomOuYSIc/s200/poor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727013384208260578" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adW9UeXp8-0/T3pwU6V1clI/AAAAAAAATDI/4UAu9hqtq7g/s1600/love%2BGod.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adW9UeXp8-0/T3pwU6V1clI/AAAAAAAATDI/4UAu9hqtq7g/s200/love%2BGod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727013380715541074" /></a><br />Dear HUM Friends, April 2, 2012<br />Life in the city continues; when you are asking God for Big things, you better be prepared for BIG things. Went to Atlanta to See/hear Bob Lupton: Author of “Toxic Charity” read this. <br />Just when you think you are “doing it right”, you might(will) find out there are better ways to love those in poverty…in a more healthy empowering way. The FreeMarket has always giving me joy and angst at the same time, we must look for new ways to “offer” clothing in a healthier manner i.e…Thrift store with affordable prices. When we give away everything to “The Poor” we may be taking away their dignity, and enabling an already “toxic” system. When we rent to a neighborhood, instead of offering affordable “buying” opportunities, you may be lowering the development of a historically black community that wants to sustain their heritage. When we “rich” go in and buy up a predominantly black neighbor hoods and fill the homes with “All white neighbors” this drives up the cost of the neighbors homes and blacks who want to stay/buy in their neighborhood, have no buying power, again we drive out the poor neighbors’..to where? Where do they go..Public housing, where we coral our friends and give them no opportunities to get out of Poverty.<br />This is just what I am hearing through “Professionals” who have “done this”-Urban development a lot longer than me. This is just my thoughts and concerns. I (HUM) want to make a difference, not add to an already growing dilemma.<br />So..What to do? Well the first step in changing anything, is to educate yourself and others, that’s what the Number #1 step is. When our kids are struggling in school, we tell them..Study…Study Harder. When we want children in poverty to improve in school, we tutor them, we educate them…we strive to give them opportunities to get out through education. It is no different for me...Educate myself on healthy opportunities at the root issues of poverty.<br />I tell my VCU students often: Understand “Why” first, and then make sound decisions on “How you can help.” Doing what we already know, without change is “insanity”…looking for different results?<br />So this change I know..will take time, but I need to make a conscious decision what is not working needs to stop. We need a thrift store in Highland Park, we need investors to buy homes for the poor and let them buy them back from YOU! We need to get involved in food co ops…education of God’s people on How can we “do this” in a healthier manner. <br />I do know, there are people who want to LIVE The Bible…..There are people whose hearts are genuine, and there are people who just want to donate a coat and move on. As Christians, we CAN make a difference, walking the Gospel, loving others without hurting them. We wouldn’t give our kids an xbox, new car, ipod, new clothes, every time they asked…I wouldn’t. We apply the same principles to our friends.<br />Bob Lupton Quotes: (who is Bob? 40 years of Christian Community Developer in Atlanta.)<br />” Never do for the poor what they have or could have the capacity to do for themselves.”<br />“Limit one way giving to emergency situations.”<br />“Strive to empower the poor through employment, lending and investing…using grants sparingly to reinforce achievements.”……<br />There is so much more. Educate yourself; let’s make a difference in this lifetime for God…for the Sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf…Now is the time. <br />Think this over during Holy Week, Remind yourself Why Jesus died…I feel pretty certain it wasn’t for us to have a pure and selfish lifetime, to gather as much as we can for us….how much is enough?<br /><br />What can you do this week or to get started?<br />Come to freemarket this sat. April 7 8-11, prescreening for jobs, Relationship building! 3121 Moss Side Ave 23222 <br />HUM transitional House Rehab. 2411 4th Ave: 8-2pm Skilled Laborers NEEDED…We have employed city guys up to this week..Now we need drywall hangers, mudders, ceramic tile folks, tongue and grove wood replacement, plumbers to put in a tub and vanities….No children under 16 this week.<br />Tutoring Wed nights 5:15-7:15 Dinner and Education 3121 Moss Side Ave collaborating with Northminster Church! All are welcome, as long as your kids know…it is a “Tutoring Night.”<br />Spring break “Fruit of the Spirit”- April 10, 11, 12: 10a-2pm, opportunity for City children who have nothing to do, no fancy vacations…Spring Fun and and loving children. 3121 Moss Side Ave. 23222<br />Every Wed. 9-12, come to FreeMarket and relate..Hang out, knit, sort clothes, offer your gifts. 3121 Moss Side Ave. 23222<br />Better Idea? Want to buy a home…let’s meet. Email: cassie.matthew@gmail.com<br />Thanks so much, for your constant prayers, for giving what you can and asking when you don’t know….We are open to your heart and what god has called YOU to.<br />Blessings this Holy Week,<br />Faithfully His,<br />Cassie MatthewCassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-87834338616666378932012-03-13T18:20:00.004-04:002012-03-13T19:13:48.874-04:00When you walk in obedience you better wear a belt.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_TKSsRjSfU/T1_Ihg-lBUI/AAAAAAAATC0/4F-pzI5EwUI/s1600/2411%2B4th%2Bave%2B051.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_TKSsRjSfU/T1_Ihg-lBUI/AAAAAAAATC0/4F-pzI5EwUI/s200/2411%2B4th%2Bave%2B051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719510529897465154" /></a><br />It's been a year to date....since I've written here. Should I go back? Or start here..I'm too tired to go back, but the stories are so incredible you can't thank God properly without going back. HOWEVER..I'm not going back today.<br />I miss writing, it has been a long time since I shared my true feelings, I am often afraid. There are "things" I feel best left not shared, i just tell God, He reassures me. Over the last three years I've had to sensor my feeling and my thoughts before I spew them out, some of that is a good thing, some of it hurts.<br />Let me begin with the JOY of walking in obedience, being patient, waiting on God to deliver THE Dream in HIS timing, it feels long, but looking back it is pretty snappy. We finally bought our first Ministry Home, we are taking another step out in faith b/c it is SOOOO BIG, 2600 sq feet, five bedrooms, and we didn't have an inspection, (It wouldn't have mattered) so we unknowingly bought a home with a built in pool..inside. The entire house leaks..and you know I embellish for a good story but this time it's true. The kitchen pipes leak the supply lines leak, BROKEN leak...NOT just leak BROKE! But still I marvel at the house HUM has purchased. I see it with 7 guys in it, in recovery, from addiction, so far God isn't seeing it that way(the neighbor doesn't want us there either..poor thing). But we have some time to wait to see if HE wants what we want.<br />The beauty of this house and all it's rehab is that it has allowed us such great opportunities with Disciple Now Kids from New Hanover Presbyterian Church, Disciple Now Youth from Glen Allen Baptist, the kids are amazing creatures wanting to be part of THE change! One child ask me "are HOBOS living her?" Awe poor darlin'..this is good for you to come, there are no such things as HOBOS....what are they talking about at his home? Another child says. "I didn't realize people lived in places like this?" Yikes..I love this house, 1910, reminds me of my grandmother's farm house....Really high ceilings, porch on the front, I imagine swinging out there with my buds....a back yard that is filled with a beautiful birch tree....lots of shade, maybe a place for horse shoes? These are my dreams for my guys. A safe place, nice home, we are currently gutting the entire kitchen, gutting entire bathrooms, painting the entire house, two new windows.....My plumber says "You know this is a rental right?" I said "I do know that, but do you know i think these guys deserve what i deserve?" God says so..so I want it to be nice, maybe I'm naive, he thinks so. The beauty of my friends..they are now WORKING for the ministry, getting paid wages respectful of men, still NOT what they are worth, but not $7.25 an hour either at 58 years of age.<br />My plumber friend "Darryl" says.."Ms. Cassie...you've got to be careful hiring guys from the city...I said "Thank you Darryl", "I have been praying for these guys for three years." God has finally answered our prayers, and so far, He is sending us Honorable men. We trust Him. We meet our guys between 2008-2012, at the FreeMarket, a place that hasn't always been fun, but it a place where God tells me to meet my friends. I am comfortable there, it's like home. I notice others who come and run..they seem uncomfortable. I wonder why. I do understand it though..it's so good to stretch your faithful muscles. <br />I love when my friend Wally comes and sings, like he is in a Pub, my friends are so happy to see Wally...He is a beautiful man. He shares his gift with all of us, and he is so kind. he says..."so many want to learn to play the guitar?" OH I say..."maybe you should teach them?"<br />So while i was rushing God to hurry up and get us "THERE" He was helping me to build perfect relationships with friends who I now trust, and they trust me. They know i will pay them, they know I will bring them lunch sometimes. I listen...and actually they ask about my children. There are goats, but God told me there would be. The goats do not enter the gate.<br />The journey is getting close to changing, I feel it, so many community workers who come and help out, but not always with good intentions...i don't like that part...God will fix it. I trust him, every time someone complains, i remind them..God is going to fix IT. No matter what it is. This is not me, I'm a runner, i leave and go when i don't like something...this time i was asked to stay..only by the whispers of God. "Stay focused Cassie...Stay focused" I will prevail.(God) It's been an amazing ride to get here..and guess what...we are headed up the first hill on the Rebel Yell..seems like the ride might be WILD!<br />For your support and constant prayers, and for loving my friends, and for new friends, for VCU students and NorthMinster and Atlee.....I give thanks and God all the Glory! I Am so GRATEFUL....EVERYDAY!Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-80528196128024011772011-03-13T22:25:00.000-04:002011-03-13T22:25:00.660-04:00Virginia Tech Goes to Hands Up Ministries For Spring Break<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tMp27CS9WQY?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-86099741916221098102011-03-13T22:23:00.000-04:002011-03-13T22:23:43.971-04:00Alice's First Birthday Party<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4ntSC8NWx0Y?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-66278123404495009602010-06-25T16:55:00.001-04:002010-06-25T17:00:40.667-04:00Annapolis Women Give<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUYNjnQiQI/AAAAAAAAOu8/WDdc6RxP7Jg/s1600/Jekylle+504.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUYNjnQiQI/AAAAAAAAOu8/WDdc6RxP7Jg/s200/Jekylle+504.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486818342198085890" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUYNWx64zI/AAAAAAAAOu0/cnXuawCeUrE/s1600/24930_1338585319037_1663275855_812888_7211473_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 98px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUYNWx64zI/AAAAAAAAOu0/cnXuawCeUrE/s200/24930_1338585319037_1663275855_812888_7211473_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486818338753143602" /></a>Dear Annapolis Chicklets:<br /><br />Thanks to so many for your fabulous donations for Haiti and the Ministry in general. So many have given to the "FreeMarket" and I want you to know how impactful that has been. Not to mention $1470 was raised at Liz's incredible night of "Womanade". Thanks Liz, but mostly for the fabulous women who shared their own stories, never underestimate the power of women ...together we can change the world, Mother Theresa did.(Of course WE are Gods hands and feet..He is waiting for us)<br /><br />The photos of the two girls are of "Melody & Janiece" homeless girls we are housing until their parents can get on their feet, many of you have made a tremendous impact by your giving, they came with nothing, now they are purging to give to the freemarket of items they can finally let go of.<br /><br />With the ongoing planning to Haiti, God always gives us more, today I spent time with a refugee couple from Ethiopia, he, Jirom, arrived 7 months ago, after a long lottery wait, she, Tirhas, has been here much longer, long enough to go to a local HS to get her HS diploma. What now...I pray for a mentor for them, to get them up and running, but our world, is not easy to maneuver. With jobs online, they have no computer, with transportation issues, they have no car and no license...for folks who want a better life, we(US) make it pretty dogawn hard to jump through so many hoops. Gratefully, the US accepts them, these are just the kind of friends I want to be with..fighters! Folks who just need a "Hand-Up"!!!!!!!!!!<br />Pray for folks to step in...and their courage not to waiver.<br /><br />But I must tell you...without each other, this is more than one person can bear...so I am humbled by your giving, I am grateful for your time...I am thankful for my new sweet friends.<br /><br />For those of you who are moved to missions...Townsend, Rhonda, Liz & I are headed to Zimbabwe in 2012.to visit Townsend's old stomping ground...an orphanage that changed her life!..hope you'll be ready to go by then.....you only have this one life...there is no "do over"...let's go.<br /><br />Rhonda & I leave for Haiti in one month July 20-28..want to go? One ticket, $500 bucks, and a heart for loving is all you need...maybe one or two shots...come along.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-79301811651914402612010-06-25T16:03:00.003-04:002010-06-25T16:10:27.441-04:00Homeless Drop In Again<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL9Sh_nBI/AAAAAAAAOug/UmvD_bO-Hx0/s1600/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+504.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL9Sh_nBI/AAAAAAAAOug/UmvD_bO-Hx0/s200/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+504.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486804868595162130" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL87uY-7I/AAAAAAAAOuY/xXGXgcfTZUQ/s1600/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+276.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL87uY-7I/AAAAAAAAOuY/xXGXgcfTZUQ/s200/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+276.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486804862473141170" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL8iAcEtI/AAAAAAAAOuQ/rtI0XAybPy4/s1600/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+017.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/TCUL8iAcEtI/AAAAAAAAOuQ/rtI0XAybPy4/s200/wet%26wild,+kevin,girls,+bdaypalmer+%26Janice+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486804855569519314" /></a>Dear Friends,<br />So whats happening Now?...<br />Well, it's been a busy three weeks, we've increased our family by two little girls who's home is here for now, their parents are in a ditch with dreams of a home in the future. Many of you have met the girls, they have since finished elementary school,(for the summer) so many have given them beautiful clothes, swimsuits for the summer, we have put one on the swim team.... thanks to GACC for including them so beautifully.Having two more children, girls at that, has brought us many blessings. We have no idea how God is using us, we just are plugging along one day at a time, praying Gods will to be done.<br />We took them on their first vacation to Jekyll island, it was an amazing adventure. Girls with father in photo.<br />The market is flourishing in many ways, as we prepare for Haiti(July 21-28) threw a "Wet & Wild" outreach event that taught us so much,(younger girl in dunk tank) expect little and be thankful for Gods gifts. Thank you to so many personal donations to make such an event happen, we ended financially in the red, but spiritually God filled our cups. HE reminds me often...it's not about my goal, it's about "how are YOU loving others?" So we keep that in mind as we move forward...I hate fundraisers just in case you wanted to know.<br />Third new quest God has dropped in my lap is helping a refugee family from Africa(Ethiopia) just above the Red Sea, HOW do WE help such friends?<br />I went to their home, they needed a microwave and pans...got it. But really they need help in logging hours behind the wheel so "Jihrom" can stop commuting by bus to Fredricksburg to work in a car wash. Tirhas wants to work locally, McDonalds on 301, but they haven't called back. We ran up there to talk to them...."two weeks they tell me." How are these friends supposed to make here in the US w/o support. They have no car, no license, no computer to fill out job applications, they have to walk to the library...when have we ever had to jump such hoops to get a job...an hourly job our 16 year old balk at taking, let alone a man and a woman. What is God asking of us...is it really so hard to help others? Truthfully, it's easier to help at my convienience...one time events, run the track, drop in to sort clothes, give money, but stay with these folks long term? Become friends? Really God? Is that what you want from me? <br />I really think it is...will I? I'd rather sit at the pool. I'd rather pretend "I'm so busy" living my own life. Taking care of my own children....going on vacation, making memories, cleaning my long overdue home.Please everyone in my family...what are we told to do in Gods word?<br />Love one another as Christ has loved me. OK God...I'm going to try.<br /> <br />Friends in Annapolis, I'm grateful, for your love, for your donations, for your stories, for your desire to get involved from afar. Lets continue to listen to God, and read His word and try to really ask..."Am I living His purpose for my life?"<br /> <br />Market Needs:<br />Preparing for fall: need all old backpacks, usable school supplies, & lunchboxes...when you buy yours think of our friends.<br />Mens' clothing esp summer shorts, polo shirts, short sleeve dress shirts,<br />used underwear & socks.<br />Anything else is a bonus!<br />Love to you all..I welcome your comments & concerns.<br />Faithfully His,<br />CassieCassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023144061844382246.post-18286951747758027382010-04-20T01:08:00.003-04:002010-04-20T01:35:26.998-04:00Putting God Before the Money<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803I8ebFQI/AAAAAAAAKvI/vB5Tc-ikbj8/s1600/freemarket+wedding+009.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803I8ebFQI/AAAAAAAAKvI/vB5Tc-ikbj8/s200/freemarket+wedding+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462082549882492162" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803IdxQIuI/AAAAAAAAKvA/OJZFpT4VCzw/s1600/freemarket+wedding+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803IdxQIuI/AAAAAAAAKvA/OJZFpT4VCzw/s200/freemarket+wedding+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462082541639967458" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803H_D6mFI/AAAAAAAAKu4/3aIvN0tHfbI/s1600/freemarket+wedding+007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803H_D6mFI/AAAAAAAAKu4/3aIvN0tHfbI/s200/freemarket+wedding+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462082533396748370" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803HATlP9I/AAAAAAAAKuw/QEZ8jVcoSTw/s1600/freemarket+wedding+006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5bOLQMDLI7M/S803HATlP9I/AAAAAAAAKuw/QEZ8jVcoSTw/s200/freemarket+wedding+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462082516551024594" /></a><br /><br />FreeMarket Phillip & Angela decide to Marry. It's a beautiful story, their love for each other i am unsure of how long they have been together, but I have known them from the FM over one year. Deb has read the Bible to them every third Sat for that entire duration, she has been steadfast in her commitment. Over a month ago the market was quiet, Phillip & Angela were their early to help, so we had some quiet time to talk...we are getting married Phillip says...how amazing i add. Knowing that when a couple gets married their gov't benefits reduce, makes no sense to me..but it's a fact. Phillip assures me, that even after making only $23.00 per day due to support he owes, he feels confident He & Angela are doing the right thing in the eyes of God. The story was one of a kind, one I have never heard much about. I read often about poverty, and a symptom of poverty is caused by men not marrying the mothers of their children, that it is a cultural sign of weakness in the uneducated poor for men. Slowly, Phillip decides to be a good witness for his children.<br />The wedding was this past Sat., I arrived 5 mins late, not knowing where it was...but I wasn't late after all...the wedding coordinators had yet to arrive, the bride was dressed since 1:30, sweaty and shaky, Deb sat in her air conditioned car waiting with the cake Sherri had so generously made. The macaroni & cheese sat on a table by the pews, balloons bounced all around, the preacher read from a script with a difficulty pronouncing the words...Hmmm i think, this is different...different from my wedding. That is what God reminds me...we are all different, and that is just the way He made us...we aren't meant to do things or be the same. So just because the cake was the only thing I recognized as my normal...I am reminded that Phillip & Angela were so happy and so thrilled to be giving their lives to God and each other...that nothing else really mattered to them...and guess what, they saved about $10,000 dollars that I threw away 19 years ago, trying to make the wedding look perfect, never putting God even close to the front. I'd do it all over and have just the same wedding Angela & Phillip had today.<br />By the way...on the day of Phillips wedding, he announces...."I got a full time job, with benefits from the temp job I've been working at...putting together boxes!" I'm so happy for him... I was blessed to be a small part of a beautiful moment.Cassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488207053253335171noreply@blogger.com0