Christmas Wisdom From A Wise Theologian

I recently ran across this from J.I Packer in Knowing God. Wise words indeed!

We talk glibly of the “Christmas spirit,” rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. But . . . it ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians–I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians–go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians–alas, they are many–whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.

The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor–spending and being spent–to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others–and not just their own friends–in whatever way there seems need.

There are not as many who show this spirit as there should be. If God in mercy revives us, one of the things he will do will be to work more of this spirit in our hearts and lives. If we desire spiritual quickening for ourselves individually, one step we should take is to seek to cultivate this spirit. “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, than though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:32 KJV)

 

What Causes Homelessness - Part 3

HomeAid America lists these factors as contributing causes of homelessness:

• Tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, divorce and family disputes.
• Life impacting impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities.
• Financial challenges resulting from unexpected expenses due to divorce, unexpected illness, sudden job loss, foreclosure, and even natural disaster.

One major contributor to homelessness is substance abuse. Although the recent epidemic of heroin use and overdose has captured the headlines, those who work with homeless individuals have long understood that homelessness is quite often secondary to substance abuse. A person's family may have no other recourse than to disassociate themselves from their loved one's self-destructive behavior.

Since 1893, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley has provided a safety net for people who experience homelessness. The causes vary but the end result is often the same; life altering circumstances bring people to our door. With your help, we will continue to provide hope, help, and a home to those who, at least for a season, have no other place to call home.

What Causes Homelessness - Part 2

Why do people experience homelessness? There is no quick and easy answer. It is easy and common to blame a stagnant or failing economy. The fallacy with that argument is that, when the economy turns around, homelessness should decrease. Most studies have shown that there has been no significant decrease in the number of those who experience homelessness in the last decade. If anything, the number is rising with little regard to the health or decline in the national economy. This rise in the homeless population is cause for concern.

Establishing a number of those who experience homelessness is difficult to do. A 2007 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness states the “Every year, 600,000 families with 1.3 million children experience homelessness in the United States, making up about 50 percent of the homeless population over the course of the year.” (http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-on-homeless-families). The National Center on Family Homelessness places that number now at 2.5 million children. “This “historic high represents one in every 30 children in the United States” (http://www.air.org/center/national-center-family-homelessness).

Every year in January, agencies involved in addressing homelessness conduct a “point-in-time” count to gauge the national situation on a given night. This past January,

·         There were 564,708 people experiencing homelessness in the United States.

·         Sixty-nine percent of those who were homeless were in sheltered locations and 31 percent were found in unsheltered locations (streets, abandoned buildings, cars, etc.).

·         Nearly one-quarter (23 percent or 127,787) of all homeless people were children, under the age of 18. 

·         Ten percent (or 52,973) were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 66 percent (or 383,948) were 25 years or older. (https://projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness)

So the question remains, why? Unless we understand the causes of homelessness we will be ineffective in our attempts to address the issue. We will continue this topic with a look at some of the issues that contribute to homelessness.

 

What Causes Homelessness? Part One

Mercifully, the election is over and the post-election posturing has begun. As in most election cycles, the economy has been front and center in voter’s minds. Will our economy improve or worsen under a new administration? Will more jobs be created? Will unemployment decrease? Will wages rise?

The data is in for our most recent fiscal year (ended on September 30). On average in 2016, 119 men, women and children found shelter on any given night at the Rescue Mission. When sharing this number in the community, it is common to hear this response, “It is no wonder the number is high, given the state of the economy.” Popular opinion links episodes of homelessness with the fate of the economy. However, we have learned that there is no clear correspondence between economic conditions and the number of people who experience homelessness.

Certainly, poverty and unemployment are factors in episodes of homelessness. But, at least in the Mahoning Valley, we have witnessed an interesting trend. When the economy “tanked” in 2008, the average number of people who sought shelter at the Rescue Mission was 63. That average number dropped to 56 in 2009. As conditions began to improve, our numbers began to rise: 65 in 2010; 78 in 2011; 85 in 2012; 101 in 2013; 122 in 2014; and 131 in 2015.

How do we explain these rising numbers? Perhaps the larger question is this: “if poverty is a contributor to homelessness, what, then, causes poverty?” Why do people experience homelessness? We will look at this in the next post.

Election Day and Beyond

The term “election” brings shivers – whether one speaks in political or theological terms. Our purpose is not to delve into matters of a theological nature nor, is it to take a political position. Nonetheless, the continual exposure to the current political conversation is inescapable. We do not know who will be elected our next president. No matter who wins, this election will be historic. However, on November 9 we are confident that some things will not change:

• The doors of the Rescue Mission will be open.
• There will still be about 120 people who will find shelter at the Mission.
• The Mission will serve meals to nearly 185 people.
• Hope will continue to be found in the gospel that is proclaimed daily at the Mission.
• And regardless who will occupy the Oval Office, God will still be in control.

We've Got You Covered

Altrusa International of Youngstown met at the Canfield Library during August to make blankets for the Rescue Mission. This was a project for their “Make a Difference Day.” President –elect Janet Haladay, Secretary Dianne Leanne, and former Vice President Judy Kane delivered these hand-made blankets to the Mission. Thank you Altrusa for making a difference in the lives of our guests at the Mission.

Open Doors

At the Rescue Mission, our doors are always open. They are open, not only for people who are experiencing homelessness, but they are open for visitors and volunteers as well. This week we were honored to have a group of Kent State University nursing students tour the Mission. This “field trip” is part of the “psych” rotation in their training.

Crystal Eckman, our Mission Ambassador and tour guide extraordinaire reports that they really enjoyed the tour. “They had a really, really good time.” Thanks, KSU students for stopping by.

Call and schedule a tour or just stop by. Our doors are always open.

Unsolicited Testimonials

Mercy College of Ohio, a nursing school affiliated with St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, recently brought several groups of nursing students to tour and learn about homelessness in the Mahoning Valley. Afterwards, they were required to evaluate their visit and share their impressions.

Here are several of the comments from the students:

I had no idea the Mission had job and educational programs. I also learned just because you have to attend a mission doesn't necessarily mean you're "lazy" or a "bum." Hardship can effect anyone at anytime. I am grateful for this program in our area.

I live 10 minutes from the Mission and I never knew it was there. I pass groups of people on my way to school and home from school who I never really paid attention to, who are most likely homeless or addicted to drugs and alcohol, but I always looked away. Before today I believed homelessness was, in a way, a choice. These people probably got addicted to drugs, although they knew the consequences but made the decision to do illegal drugs anyway and it led to their homelessness; so it was their choice or their fault they're in that situation. Although that is true of some individuals, I learned it could happen to anyone. It could happen to me or someone I love. You don't have to be addicted to drugs to be homeless; you could just fall on hard times in life... Those who are willing to pick themselves back up after they've hit rock bottom deserve and need a place like the Mission to feel like they're members of society again.

Instructor Annette Henrichs said "In their evals, they rated the Mission 100%. Thanks for all you do."

Thank you Mercy College of Ohio Nursing Students!

Yes, We Do That Too!

This is Rev. Dave Wyant filling the pulpit at Sharon Baptist Church in Sharon, PA. This church has called a new Pastor who will begin on August 7. In the meantime, they reached out for help in filling the pulpit. Dave is a faithful volunteer who speaks every Sunday at the Mission for the 9:00 a.m. church service. Dave, whose wife is the Director of Development at the Rescue Mission, is working toward a PhD. in Biblical Studies. His goal is to become "the most over-qualified volunteer in Mission history." Dave loves to study and preach God's Word!

We have several men at the Mission who are willing and able to provide pulpit supply. Dave is one of 3 men who have been active this summer preaching and representing the Mission at area churches. If you are interested in having a Mission representative speak about the Rescue Mission or provide a message for a Sunday morning service, please contact Ron Starcher, Director of Church Relations. He can be reached at 330-744-5485 or Rstarcher@RescueMissionMV.org

Tent City Closed

For the past several years, visitors to downtown Youngstown have noticed an encampment popularly called "Tent City." Last year, some well-meaning advocates encouraged people to donate blankets, food, and clothing items to the people who were living along the railroad tracks near the Mahoning River.

Last week, city officials have begun to clear out these encampments. YPD Chief Lees cites good reasons for this in a recent interview that you can see here. There are many resources available to help people who experience homelessness. No one needs to live in a tent. The issue is that some individuals refuse help because the help offered comes with accountability.

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley provides emergency shelter so that no one will have to live in a tent. If someone really wants help, we are here, thanks to the generous support of faithful donors in the community.   

This is Who We Are

The Rescue Mission is a conservative, evangelical, Protestant ministry. We make this claim without apology or without trying to be deceptive. We believe in the priority of Scripture, the necessity of personal conversion, and the responsibility to proclaim the gospel. This is a story that we tell whenever we can.

At first glance, claiming to be Protestant may seem to put us at odds with other streams of Christianity. As was mentioned in the previous post, not all Protestants consider themselves to be evangelical. Likewise, not all who call themselves Christian consider themselves to be Protestant. The largest “denomination” within Christendom is represented by the Catholic Church, Roman and otherwise. From the different streams of Catholicism, the Mission has supporters, clients, volunteers, partner agencies, and even former Board members. So, while we are who we are, we appreciate the diverse contributions from other traditions.

The key is in maintaining our specific identity without alienating those who differ and without compromising our core convictions. I think we do a pretty good job of this. We invite you to come by and check us out.

 

Who Are You, Part Two

In the sidebar of this blog, you can find our well-worded and concise mission statement. This was developed more than 15 years ago to describe the essence of who and what we are as an organization. For many it is sufficient to say that the Rescue Mission is a faith-based organization. For others, it is helpful to know that we are a 501c3, non-profit; still others are encouraged to see us as a Protestant, non-denominational, evangelical, para-church ministry. Admittedly, these tags mean different things to different people. So, to encapsulate the essence of the Rescue Mission’s identity, we may be described in these ways:

We are a non-profit, tax exempt agency. This means that we do not manufacture a product. We sell nothing. We are structured to supply services, not products. As such, we are completely dependent upon outside support. We choose to limit that support to private donations. This means that we do not solicit or receive any government funding.

We are a faith based organization. We do not discriminate in the services we offer on the basis of religious affiliation, but we make no apology that we place great value on the spiritual component. Our worldview informs us that people are more than the physical entities with whom we interact; there is a deeper, spiritual part of humankind that cannot be ignored.

When it comes to our “faith base,” we are decidedly Christian. While we do not withhold services from those who identify themselves with other religions or no religious systems, we are not interested in creating an ecumenical atmosphere that appeals to all. Realizing that this may place us at odds with other faith traditions, we, nonetheless, will stay true to our Christian convictions. Likewise, there is no need to apologize for being labelled as “Christian.” Historically, Christians have been at the forefront of social change by promoting literacy, building hospitals, caring for orphans, etc. It is only recently that Christianity (and all religious belief, for that matter) has been viewed as harmful and dangerous, particularly by the “New Atheists.”

We stand in the stream of evangelical Protestantism. Protestantism is divided between evangelical and mainline. Evangelicals are more concerned with issues like personal conversion, a more literal understanding of Scripture, and the need to evangelize (see the distinction here). Mainline Protestants have a more “modernist” approach to things like Scripture, the need for personal conversion, and the claim that Jesus is the sole means of personal salvation.

This is part of the portrait of the Mission; this is part of who we are. There is more.

Who Are You?

In previous posts, we've put the spotlight on the Discipleship Academy, Family Services, and Food Services. Along with these aspects of our ministry, the Mission is an emergency shelter for homeless men; the Mission provides case management with a full time LSW who supervises social work interns from several universities, and the Mission engages in a robust collaboration with outside social service agencies.

The Mission is not a drug rehabilitation center, although daily we deal with individuals who are in various stages of recovery from addiction. The Mission is not a mental health facility, although we provide shelter for individuals with mental health issues. The Mission is not an employment agency, although a large part of our effort is directed to workforce development that is designed to send people into the marketplace as productive, reliable workers. The Mission is not a church, although we provide a Sunday morning service for those who have no access to weekly worship. The Mission is not a seminary, although we commit a major part of our resources to instructing people in the ways of Scripture and in leading people to become followers of Christ.

The Mission does all of this - but the question of identity is still important. Who or what are we? This question will be more completely addressed in subsequent posts.

Spotlight on Food Services

The Rescue Mission is more than a homeless shelter. As many know, we operate a full service meal program or "soup kitchen." We provide meals for our resident clients and for anyone from the general public who is in need of a hot, nutritious meal. The Mission has served 3 meals daily for most of its history.

 Even though we had a significant leak in the kitchen last week, our food service staff is still on track to serve an average of 631 meals each day, "rain" or shine. As you can tell by the graphic, the average number of meals served daily has increased significantly in the last 10 years.

We rely upon monetary donations, food drives and food donations, volunteer servers and preparers to help in this enormous endeavor. These come along side our 3 full time and one part time food service staff.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate! Call Lynn Wyant to learn the different ways to do this. 
• Volunteer to provide a meal
• Volunteer to prepare a meal
• Volunteer to serve a meal
• Pray for God to continue to preserve our failing infrastructure

Spotlight on Family Service

Many people do not realize that homelessness impacts, not only men, but women, women with children and entire families. In response to the growth of this segment of the homeless population, in 1988 the Rescue Mission opened a family service unit.

This week in Family Services, we have sheltered 27 children, 26 women, and 2 married couples. Imagine if you can, 27 children in a building with no playground, no place to enjoy outdoor activities now that school is out for the summer.

Our house is full with people, with noise, with laughter, and with the love of Christ. Please pray for us during this summer. We are in need of a new facility to more adequately meet the needs of the growing homeless population - especially woman and children. Contact the Mission to learn how you can help.

The Discipleship Academy

Today we turn the spotlight on the Discipleship Academy. The Academy is a program of intensive Bible study and service duties designed to achieve these outcomes in every individual in the Academy:

• Provide a solid foundation for life by introducing men to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Build upon this foundation by grounding the students in the truth of Scripture though doctrinal and expositional studies. Below are but a few of the courses offered:
• Apologetics
• Basic Bible Doctrine
• Church History
• Conflict Resolution
• Expository Teaching (teaching through books of the Bible)
• Goal setting and Action planning.
• Personal Finance
• History of Redemption
• Employment Seeking Skills.
• Equip men in the Academy to become godly fathers/husbands who are strong enough to face the challenges of a world that does not value holiness, Christ-likeness, integrity, and hard work.

You can partner with the Rescue Mission as we help the men in the Discipleship Academy work toward these outcomes.

Keep reading. We will spotlight different ministries in future posts.

Summer Signs

These are sure signs of summer at the Rescue Mission:

• First, our über-volunteer Becky Long is sorting a donation of summer clothing items for our women and children. Space is at a premium at the shelter, so these clothes need to be stored in what space we have available. Thanks, Becky for tackling this difficult task.
• Second, box fans have been purchased to replace ones from last year that were worn out or damaged. Our building really gets hot and the people who stay with us need all the help available to beat the heat.

Storing clothes and buying fans are not likely what comes to mind when thinking of helping individuals who experience homelessness. It is, however, one of those "mundane" tasks that must be accomplished all the time.

Thanks to all who remember us throughout the year as we minster to people in need.

Selfies

Two of our staff members were good sports and allowed us to use them to test drive our "selfie wall" at the Rescue Mission. Crystal Eckman, Mission Ambassador (L) and Robbie Jones, Family Service Manager (R) seem to be enjoying the experience.

When you come to the Mission to tour or volunteer, make sure you have your picture taken in front of our "selfie wall." No, we won't paste it all over social media (without your permission, that is), and yes, there is a lot of laughter at the Rescue Mission. Jesus brings us joy and we are happy to share our joy in Christ with all who come for a visit or for shelter.

Servant's Heart Award

Thanks Director of Development Lynn Wyant for this post:

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning honored seven exceptional volunteers on Wednesday May 4, 2016 at the Emergency Shelter located at 962 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Youngstown, Ohio in a special ceremony. Each of the honorees received the Rescue Mission’s highest volunteer honor – The "Servant’s Heart" Award.

Lynn Wyant, Director of Development explained "This award originated in 2006 to honor one exceptional volunteer. Barbara Clark has since passed away but was a faithful volunteer who cheerfully served the Mission during years of illness. She inspired others and she inspired us so it was decided that we would create a special honor to give to our most dedicated volunteers."

Wyant added, "every year, hundreds of individuals and groups give sacrificially of their time to help the Rescue Mission. Annually, the Mission receives nearly 25,000 hours of donated volunteer time and sincerely appreciates each and every volunteer."

The following individuals were recognized their exceptional efforts to help the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley: Rick Blair III, Madison Goske, Becky Long, Sharon Moser, Kristi Schmitz and Sandi Love & Jacci Bradley.

Run, Rick, Run

Rick Blair is an amazing individual. Besides being a faithful Christ follower, talented musician, and committed family man, he is also a long distance runner. Rick is training to run in the Boston Marathon to be held April 18^th.  Part of his participation involves raising money for a local charity. Rick has chosen to raise funds for the Rescue Mission. His initial goal was $5000.00. When he passed that goal, he set $10,000 as the next benchmark. Having reached that, the new goal is $26,200.00, one thousand dollars for every mile of the Marathon. Here’s the good news: several families have promised to match donations up to $2500.

You may donate to Rick’s cause by visiting his crowdrise site, or by donating directly to the Rescue Mission designated for Rick. Read more about this project in a recent article in the Youngstown Vindicator. And don’t forget to follow Rick’s progress as he prepares and runs in the Boston Marathon.

 

Social Work Month

This month, the Rescue Mission recognizes the great work done by Mrs. Pat Sciaretta (LSW) and her intrepid group of social work student interns. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW):

Celebrated each March, National Professional Social Work Month is an opportunity for social workers across the country to turn the spotlight on the profession and highlight the important contributions they make to society.

Our nations' more than 600,000 social workers have amazing tenacity and talent.

They confront some of the most challenging issues facing individuals, families, communities and society and forge solutions that help people reach their full potential and make our nation a better place to live.

 Thank you, Ms. Pat, Roni Robinson, Christine Peters (LSW), Madison Goske (LSW), Nicole Zarzycki, Theresa Depp (LSW), and Brandy Ogle for the fantastic work you do for our guests at the Rescue Mission.

Take Out Team

A new initiative is underway at the Rescue Mission. We are enlisting local restaurant owners and managers to become part of the Take Out Team. We are asking team members to commit to providing lunch once each month, each quarter, or whatever schedule works best. Participating restaurants can either prepare the meal for take out and we will pick it up or even better, bring it to the Mission with a team of coworkers. There are volunteer opportunities to serve the meal alongside our clients and staff. It's a great team building experience and really will provide a sense that everyone involved has made a difference.

As a Take Out Team Restaurant:

• Your food donation is 100% tax deductible and we can provide you with a receipt.
• We will feature your restaurant name in our dining hall, on our website, and in social media.
• You'll get to know our volunteers, staff, and clients and see firsthand how God is working in Youngstown.

For more information contact our Food Services manager, Rodney Stevens at 330-744-5485.

Seeking the City

Jeremiah 29 gives the text of a letter that the prophet sent to the Jewish people who had been deported to Babylon. Rather than bemoaning their captivity, Jeremiah tells them to “seek the welfare of the city where I sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer. 29:7).  Add to this Jonah’s commission to go to Nineveh, “that great city” (Jonah 1:2, 3: 2-3), and it becomes clear that God has a concern for cities. While modern American Christians think that God works best in the suburbs (hence the proliferation of suburban churches), we neglect the cities to our hurt.

Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in the heart of Manhattan. He has written a blog post called “The Difference Christianity Could Make in the City.” I think what he says could apply to Youngstown, Akron, or any other city.

The Rescue Mission serves the entire Mahoning Valley, but we are located in the city of Youngstown and we are invested here. Will you join us in praying for the welfare of the city?

Lent

Many Christians the world over are making preparations for the Lenten season. Essentially, Lent is observed as a time of fasting in preparation for Easter Sunday. The 40 days before Easter is said to correspond to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness where, according to the Gospel accounts, He fasted for 40 days. Some Christians fast on Ash Wednesday and on every Friday of the season. Many define fasting as forgoing meat on those days.

One wonders if this practice is at all relevant in secularized 21^st century America. It appears as if the idea of “fasting” has become trivialized in our culture. According to Christianity Today, the top five items that people listed in 2015 to give up for Lent were: school, chocolate, Twitter, alcohol, and social networking.

On a more serious note, Pope Francis remarked, in the online edition of Time Magazine, that “fasting must never become superficial.” Francis frequently quotes John Chrysostom who said, “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.” The point of this article is expressed in the next sentence; “so, if we’re going to fast from anything this Lent, Francis suggests that even more than candy or alcohol, we fast from indifference toward others.”

Thus the motivation behind this post: it is surprising to learn of the things from which people will vow to abstain, almost as a joke, but neglect paying attention to the things that matter. This is reminiscent of the word of Jesus to the Pharisees; “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others (Matthew 23:23).

Here’s the reality: while some are voluntarily abstaining from chocolate, Twitter, Facebook, donuts, or what have you, others are going without adequate food, appropriate clothing, or habitable shelter. This is not voluntary. This is called homelessness. Instead of making a game out of a serious season, why not vow to make a difference in someone’s life. Contact the Rescue Mission and we can show you how.

Point-in-Time

 

Photo: Barbara Davidson/LA Times

January is the month for the annual point-in-time (PIT) count across the nation. HUD mandates that a yearly census of the homeless population be gathered to guide its allocation of support for those agencies that rely upon HUD funding to provide services for the homeless and near homeless population.

The numbers from 2015 are telling. The PIT count was 183 in 2010; in 2015 it was 368, 74 of which were considered unsheltered (living in places not meant for habitation). By all accounts the increase in numbers was partly due to the improvement in accuracy in the counting process.

If the population of the Rescue Mission is any indicator, the count will be at least the same for 2016. This is significant in that the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley is the only emergency overnight shelter in Mahoning County. We have seen a marked increase in the number of individuals served at the Mission – an average of 131 per night for fiscal year 2015.

Stay tuned for information on 2016 PIT. In the meantime, consider what you can do to help the Mission care for this increasing need.

Business is Good; Business is Bad

As we are out among people, we often hear the question, partially asked in jest, “How’s business at the Mission?”  The reply is sometimes unexpected: “Business is good – which means business is bad.” That a shelter such as the Rescue Mission is necessary is an unfortunate commentary on modern culture. In affluent America, the existence of homeless shelters is an enigma.

What brings people to the Mission? Why is business good? There are various reasons why an individual or a family might experience homelessness. Attempts to generalize the causes often fail to consider the unique situations that characterize certain parts of the country. However, if we are to speak in general terms, we may speak of these as factors that lead to homelessness.

• Traumatic Circumstances – It is not uncommon for a single mother with children to find herself and her children homeless because of domestic issues; either some sort of abuse or the desire to escape criminal activity in a home. A family may experience the loss of housing due to an emergency such as a fire.
• Financial Issues – The rising cost of housing make affordable housing difficult to maintain with near minimum wage jobs. Add to this the cost of basic child care and subsistence expenses and homeless shelters become the stopgap option.
• Substance Abuse – Homelessness is often a secondary condition of drug or alcohol abuse. This is particularly true in the Mahoning Valley where heroin use is at epidemic proportions. It is inexpensive and accessible. People caught in addiction have often burned all of their bridges with family, friends and any other network they have developed. The Mission is the last alternative.
• Chronic Homelessness – According to the online version of The Christian Post, “chronic homelessness, which is defined as homelessness among people who have a disability – including serious mental illness or chronic medical issues – also make up a substantial number of the homeless.”

It is with mixed feelings that we can say that “business is good” at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. That people experience homelessness is unfortunate; but that we have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with more and more people is a great opportunity that we do not take lightly.

Ideas for a New Year

We are well into 2016. The winter in Northeast Ohio has been unusually mild with the warmest December on record. January, however, has welcomed the first brutal cold snap with single digit low temperatures and more in the immediate forecast. Winter is usually a difficult time for those who experience episodes of homelessness – particularly demanding for people who live on the streets.

If you are in the habit of New Year’s resolutions, or setting goals, or even making lists, here is a list of things you can do to help alleviate the plight of people who are in homeless situations as we begin a new year:

1.      Be Aware

The fact that there are people who have no permanent and stable housing does not appear on the radar of most people who live functional, “normal” lives. Wherever you live, realize that you are not too far from someone who has no place to call home. Additionally, most Americans are 1 or 2 paychecks away from being homeless themselves. Homelessness is closer than you think.

2.      Be Considerate

When you encounter homeless people, treat them with love, dignity, and respect. This may be difficult for some who have an aversion to “hobo’s” or “panhandlers.” But understand that no one wakes up one morning and makes a conscious decision to be homeless. It is always at the end of a series of events or choices poorly made. Know that the people you meet at a shelter or on the streets were once just like you.

3.      Be Engaged

Likely, you live near a homeless shelter, a rescue mission, or a food bank. These organizations thrive on volunteer involvement. You may volunteer to perform services that may seem insignificant, but they eliminate the need for those organizations to hire staff to accomplish those tasks. This is an invaluable service for organizations that depend upon non-profit dollars.

4.      Be Invested

Organizations that help homeless people usually are not-for-profit organizations that depend upon donated dollars to fulfill their mission statement. The appeal for donations may become wearisome, but the reality is that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Determine to become a regular donor to those agencies that exist to aid people in homeless situations. Like many of these organizations, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley relies solely on donations. We do not seek nor receive any type of federal funding to help us bring hope to the hurting and homeless of our valley.