In Search of Homeless

These past couple of weeks have definitely been something of interest in my life. I've been doing a lot of volunteer work over at my church's, Healing Place Church, inner-city campus/outreach building, Baton Rouge Dream Center. Even though there hasn't been a set standard on a certain type of area I've been serving in, I've found myself really hitting ground with homeless outreach. The passion I've always had towards serving people has found a place to serve a true purpose in people that seem to be hurting so much. I decided 3 weeks back to volunteer my time helping Charity Trahan, the main person that does all homeless outreaches in Baton Rouge.

Because of the holidays, and a limit list of volunteers, Charity was planning on shutting down our homeless hot-line number for the two weeks she was taking off for a WELL DESERVED vacation on her part. I decided to step up and man the hot-line personally, 24/7, and can I say, it's been one blessing after another. I'm not saying it's been facile. Getting a call in the middle of the night from a woman who just got out of the hospital looking for help because she has nothing to feed her 5 children is heartbreaking. Recently, the 'wonderful' Obama campaign has decided to decrease the funding on homeless housing, and I've been hit hard by the reality of Louisiana being the #1 state in the nation for homeless/runaway youth. Oh the pain of getting a call from a mother of 3 saying she just got evicted for not being able to pay the bills because of the economy, and having to tell her all the shelters are brimming...

Since I decided to dive headfirst into the campaign I've seen little light on the horizon for getting these people off the street, a warm meal put in their bellies, and see hope in their disconsolate and fatigued eyes. But under the surface God is definitely working everything out. The past 8 or so months the North Blvd overpass in downtown Baton Rouge has turned into a haven for a measurable amount of homeless people. My church's outreach group, NoPlace Outreach, has been working hard with these people for several years, and about a month ago news hit several other organizations about the living conditions of these beautiful people. Then God sent a man, Donald Mallet, to the overpass to bring the Word and order. Food, winter clothes, blankets, toiletries, mattresses, etc., started coming in bountifully, especially from a Godly woman by the name of Alice Lewis. Then, almost out of nowhere, a man by the name of Kody M. Higginbotham, MBA, with Sacred Hope Foundation, Inc. brought a vision and hope for these people. He opened up a new shelter, Sacred Hope 24/7 Shelter.

During these past 2 weeks since that shelter opened, I've seen people come and people go. There's structure, rules, regulations, and a real Godly foundation there. I've had the distinction of getting calls on the hot-line number, and actually being able to tell the people I know a shelter that's NOT hanging the notorious "No Vacancy" sign. Sunday night I get a call from 2 homeless men looking for a warm place to stay. I was able to tell them I had somewhere for them to lay their head, get a shower, a fresh pair of clothes, and a hot meal. So, I called up Mark McLaughlin, my marvelous roommate, and headed out to College and Corporate to pick up these men. Mark and I brought these guys to the shelter, and in an instant, their eyes lit up. Remember me mentioning Donald Mallet earlier? Well, he's running this shelter! He didn't have any more hot food from dinner, so he asked Mark and me to drive him to another person's house I mentioned earlier, Alice Lewis, on South Washington in downtown Baton Rouge.

She welcomed us into her prepossessing home with a big smile and a warm hug. Instantly I could tell she had the Spirit dwelling within her and her home. She had made a giant pot of chicken and corn stew, and another large pot of hot rice. She walked Mark and me around, sharing her desire to help people, tell us about the 2 books she has written, By Hands of Strangers and Go Ask Alice, and show off the beautiful children she rescued from horrid living conditions. She told us about these 2 sisters she adopted, Alisha & Kiara Lewis. These girls, when they were every young, had to endure things I never thought possible. Their biological mother had left her husband for another woman. This new 'girlfriend' made her tie up her 2 daughters under their trailer with threats of leaving her if she didn't. These 2 girls lived under the trailer for several months, and because there was no human interaction, they didn't learn how to speak, had no teeth, and very little hair. They were finally found by a social worker and put into the system. Ms. Alice heard their story and instantly adopted them. The girls are now ages 14 and 15, absolutely beautiful, and highly intelligent. One attends high school and Baton Rouge Community College, and they other also attends high school and LSU. Ms. Lewis has a total of 9 adopted children, all of which are successful or learning to become successful. We left her house, hot food in our arms, and a peace and hope to bring to the shelter.

We all have our stories, I for one was once homeless as well. I know the desolation of not knowing where the next meal was going to come from. I know the eyes of people around me silently judging me. It grieves me to see other people go through it. I'm following my calling to serve the people. If you would like to help Charity Trahan and her outreach, or just want to befriend some beautiful homeless people and visit Sacred Hope Shelter, or Ms. Alice Lewis, please contact me. We always need help, from volunteer work, to food, clothing, and air mattresses for Sacred Hope Shelter. Or if you know ANYONE that's homeless, young or old, PLEASE CONTACT our hot-line number at 225-505-5416...