Originally published on Saturday, November 13, 2010 in the Local & State category.
Homeless need more than food, shelter
By Bill Kirby Jr.
Columnist
Terri Union says there’s more to addressing the homeless issue than just providing shelter and food, and she is part of an organization that wants to do its part.
On my blog — The Gospel Truth, I Think, at
www.fayobserver.com — Jason Brady is back, and he says more than 300 people have registered for today’s fifth annual Ribbon Walk & Ride for Cancer at Festival Park, with more anticipated.
Your turn: “I found your (Oct. 9) article about the homeless, in response to the question from Carol Anderson, interesting,” Mrs. Union writes. “I didn’t know there had been a group appointed several years ago to work on this issue. I thought you would like to know the Women’s Giving Circle of Fayetteville presented a community scorecard on homelessness to a number of people who represent the agencies who work with or provide funding for homeless people and homeless families. This is an important issue that must be addressed in our community.
“The focus for grants this year ...will be on funding to help resolve this issue. It is not just about providing beds; it is about helping people change their lives. We need to help these people become employable so they can again be contributing members of society ... It is important to provide beds in a safe environment and acceptable food. However, this is treating a symptom and not really providing the help and means of changing the situation. What do you think?”
My turn: I think, Mrs. Union, that the WGCF is on to something. There is, as you suggest, more to it than just providing shelter and food. If concerned leaders in this community really want to address the homeless issue, they have to work at getting our homeless brethren back on their feet with social involvement and, if possible in these difficult economic times, employment. And if that is where the Women’s Giving Circle of Fayetteville is placing a measure of its focus, then I say all the better, and the best to you.
Local leaders did form a coalition in February of 2006 as part of a nationwide effort to reduce homelessness, but Mrs. Anderson said she had not seen much action from the group. If anyone would know about helping the homeless in this community, it would be Mrs. Anderson. She is dedicated to ending the plight of the homeless. All I remember is that I wasn’t impressed with some of the coalition’s members, who had a lot of capital letter alphabet behind their names, plenty of lip service and little more. Otherwise, I’ve looked at the WGCF website, and the facts and figures provided about homelessness in the county are eye-opening. Kudos to Alisa Debnam, Cynthia Wilson, Michelle Courie, Kaki Van Sickle, Jean Harrison, Christin Bellian, Patty Collie, Denise Wyatt, Lucy Jones, Mary Lynn Bryan, Laura Devan, Margaret Dickson, Sarah Moorman and you, Mrs. Union, who are among the WGCF members striving to make arealdifference in helping those who brave winter and summer under bridges and in wooded areas without homes to call their own. For more information on the WGCF, contact Susan Barnes at
susan@cumberlandcf.org or call (910) 483-4449.
