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Did you know…that Monroe Park will be undergoing a $6.2 million renovation next spring?

I have asked Cristina Wood, one of VSH’s fall communications interns, to write this week’s blog. Thanks, Alice

According to a recent article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monroe Park will be undergoing a $6.2 million renovation in the spring of 2011. The park, central to both the downtown area and to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, is a favorite of students and city-dwellers alike. With the proposed introduction of a café, outdoor stage, carousel and completely revamped seating areas and scenery, the space will be buzzing compared to its current dull state.

But what does this mean for the homeless individuals who frequently take refuge there? It’s not uncommon for urban renovation projects like this to result in negative consequences for people who are homeless, and to further escalate the criminalization of homelessness. From this perspective, homeless populations are seen as more of an “eyesore” and a nuisance than as human beings who need housing and help.

Alice McGuire Massie, president of the Monroe Park Advisory Council, the body officially in charge of the renovation project, was quoted in the RTD article as saying that “the renovation should address concerns about park safety but is not intended to move the homeless elsewhere.” Massie also emphasized that “the renovation is for anybody and everybody,” and the goal is to “raise the quality of life to a higher standard.”

However, in the same article, City Councilman Charles R. Samuels said he’s trying to encourage feeding and other homeless-outreach efforts to be redirected to the Conrad Center in Richmond’s East End or to other nonprofit service locations.

This may be the beginning of the end of the homeless population in Monroe Park. Once construction begins, people who are homeless will be forced to relocate at least temporarily. And once the new park has opened to the public, it’s likely that they will be “strenuously discouraged” from returning.

I’m all for the renovation of Monroe Park. But we all need to make sure that these homeless human beings are not just pushed to the side and forgotten for the sake of cosmetic improvement.

What do you think?

Sixteen percent fewer people in Richmond homeless, but the battle is not over…

I have asked Koury Wilson, one of VSH’s fall communications internship candidates, to write this week’s blog. Thanks, Alice

I awoke one morning to News 8 airing recent statistics stating that the number of individuals living on the streets in Richmond has decreased by 16 percent despite the dismal economy.

As a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, it’s not unusual to see many homeless men and women on campus, particularly in Monroe Park.  In many ways, the sight has become synonymous with the VCU experience itself.  It’s also not unusual to hear insensitive comments from students about the prevalence of “the homeless,” but the reality is that these people are struggling to survive and there are many more on the verge of losing their homes.

According to The United Way, “Even though the number of homeless is down, the need in the community for social services and assistance has increased.” So clearly, the battle is not over and we still have a long way to go. With Richmond’s financial crisis and a change of legislature, the state government has made budget cuts to many local agencies and services which cater to these needs.  While 2010 statistics show improvement, with less money for social programs, it’s uncertain how long the city will maintain this decline.  Chances are…not too long.

Virginia Supportive Housing is the only not-for-profit organization in Central Virginia that takes an integrated approach to ending homelessness…and it’s an approach that works. But the current need far exceeds current resources.

Maybe you’re like me and you don’t have the means to financially help every person you come across. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help. I can’t stress enough the importance of two “Vs”: Volunteerism and Voting.

Support VSH with the gift of your time! This non-profit has many meaningful opportunities available, ranging from beautifying its supportive properties, to engaging with clients, to influencing how the message is spread. When you volunteer, you’re not only making a difference in the lives of other people in need, but you’re also benefiting from the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that giving back provides. It’s a win-win.

However, getting involved doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be physically present.  While your involvement is strongly encouraged, donations can make a world of difference to the organization…and a life.  Your donations can help support current services and also assist in developing new services so that more individuals and families can get off the streets.

Homelessness can occur to anyone.  Whether you’re facing the threat of homelessness yourself or are simply interested in learning more about the issue, please register and take part the mid-term elections occurring on Nov. 2.  This is a problem that transcends party lines; all of our elected officials will have a say in how the state budget is distributed and what services need the most attention.  Virginia Supportive Housing counts on the state legislature to help move its mission forward by providing adequate funding.  By exercising your civic duty, you can directly contribute to VSH’s mission to reduce homelessness in Virginia.  So please participate in our democratic system this fall and contribute your time, talents, voice, and resources to put an end to homelessness in our commonwealth. Your support WILL make a difference!

Stories Of Struggle, Endings Of Hope

I have asked Alison Jones-Nassar, VSH’s volunteer program coordinator, to write this week’s blog. Thanks, Alice

Reading an article in this weekend’s Daily Press reminded me of the response I always get whenever I tell someone I work with Virginia Supportive Housing. The circumstances may differ and the details might change slightly, but it’s always a variation on the same theme.

The article, entitled “Mom, Family Escape Homelessness,” describes the efforts of a young Newport News woman, Suzanne Richardson, to overcome a mountain of obstacles in order to avoid a housing crisis and maintain a safe home for her mother, brother, and two young children, Anais (5) and Jamere (1).

Some of the obstacles Suzanne has encountered are the results of mistakes made, starting with her own decision to drop out of high school and her first pregnancy as a teenager. Others are through no fault of her own. Her mother is on disability. The home they were renting went into foreclosure.

Despite some bad judgments, Suzanne has made every attempt to rectify her mistakes for the sake of her family by following the rules. She achieved her GED, went back to college to become a certified massage therapist, and graduated with honors. She found a job and received high recommendations from her supervisor and co-workers.

But in the face of foreclosure, her minimum-wage job could not cover the cost of the security deposit and first month’s rent for a new place. She didn’t have enough money to pay the electricity bills or put food on the table. And then her car broke down.

Combined, the obstacles Suzanne has faced would be enough to overwhelm anyone – and yet she keeps persevering. “I just thought, ‘I’ve got to keep moving. I’ve got to try my best.” She has jumped through all the required hoops, working hard and never asking for favors or special treatment. But somehow, it’s never quite enough.

Whenever I tell someone I work with VSH, this is the story I hear again and again. A brother, a daughter, a friend, a neighbor, someone from the congregation. A lost job, an abusive parent, a divorce, a car breakdown, a medical emergency, an emotional crisis. There are so many stories out there, so many people who are struggling so hard. Some of them, like Suzanne, are barely managing to hold on by the skin of their teeth. Many others are not.

I often wonder how I would cope in a situation like that. If I was in Suzanne’s place, would I have the resilience to keep going? To keep following the rules? To smile for my kids and believe in a happy ending? My work with Virginia Supportive Housing allows me to be a part of an organization that makes a real difference in the lives of people like Suzanne. By getting the community involved in what we do, I help to increase awareness of all those stories out there and mobilize the resources required to help. The good news is that VSH makes happy endings possible. Are you ready to find out more about how you can give someone’s story a happy ending?

Checking In With Joe Brightful

It has been almost four weeks since Joe Brightful moved from South Richmond, his home for 14 years, to his new apartment in downtown Richmond. Recently we dropped by to visit Joe and see how he’s doing. It was an overcast afternoon, and the apartment was dim and cool. The ceiling fan rotated overhead, and the TV flickered at low volume. “I love to watch my soaps!” Joe grinned as he let us in.

A couple of boxes sat waiting to be unpacked, but otherwise the apartment looked well-ordered. Lists of phone numbers, bills, medical documents, and prescriptions were organized in a neat line along the kitchen counter, awaiting Joe’s attention. He had spent a lot of time on the phone with the VA Hospital that morning getting his medications straight. “I can’t do without my medications,” he explained. At one time, he had been on fourteen different prescriptions, but over the years that’s been cut down to less than half. “Being at South Richmond helped me to get [my medical conditions] straight.”

Now 56, Joe leaned back on his sofa with a big smile on his thin face and let out a sigh of contentment. “I love this place so much. I love just being able to relax in my own place with my music and my TV. It’s so quiet and peaceful. And it’s a good location, easy for me to get around when I need to. But sometimes I just don’t want to do anything but stay home and relax.”

Joe’s life was not always so peaceful or stable. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the army and served for six and a half years, including two years in Japan. Upon discharge, he says he travelled all across the U.S., visiting friends from the military and seeing the sights from his native Philadelphia to far-flung Alaska and Hawaii and everywhere in between. Eventually he settled in San Antonio, married, bought land, and planted an orchard with more than 500 peach trees.

Joe’s divorce and alimony settlement four years later was the beginning of the end for him, resulting in the loss of his land, home, health, belongings….and perhaps the most precious thing of all: his daughter, who was three at the time of the divorce. Once she got older, she spent years trying to contact her father, unaware that he had become homeless. Joe’s homelessness exacerbated his many medical conditions, and he says he was even declared clinically dead at one point after a catastrophic asthma attack.

In 1996, after spending four years in and out of shelters, hospitals, and soup kitchens, Joe was accepted at Virginia Supportive Housing’s newly opened property at South Richmond, and he slowly began to turn his life around. He made friends with Eugene, another tenant with very similar experiences, and “we went everywhere together.” In fact, when Joe finally made contact with his daughter and arranged to fly to Texas to reunite with her in 2006, Eugene accompanied him.

Joe’s medical battles culminated with a cancer diagnosis in 2008. Fortunately, surgeons were able to remove the large tumor, and Joe has been declared cancer-free ever since. His friend, Eugene, however, passed away last year from medical complications.

As Joe discussed the details of his eventful life, there was a soft knock at the door and his friend and neighbor Deborah* appeared. Deborah was also at South Richmond for more than a decade, and she says she is so thankful to have Joe’s companionship as she settles into her new living situation. “This move has done a lot for me, emotionally. I feel like I am finally home.”

Joe is now the proud grandfather of two little girls, Legacy and Trinity.  His eyes twinkle with delight as he describes the feeling of joy these little girls give him, a feeling that was absent in his life for so many years, and then he pauses in an attempt to sum up his thoughts about everything he has been through. “Legacy and Trinity, that says it all…these are the gifts life has given to me, and I am so grateful for every single thing.”

These are the Stories of Hope made possible by Virginia Supportive Housing. Many thanks to the staff members, volunteers, and community supporters who worked together to give Joe’s story a happy ending!

*Not her real name

Stability Is A Precious Thing In Life

I have asked Cristina Wood, one of VSH’s fall communications internship candidates, to write this week’s blog on her experiences volunteering at a homeless shelter in Northern Virginia.

I walked in the front door of the shelter like I had been doing every Thursday for the past several months. After waving to Celeste at the front desk, I proceeded upstairs to find the usual children playing with toys or being read to by other volunteers. I scanned the room for Ashley’s big eyes and long brown hair, and listened for her infectious laugh, but she was nowhere to be found. Peeking into the room next door where the children’s mothers were savoring their time to themselves, I was surprised not to be greeted with a mouthful of Spanish from Ashley’s mom that I could never understand, but always appreciated.

I walked back downstairs to Celeste. “Where’s Ashley?” I asked. “Oh, didn’t anyone tell you?” Celeste said with a confused look. “Ashley and her mother have been relocated.” I stared at Celeste speechless for a moment before questions began falling from my mouth. “Relocated? Why? She was here last week! Where is she?” “We can’t give that information out,” Celeste said and instructed me to go back upstairs to help the other children.

Since I began tutoring at this shelter, I had been assigned to Ashley and was able to witness her progress every week. Her English was getting better and her grades in school were improving dramatically. I looked forward to seeing her every week and helping her with her English and math homework. Her mother assured me Ashley loved my visits as well, but suddenly they were both gone forever.

It was then that I began to realize how strenuous it is to live in temporary shelter, where the only constant in your life is change. Ashley was only in second grade, and her mother spoke no English. I was devastated that Ashley had left and I wasn’t even the one that had to deal with the hardships of moving, possibly changing schools, and getting accustomed to a whole new environment. I could only imagine how difficult it was for Ashley and her mom.

Stability is a precious thing in life. Knowing that you have a home, family, or friends to keep you grounded is invaluable and should never be taken for granted. Providing people who are experiencing homelessness with a permanent place to live allows them to work towards getting their lives back on track without worrying where they will sleep next week. It is truly a wonderful thing and this sense of stability has been proven hugely successful through the efforts of Virginia Supportive Housing. I never saw Ashley again, but I hope that she is safe and, if she hasn’t already, that she will find a permanent home which can provide the foundation for her to build the rest of her life.