The Homeless Outreach Associate will own responsibilities encompassing ground-level work in assisting clients, analyzing data and monitoring program outcomes, and community-based job development. Click here to learn more.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, job_postings

I could sense that she was hurting, and she told me she didn't have anyone to talk to. She's been an alcoholic her whole life, inherited from her mother who was also an alcoholic. At times she had been addicted to both drugs and alcohol, and experienced the darkness that comes along with those habits. She entered detox at Salvation Army after her addiction to alcohol led her into homelessness. She was such a sweet lady, and considered her time at Salvation Army to be a time when God wanted to use her despite the discomfort of the shelter environment. She told me about how she had become the peacemaker at the shelter, quieting arguments and being a source of comfort and support for one particular woman there.

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Labels: 211onthego, basic needs, John_Azoni

Visit CrainsDetroit.com to read the complete article [subscription required] or click here to download a PDF copy of the story.

This year's Crain's Best- Managed Nonprofit Contest looked for nonprofits that have taken specific steps to improve operations and delivery of services in a slow economy.

As the best-managed nonprofit of 2008, Detroit Public TV/WTVS-Channel 56 will be honored at Crain's Newsmaker of the Year lunch next year and will receive a cash prize of $1,500: $1,000 from Crain's and $500 from Gary Dembs, president of the Non-Profit Personnel Network in Southfield. Dembs also served as a judge.
Runner-up

• Adult Well-Being Services: Implemented a program to decrease the number of mentally ill people cycling in and out of two Detroit Medical Center emergency rooms.

The finalists

• ArtServe Michigan: Created a more unified voice for arts groups.
• GreenPath Debt Solutions: Reacted quickly to rising consumer demand.
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: Expanded services of 2-1-1 hot line.
• Michigan Humane Society: Offered pet care cost assistance to owners facing hardship.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, InTheNews

United Way for Southeastern Michigan has been selected as one of the 2009 Best-Managed Nonprofits by Crain's Detroit Business. This is a huge honor for us. In a year marked by an exceedingly tough economy, our organization has been faced with meeting increased community need with shrinking financial resources.

Crain's Detroit Business evaluated our business model for 2-1-1 and 2-1-1 On the Go! programming. The selection of Finalists was based on a variety of criteria. Among them: finding ways to do more with less, collaborative efforts and cost-sharing strategies, and modifications in programming that has resulted in the organization being better-able to meet the needs of its service recipients. We excelled in all categories - and the competition was extremely competitive.

To learn more about the 2009 Best-Managed Nonprofits, please read Crain's Best-Managed Nonprofits: Rewarding winning ways. Below is an excerpt from Crain's Detroit Business about our 2-1-1 and 2-1-1 On the Go! programming.

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FOCUS: Best-Managed Nonprofits
Visit CrainsDetroit.com to read the complete article [subscription required] or click here to download a PDF copy of the story.

After launching the 2-1-1 health and human services hot line to provide residents with referrals to local programs and services, United Way for Southeastern Michigan took the initiative further than any of its other national affiliates with its launch of 2-1-1 On The Go.

The local 2-1-1 call center is available around the clock, seven days a week, and is a multilingual, anonymous referral service linking callers to other organizations that can assist them or that could use volunteers.

Four years after the launch of the 2-1-1 call center for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, United Way is able to provide referrals to more than 30,000 local programs and services.

Through the center, United Way this year assisted 371,000 callers looking for social services assistance or even volunteer opportunities, up from 69,147 its first year.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, InTheNews

I was watching that show Intervention last night, which shows real drug addicts whose families have reached the end of their rope. They call on an intervention specialist to help them with the tough task of convincing the addict to check into a treatment facility. I usually don’t watch those real heavy shows, but this time I got sucked in.

Charlie - a rather young guy probably in his 20’s - was homeless and heavily addicted to heroin. Like many homeless addicts, he would spend every day begging enough money to feed his addiction. What was interesting was that the viewer got to see the back-story of this common act. His family was pretty normal and cared deeply about him. They lived in a nice suburban home where one would expect that everything under that roof was all clean and together. As much as they loved Charlie and hoped he would seek help, they had handed him over to the consequences of his own addiction, which meant allowing him to be homeless and reap what he was sowing for himself.

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Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, John_Azoni

This story was sent to me in an email and I had to laugh when I read it. Gene Weingarten, writer for the Washington Post set out to cover a social experiment with world famous violin prodigy, Joshua Bell. What would happen if you dress down a Grammy-award-winning classical musician and have him perform in a lowly Washington DC plaza instead of a sold out opera house? Would anyone receive the gift?

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Labels: 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

In addition to this blog, I write about poverty (and the Christian faith, so fair warning) on JohnWritesStuff.wordpress.com. I re-posted my article about panhandling myths on that blog and received this comment on the post from an aquaintance I met at the Detroit Rescue Mission homeless shelter:

"I know firsthand that Detroit's homeless, at least, are mostly in a vampiric state of consciousness that makes long-term success impossible. This is not a mere mental illness. But it is also true that the only honest work available for the homeless -- flyer distribution - barely pays $6 an hour, and that intermittently. Almost, but not quite enough to rent a room for the week. So if cash money can neither be earned nor given, what hope is there?"

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Labels: 211onthego, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

Whether you’re a closet fan, or guard the remote at 4:00 every weekday, you may have caught (or heard about) the Oprah episode where she gave $100,000 to a homeless man. In case you missed it like I did (I read about it later though), the producers had cameramen follow him around to watch how he spent all this money. To the every day viewer, the results may have come as a big disappointment. If you saw it, you may have wanted it to turn out like Extreme Home Makeover where they march in and save the day by building the family a brand new house, and reveal it with a big dramatic ending involving a semi-truck and kids jumping on their new drivable race car beds. But instead, the guy rented himself an apartment, bought a $32,000 truck, then proceeded to take his friends to car dealerships and let them pick out the car they wanted that he would pay for. He bought some more stuff, and gave money away, and sooner than later ended up back on the streets where he started.

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Labels: 211onthego, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

There are these home videos floating around my parents' house of my sister and I dancing to Michael Jackson's Beat It in the basement of our old house when I was about two. Even at a young age I was pretty captivated by Michael's music. My Moonwalk skills developed later in life though, as in about five months ago. Nick and I would practice our Moonwalk while waiting for a meeting to start, dancing around the conference table while nobody was looking. This was before Michael's death though; allow me to make that distinction. Because apparently any interest in Michael Jackson post-death is considered "predictable" (insert winky face).

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Labels: 211onthego, John_Azoni

Dang…it's been a while. Things have been pretty busy at 2-1-1 On the Go!. Our organization went through some major changes, which shook things up a little bit, but now that we're all settling in again, things are starting to normalize. [Continue Reading]

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, John_Azoni

Last Friday United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) hosted yet another successful Alternative Spring Break. Here, college students came from all over to participate in a week of service projects in Detroit in lieu of other Spring Break plans. Nick, our program leader, and I had the pleasure of presenting 2-1-1 On the Go! to the students on their last day.

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Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, John_Azoni

As my sister and I used to bicker about when we were kids, there's an invisible force field. You can't see it, but you sure can't cross it either.

We all have these personal space issues that prevent us from truly connecting, and keep us in our own bubbles... [continue reading]

Labels: 211onthego, John_Azoni

There are a few great things happening for 2-1-1 On the Go! clients these days. We're still pushing for restaurant jobs, and we've made a few new friends at different establishments in the city - one of which turned into a full-time job for one of our clients, and the potential for more. In addition, we've added a new community partner, Saint Aloysius Church.

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Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, John_Azoni

In the first year of 2-1-1 On the Go! we took the approach of connecting people to services that were already in place. This was a respectable approach, and produced some pretty good outcomes for our homeless clients in regards to them finding jobs and places of their own to live. But as we have moved into year two, we've realized we want and need to do better. Relying on the system in place is one way of doing things, but if the system is broken, then we have a choice; complain about the broken system, or build a new one on top of it.

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Labels: 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

United Way’s 2-1-1 call center is continually evolving to meet the needs of its callers. By looking at call trends and following up with past callers, the staff is able to identify gaps in services and develop solutions to combat the community issues that plague Metro Detroiters.

One of the more innovative solutions 2-1-1 has developed is in response to homelessness. 2-1-1 On the Go! was developed to help the homeless overcome barriers they face in trying to get back on their feet. Some of these include the lack of a permanent address or phone number to use when job searching, as well as lack of knowledge about how to navigate the complicated web of resources available.

Read more.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, monthly enewsletter

DETROIT -- If you see a funky looking yellow-and-white Chevy Cobalt around a city park, its trunk open with one guy typing on a laptop and another talking to a homeless person, it's just John Azoni and Nick Monterosso doing some good.

They are United Way 2-1-1 On the Go, an innovative pilot project funded by $186,000 from Detroit-based corporations that aims to help guide some of the city's estimated 18,000 homeless off the streets and into permanent housing and full-time employment.

"We're filling a void," says Monterosso, 24, an Oakland University political science grad. Which is this: Funding for many of Detroit's social service agencies, swamped with clients, often is tied to tight requirements detailing whom they can help and how. But not 2-1-1.

It's all about bridging the gaps, about listening to the issues facing each client and then steering them to the right point in the bureaucratic maze of government offices and nonprofit agencies where they can get the help they need.

'If I can get a job ...'

Take Norman Kingston, 41. He wandered up to Azoni at Cass Park and started telling his story: Got out of prison in January. Best friend was killed. Had a drug problem but has been clean for 46 days. Has three kids, 14, 12 and 10 "but I'm not doing anything," he tells Azoni as Monterosso types his answers into the military-grade laptop.

"I had no place to stay. The Michigan Department of Corrections placed me somewhere. Basically I'm homeless. I want to go back to school," Kingston says, in "peer counseling. If I can get a job, I know the rest."

They give him a referral, an appointment to meet, at 9:30 a.m. last Friday, with Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. Last year, Goodwill placed 1,500 Detroiters in full-time jobs at an average wage of $10.48 an hour, an estimated $30 million stimulus to the local economy. Kingston didn't show up, according to the agency, but others have.

"So far, so good," Goodwill President Lorna Utley says of the 2-1-1 pilot program. "It's not huge numbers. We're certainly glad to be part of the process" -- monumental as it can be in Detroit, the poorest major city in America with the nation's lowest high school graduation rate.
The newest need: Lockers

To be homeless, the 2-1-1 crew explains, is to be stuck. Without a permanent address, you can't apply for food stamps, can't apply for most jobs. The United Way-backed effort helps folks get IDs; gives them a physical mailbox donated by UPS and installed at the Detroit Rescue Mission; offers calling cards donated by AT&T; and, when possible, provides bus passes so folks can get to work.

Their newest need: Lockable lockers that can be assigned to people in the 2-1-1 On the Go program so they can secure "anything that can be sold," Azoni says. That includes clothes, a tent, a cook-stove or the debit-style food-stamp cards that frequently disappear in homeless shelters.

"The focus is to remove barriers and put people back to work," says Cindy Pasky, CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions Inc. and a driving force behind the 2-1-1 On the Go initiative. "The guys were telling me that in the last couple of weeks they put nine people in jobs -- and those are people they say can't be put in jobs."

That's better than the alternative. Monterosso and Azoni are employees doing jobs far removed from their academic pursuits of poli-sci and, for Azoni, the painting he pursued at the College for Creative Studies.

"It's different from day to day," Azoni says. "I talked to a guy recently who has his masters' degree and he's homeless. We've had some clients who have never been in this situation before."

Daniel Howes' column runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached at (313) 222-2106, dchowes@detnews.com or detnews.com/howes.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego

I was just downstairs talking with a woman who was referred to 2-1-1 On the Go! by a case manager at COTS. She is a 60 year old woman from Detroit who tried to make a go of it in Baton Rouge, Louisiana last year, only to end up homeless from lack of available work. She returned to Detroit in March and was almost instantly homeless. She has been back in town for only three weeks, but already had many stories to tell me about walking from Highland Park to Hart Plaza and back in a day, just to get help. To give her story a bit more credibility, it should be noted that she walked here from COTS this morning to meet with me at 9:00 AM in 40 degrees, wind and rain. She didn't need to walk here (because we would've come to her), but the case manager didn't know that, so off she went on her 60 year old legs to take another chance on getting some help.

We talked for about half an hour, during which time she eventually teared-up and said this, "I've been waiting so long just to hear those words... for someone to say, 'We know you're trying, and we've got your back.'"

This is the kind of experience that lets me know I'm blessed to be doing this work. I just wanted to share this encouragement with you all: that the seemingly mundane, tedious tasks we sometimes must do to create and maintain a program do have meaningful, personal impact on real people. I'm glad to be a part of this team.

Nicholas Monterosso
2-1-1 on the Go

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

2-1-1 On the Go is a United Way for Southeastern Michigan downtown homeless outreach program, started in October of 2007, due to a partnership with Strategic Staffing Solutions and the DDP. 2-1-1 On the Go employs two United Way caseworkers, who use bright yellow and white vehicles to survey Detroit for the homeless. The caseworkers conduct one-on-one interventions with individuals, assess their needs and help them gain employment and access to living facilities. 2-1-1 On the Go offers services such as voicemail, prepaid calling cards, mailboxes and state-issued photo IDs.

Click here to read more.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, InTheNews

Hello readers and encouragers!!



Thanks to everyone who has stopped us on the street, engaged with us in the elevator, at meetings, and anywhere else where United Way staff congregates to ask us how 2-1-1 On The Go! is going. It's great to see everyone's excitement for the ways in which United Way is making a difference in our own backyard!


Just to give you a quick update, Nick and I had our first day out with all the technology set up. We were able to access the Refer database via our laptops attached to the trunk mounts (which look/work great by the way!) and refer individuals in person. We just took one of the cars out so there would be less going on and we could better ease into providing information in-person. I think I speak for both Nick and myself when I say that it is NOTHING like referring in the call center. It's a whole different world out there. The car itself attracted so much attention that before too long we had a group of people asking us questions and trying to get referrals; all at the same time. Before too long things started to calm down a little and we were able to provide referrals a little easier.


Our focus right now is on visiting the different agencies that are hopefully collaborating with us, so that when we send somebody to that agency, we will be able to tell them what the process is like, what kind of services they offer, etc. We feel it's important to experience these agencies for ourselves rather than blindly referring people to them. So for the time being we won't be out on the streets as often, though we are continually brainstorming and meeting with different people to help us make this initiative the best it can possibly be for our much valued homeless community.

Thanks to all who've sacrificed time to speak with us, raise concerns, and help us find solutions to the anticipated issues of this project. We beg you all to stay engaged with us, and give us your input as we continue to creatively search for solutions to the issues in our beloved Detroit.

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego

Hello again readers and encouragers!

On Tuesday John and I headed out onto the streets again, but this time with a most welcomed guest: Mike Brennan. He decided to carve out a couple hours in the afternoon to come experience 2-1-1 On The Go! firsthand. Within minutes of parking the car, we were already engrossed in conversations with Detroiters in all types of life situations. One of the people we ran into is an interesting character who goes by "Little Foot". In the course of our various homeless outreach events last summer, John and I talked with Little Foot on a regular basis, so it was somewhat nostalgic to see him. He says he's a rapper, and that he works "for the people". Since this past summer, Little Foot has got himself into Section 8 housing, and is no longer subject to the rigors of street life, not that it ever affected his jubilant disposition anyway. Still though, it was great to know he was on the upward swing and has a warm place to lay his head.

As we talked with him on the corner of Woodward and Willis, Mike and I asked him about life on the streets and he was (as usual) more than willing to indulge us. With the utmost animation, Little Foot quickly slipped into the role of reporter as he discerned the situation of each woman and man in sight. He gave us his take on how to tell when someone is using drugs, and when they actually need help to get on their feet. He pointed to people panhandling and laid out for Mike and I his prediction of what would happen in the next few moments. With stunning accuracy he was able to predetermine who would give them money, and what direction people would head once they got the money. Although he'd seen it a thousand times, he still appeared to be disappointed when people would beg for money to get drugs. Some of the people Little Foot pointed out as "users" were very obvious. Their faces were thin, hands were shaky, and they were highly recognizable to John and I as staples of the street community. Others were less obvious; well-groomed and prideful. Because the physical signs weren't always accurate, Little Foot reinforced the idea that each person, whether on the street or in the office, is unique and has their own story. He knows these people, he was recently among them. He's got a leg to stand on now, and we want to help get more people into that position.

Mike, John, and I eventually made our way off of the corner of Woodward and Willis, and headed south. We made a decent loop of the Midtown area, hitting MLK and Cass along the way. While out on the journey, we spoke with several people in dire circumstances. We listened to their stories as they poured out their hearts, and we recommended the resources of 2-1-1 as often as possible. If you haven't yet read Mike's email about James, a hurting, repentant man at the beginning of another tough battle, I would encourage you to do so. With that, I'm going to hand it over to John. Thanks for your support.

Hello all!

As Nick pointed out, it was a pleasure to have Mike Brennan get down in the trenches with us for a couple of hours. I really feel that with each time we go out, we are growing in the area of discernment. It gets a little bit easier to figure out who really needs help, and who is just telling us what we want to hear. We are learning to have patience with those that aren't ready to get the help that we feel they need, and we are excited to help those that just need that extra push! There are a lot of people out there who have some pretty incredible stories, one of which is a man I spent some time with named Rob.

Rob came up to me excited about the Rack card and referrals that Nick gave him, and assured me that he would be calling these agencies and using 2-1-1. It didn't take anything on my part for Rob to begin spilling his life story to me. All I had to do was be ready to listen, and I'm glad that I did. Rob is sort of the encourager/big brother of his area. If you read Mikes email about James, he is the guy that is fixing the brakes on James' van. He is a mechanic and makes some money here and there by fixing cars for people that would otherwise pay a lot more at a repair shop. Rob has lived the typical life of someone struggling on the streets, and has since left that lifestyle behind. He has spent some considerable time in prison for, from what I gather, robbing a bank. He has been addicted to drugs and alcohol and "by the grace of God" he so joyfully proclaimed, he was able to receive the strength to stand up on his own two feet, and leave that life behind! Amazingly, he didn't kick his addiction by going to any substance abuse treatment centers. He basically just quit on his own, by making a decision to that he didn't want to live that way anymore. Rob spoke very passionately to me about the importance of helping yourself instead of waiting for handouts. He also expressed his passion for seeing those around him get their lives together. He encourages those around him to follow his lead, and take ownership of their own lives, which I think is just what the homeless community needs. Rob is not homeless, in fact he obtained permission from the city to live in a small shack that he built for himself in an open area behind the apartment building where we met James and some others. When people give him money, he goes to the grocery store and buys meat and things to cook on the grill that he owns. He hands out meals to those that chip in a buck or two, and even slips some food to those who hoped to get a free meal.

The thing that is so inspiring to me about Rob is that he is the perfect example of someone who has taken a look at his life, didn't like what he saw, and took the necessary steps to changing his situation. He spoke of the people on the street that know they need help, but decide to just remain helpless and just lay down and die. He hopes to see those people pull themselves together and take the initiative to getting what they really want out of life, but keeps them at a distance so that he doesn't fall into that lifestyle himself. Rob expressed his excitement about 2-1-1 On The Go! and seemed to think that he would be able to use our services. We are looking forward to helping more people like Rob who just need a hand getting stable in life.

We are hoping to get more pictures up regularly in these blog posts. I will do my best to make sure you all can put some faces to the names we will talk about in future posts.

Until next week, thanks for all your support and encouragement and if you see us out on the street, come say hi!

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego

Well, we've officially launched the much awaited homeless initiative; 2-1-1 On the Go! The cars are here, they're extremely noticeable, and they're equipped with all the tools necessary to serve our homeless community! If you haven't gotten a chance to see the cars, either Nick or myself will be glad to show them to you. Otherwise, you can't miss them, so I'm sure at some point you'll see us around.

Friday, October 5th was our official launch, and we used it as a day to feel out the new initiative, and sort of get our bearings. We talked to about 15 people. Some were homeless, some were not. Some were looking for a job, and others were struggling with addictions to various substances. Others still had basic needs for which we were able to provide resources.

I personally had a great experience with one person, whose name I think was Murill. At least that's how he was pronouncing it. Murill was pretty aggressive when Nick and I first approached, demanding $5 from us, and telling us he needed to get some food. At that point Nick went to talk to another man standing nearby, and I sat down beside Murill. He wasn't very receptive to the resources I provided him with for food and shelter. He told me he really just wanted McDonalds instead.

I should probably add here that it is extremely difficult for Nick and I to resist helping these people directly, though we have to keep reminding each other that if word gets out that we're purchasing lunches for people, they will get the wrong idea of what 2-1-1 is about. It would also hinder the whole empowerment issue that we are trying to encourage through 2-1-1, and 2-1-1 On the Go.

With that said, I reminded him that these agencies are a temporary fix and are not meant to be gourmet meals. It was around this time that I think he started to warm up to me, and it wasn't long before he was telling me all about his past, and his current struggles with substance abuse. He had been to jail and while in jail his father and his brother both died. He was still holding onto some guilt about the death, and that he couldn't be there to say goodbye.

He told me of his aspirations in getting a job and getting his life back in order, but the thing that was holding him back was fear. He was afraid of success, as well as failure. He also had an attachment to the streets that he didn't want to let go of. I think that when someone has been on the streets living under their own rules, and giving in to their addictions and just letting the problems of life happen to them, they get further and further into their circumstances and the thought of getting better would seem increasingly more impossible.

Murill obviously just needed someone to talk to. He expressed to me that he just needed an outlet, someone to just listen to him, and he told me that he was really glad that I sat down next to him and just let him vent. I don't think that Murill is quite ready to change his ways, but I think I was able to encourage him in the right direction, and maybe offer him a bit of hope.

The thing that Nick and I need to keep reminding ourselves is that the people we're reaching out to may NEVER get the help that they need. They may very well continue down the wrong road and possibly even die in their struggles. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth our time, our love, and the hope that we are able to provide through 2-1-1 and the United Way.

There are other stories I could share and I would love to sit at my desk and blog all day long, but I will leave it at that and pass the keyboard onto Nick to give you some insight into his experiences thus far.


Well, hello readers and encouragers!

As John already stated, we are underway in this exciting project of bringing the 2-1-1 call center to the streets of Detroit. We've already encountered people in all types of life situations. Some people stopped to talk with us that have no apparent need of the 2-1-1 available services. Overall, the energy is good and the community's interest is piqued.

While out on Friday, as John was talking to Murill, I spoke with a gentleman named Henry. He was in his mid-50s and homeless. He said he had Multiple Sirosis, which, given my limited medical knowledge, left me dumbfounded. His right arm was wrapped in bandages and his hand seemed to quiver. As we sat and talked, he opened up about his family and the loss of his brothers. It seems his mother and sisters are his only remaining family, and they don't want to take him in. Without knowing their reasons, it's tough to judge whether that is in fact as cruel as it appears. Either way, he was in need of shelter. So, with the information John mentioned, I walked him through the directions to the Detroit Rescue Mission, which was the nearest available shelter. Henry was confident of his ability to find it. We continued to talk about his life situation and he was extremely candid about his continued struggle for hope. He felt abandoned, lonely, and listless. The best I could do was hear him out and encourage Henry to seek shelter and food for the night. The small step of getting to the Detroit Rescue Mission will certainly not ease the many woes of his heart, but it will give him a safe place to consider a direction to move in. While I cannot know whether Henry actually went to the DRM on Friday, I can be confident that many of the people we will speak with in days to come will be in similar situations.

It was surprising how few people we talked to in half a day's time. It certainly wasn't for lack of homeless people. Many of we Detroiters know exactly where to go to find double-digit congregations of homeless folks. The reason it took so long was actually the openness of the men and women we talked to. Hearing the hopes, fears, and struggles of any one person would take a lifetime, and homeless people are no exception. And, this step is critical. It is through this investment of time and emotion into hearing the stories of the hurting people of Detroit that we will see success stories in the course of this project. John and I are fully on-board with UWSEM's mission to mobilize the caring power of Metro Detroit; starting with us.

Thanks for taking the time read this blog and encourage us. We've been overwhelmed by the reception we've received so far. If you have any specific questions for us, just send an email, as we're likely to be out on the streets!

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, Window on Community

Yesterday Tom Hendrickson of Model D and I hit the streets to videotape interviews of people who are homeless. The snow was wet and heavy and was difficult to walk into, yet the frigidity of the cold had moved on and we were grateful. We came across a gentleman very near our UWSEM office who was willing to talk. At this point we had room on the videotape for two more interviews. He had a friend with him who also wanted to talk, though I was somewhat reluctant as he seemed rather withdrawn and quiet. I wasn't sure how much usable footage we would get from his quiet friend and didn't want to waste the available videotape. The first interview went well and his friend just stood away looking down. Now I was trying to figure out a way to inform the quiet one that I wouldn't really need his interview. How short-sighted and misdirected I was because the following is what I soon heard.

Glenn, the quiet one, was 23 years old. He's been living on the streets for nearly 2 years. He graduated High School while working full time as a cook to support his mother, grandmother and his brother's newborn. He was involved with a young woman near his age and soon she became pregnant. Her family was unable to help raise the child so his family offered to help. This was the greatest day of his life and the most destructive day of his life.

Soon after his girlfriend and newborn moved into his small apartment he lost his job. He was trying to get as much work as possible to support his family, but the work just wasn't there. His concern for his family was growing ever more each day. Food was less, new clothing was a thing of the past and the basic needs for his family were not being met. And still no work. His options were becoming less and his fear was growing.

The choices he soon faced came down to him eating or his baby. Him eating or his grandmother.

With no money coming in and being unable to support this family, Glenn came to feel that he had become more of a burden to his family than a support. He made the choice to leave his small world so others he loves could eat. He would find food at shelters or in dumpsters. He also heard he might find clothing at these places. He did. But he is still looking for hope.

Not a day or minute goes by without him thinking about his "baby girl" and wanting to reunite with her. He misses his family horribly but replaces these feelings with those of him being a burden to them. I could see this makes it easier for him to accept. I could not.

I am now left with the feeling of "why?" Why him? Why someone so caring and able? Why someone who has tried so hard? and then...

Why anyone?

Bill Sullivan
Team Leader
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

“I am hitting the streets of Royal Oak with Bill tomorrow; We have this assignment meeting with the homeless.” I told my wife as I was digging up my heavy-duty camping winter gear.

“Bundle up,” she said, “I do not want you to freeze to death.”

I could not hide my grin thinking how caring she was, to the point of ignoring that I had delivered pizza for a living during college and survived six winters in Detroit. I was particularly curious about such an assignment in a “hip’n cool” city like Royal Oak. The next day, Bill, Loren and I hunted for some homeless individuals and we (surprisingly) quickly stumbled into two of them seeking warmth at the Grey Hound Bus Station in Royal Oak.

Although we only met two interviewees that day, the shock effect was felt, deeply. While taking notes during the first interview, my left elbow went numb, my right arm froze and the nerves of my right hand fingers ceased to respond. I started to wonder how do they survive and, days later, I am still wondering.

Our interviewees, John and Dave, were middle-aged men who lost their employment, endured past [and current] drug abuse recovery, suffered families’ abandonment and were gravely buried under societal stigmatization. John had a felony on his record, which eradicated his hope of finding new employment. Dave had just had a surgery and his chances of surviving the remainder of winter are gradually fading away.

The more I remember their stories the more I feel slapped with painful realizations. We love numbers, statistics and survey results. We tend to factualize what we perceive by finding a way to measure by numbers and standards. This building is 400 foot high, a single colony could have millions of ants, that car could run at 100 miles per hour. We cannot, alas, evaluate and assess things like awe, loyalty, beauty, joy and suffering.

Overwhelmed, I have reached a state of emotional numbness that superseded astonishment; The same one I felt when I heard in 1990 about a Kuwaiti woman who was raped by 48 Iraqi soldiers, the same one I felt when I learned that it took only three months of tribal war to eradicate about a million Rwandans. Why do the words “tsunami,” “Katrina,” “Hiroshima” sound like? Not like any bells ringing but like immeasurable grief and unbearable sorrow. I did not dwell on the number of victims for it was powerful enough to reflect on the “amount” of suffering they had to endure.

This time, suffering was closer to home than ever. It was standing before my eyes in hip’n cool Royal Oak. Standing in the form of men with broken spirit and ailing bodies with no place to go. I still do not know how their frail builds could survive such conditions that made my perfectly healthy body tremble in a few minutes. Their survival is beyond my comprehension and their suffering is beyond my grasp.

Dave mentioned that Royal Oak is booming with new condominiums whose owners consider the very presence of the homeless a risk on the value of their property. I instantly wondered how would I react if my condo association informed me that our elegant “territory” is attracting homeless individuals. While flying in the philosophical sky took me nowhere but to seeing more suffering, my wife brought me back to earth with very few words. She reminded me that some of us do actually care enough to do something about that suffering, even though it is not foreseeable to erase it from existence. We all can aspire to watch, participate in, and promote real acts of compassion toward those burdened ones.

I am still reflecting on that unusual experience and am still amazed how selective our perception of reality is. I can see now the big irony of the odd co-existence of the homeless and the hip in Royal Oak. Next time I visit the area, beauty salons, and fine eateries will not be the first things to strike my eyes. For those who look closely enough, the city has a lot of other features. For me at least, Royal Oak has a new face.

Emad Ghith Emad.Ghith@uwsem.org
Information & Referral Associate
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

On Tuesday, January 30th, I volunteered to assist in United Way's homeless interviews. As I prepared for this assignment I found myself uneasy - I didn't know what to expect. Was our approach going to offend the homeless? Would they think it was all just a big prank? My nervousness continued to grow as Bill, the United Way 2-1-1 Team Leader, and I drove towards Mount Clemens. I began to wonder how the homeless would look at us and treat us or how their circumstances were going to affect me.

As we approached our first person I realized how cold I was. Just knowing that the cold was something that this person experience every day, all day, started to change my heart. I started to worry less about myself and focused on the individuals we were interviewing.

We interviewed Bruce. Bruce was homeless with nothing of his own but the clothing on his back and the food in his belly. He was very nice, educated, and the first thing he did was offer me some Kleenex so I could wipe my nose. He was happy to see someone that was interested in helping him with a change of life.

We talked with Bruce about what he ate and where he slept. But the largest impact came when Bruce told us how he was treated differently because he was homeless. He's not different. He is someone just like me and you - he's just in need of resources so he can seek help and change his life.

As the day ended, after talking with over ten homeless individuals, I went somewhere that I call home - where I can get food, clean clothing, heat, bedding and love from my family. I felt so emotional knowing that there are so many people out in the streets without anything to call their own, wishing they could trade places with someone like me or you. This tremendous experience makes me realize that it doesn't matter where you are today, there's no prediction where you could be tomorrow.

And by the way, Bruce took us up on our offer of help. He called United Way 2-1-1 today and we are going to start working together to find the resources he needs to get his life back on track.

Jazzanee Hayden
Information & Referral Associate
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

January 26, 2007, started out as an ordinary day. However, it would soon become a memorable and extraordinary day. By 11:00 p.m., my mind was still consumed with thoughts of James, Mario, Charles, Brian and John. These were just a few of the homeless individuals I had been privileged to meet on this day. As part of a project to interview the homeless, these gentlemen educated us to their plight, obstacles and the numerous challenges they face each day as a result of having no home. Quickly I realized that these faces could very well be members of my own family.

Many shared very candidly the unfortunate set of circumstances and tragic events that led to their current experience; a lost job with no unemployment benefits, which translated to no income; an injury on the job that led to no workers compensation or disability benefits, which again, translated to no income; an ex-offender who is consistently stigmatized and denied employment because of his past, and still another, denied housing due to his poor credit rating. And the list goes on. Yet somehow in listening and trying to understand their plight, I realized that the problem of homelessness had become my plight as well.

In the midst of their daily reality and fight for survival for those who find themselves homeless, I still perceived within each person interviewed, a spirit of hope, determination, and a strong individual belief of a better tomorrow. I will forever be touched by the consistent response to the final question posed to each homeless interviewee. When asked about their short-term goals and desires for the future, "A job, a home and a family" became the overwhelming and consistent response. With each answer, I knew that the dreams of the homeless were the same as my own. Their hopes were the same as my hopes. As difficult and far away as their dreams may seem, I'm certain that their desires are certainly not too much to ask or expect.

As I ate my dinner after work, a twinge of guilt settled in as I thought about the homeless, never quite sure where their next meal is coming from. As I lay in my bed, again I felt the sting of being protected from the cold, which I knew was not a reality for many of the homeless. Yet loudest and most prominent of all my thoughts and feelings, were the questions surfacing through my mind, refusing to go away and demanding to be answered. What can I do to make a difference? What can we do as a community to improve the lives of the homeless? Where should we start? How will it end?

And slowly, the answers began to come. I must become an advocate, a voice for the homeless, by caring enough to educate others and encourage them to get involved. The process of where to start has already begun, as we seek to understand the needs of the homeless. We must let the homeless know that though currently downtrodden, they are not forgotten. How will it end? Triumphantly of course, because those of us committed to the cause must refuse to stop until the battle is won. As a united community, dedicated and determined to win, we must work together to end homelessness. We must commit our time and our resources so that every homeless person may realize their most basic hopes and desires; Employment, a home and a family. Truly, this is not too much for anyone to ask or expect.

Carol D. Smith, CIRS
Senior Information & Referral Specialist
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

On the morning of Monday, January 29, 2007, I went out to assist in interviewing the homeless, just to get their thoughts on how and why they became homeless and if they knew of any resources out there that could help them. I felt that I was prepared for the frigid temperatures outside with new gloves and a scarf that I had just bought, but nothing prepared me for what I encountered that morning. As we walked toward Hart Plaza, we approached a man named Angelo. He was sitting on a step in Hart Plaza. This man had on one glove and he was blowing on the other hand without the glove trying to keep it warm.

I quickly gave Angelo the spare gloves I had in my coat pocket. As we interviewed Angelo, he was very articulate and he talked about the struggles of homeless people in general, he talked about how he and his wife, Monica, who walked up a few minutes later to converse with us, are sleeping in a tent and sleeping bags on the Hart Plaza grounds. Angelo is blind in one eye and walks with a cane (he cannot walk very far).

I asked Angelo if he knew of any resources that were available to him and his wife Monica. Angelo said that he knew of the assistance and he even utilized some of them. "However," stated Angelo, "if you go into a shelter at night; in the morning, they kick you out at 5:00a.m., where are we to go then? And as far as the food, it is as if we get the leftovers." Angelo goes on to say, "Do not get me wrong, I am very grateful for anything that I receive, but the food is made days and weeks earlier, such as sandwiches and then it is given to us, the homeless." Angelo’s wife, Monica, goes on to say that she does not mind working, in fact, she wants a job, but doesn't know who will hire her with the clothes that she is wearing. Some of the shelters will not even let her take a bath.

On my journey of interviewing the homeless, I ran into a few more homeless individuals that had only a few goals in life which are to be happy and not have to struggle. Anthony, who has not seen his family in 3 years and has been homeless for 6 years. Ramone, who only needs to get his broken furnace repaired so that he and his mom can go back to their warm home. Gregory, who was in a car accident and never recovered financially or physically and Joseph, who was just released from prison, had no support system and said that he was tired and just wanted to get off the streets.

Even writing this blog brings tears to my eyes to know that there are people in the world that have no food, clothing or a sense of hope. This saddens my heart to the point that, I wish and I want to start my own homeless shelter to get as many people off the streets that I can. However, I am only one person and who will help the rest?

But just think, if we all took the responsibility to care for at least 1 or 2 of our brothers and sisters, it would make the world of difference in their lives and ours.

Wanda Y. Ghannoum
Information & Referral Associate
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

The quest of interviewing Homeless people in our region has opened my eyes to the true barriers that are preventing these people from attaining the resources in our community. I've been faced with grace, sadness, strength and despair. I've looked into the eyes of hopelessness unlike I've ever seen before, yet the words of survival speak with dreams and belief. I wonder how this can be. How have I lived 44 years without even the consideration of such conflicting notions? I suppose I cannot understand fully, yet I've just gotten closer to this than I suspect I ever will.

I'm somewhat embarrassed of the preconceived notions I entered this project with. I wondered how I would get measurable responses from those who are doped up, or how I would decipher the thoughts of the mentally ill. Of the roughly 60 people I've interviewed, I don't think but 2 or 3 were clearly mentally ill or high. No, those I've spoken with are just like you and me except that were faced with challenges they were unable to overcome and are now drowning in a fight for their lives. Have many of these people made mistakes that they continue to live with today? Of course. Should these mistakes disallow them from eating? From having warm clothes? From having a roof over their heads? From contributing to our society through work? From being loved?

Anthony quickly approached me asking for help. He told of his struggles. He accounted his attempts to regain his footing. He was really sharing his feelings of giving up and I heard him clearly. With humility and shame he told me how he found his way to the streets of Detroit. He played a part in the murder of someone involved with dealing drugs. He knows he will never be excused from his actions, nor is he hoping to be excused. Instead of choosing to live in fear and anger, he somehow chose love and forgiveness. Could I believe his turnaround or am I being conned? I will never know for sure, but I can tell you I felt nothing but love coming from him. I think that was enough (for me). Upon concluding our discussion of his life and barriers I extended my hand to thank him for his time. In the cold of 10 degrees and a fierce wind blowing upon us, he removed his tattered glove, took my hand, looked as directly into my eyes as anyone ever has, and pulled me into a hug. He blessed me and said thank you. Blessed ME. Why me? It was me who will always be grateful for the insight and experience I learned from him. I know more today, because of Anthony, than I did the day before. Today, a murder hugged me!

Bill Sullivan
Team Leader
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

Leaving work last Thursday, I bundled up to brave the cold and prepared to make my seemingly long journey over to Trolley Plaza to get to my vehicle. I hurried as the wind whipped through me, remembering that this day was predicted to be the coldest of the season. After making it to the refuge of my car, I began to plan my evening’s activities, which, for the most part, consisted of preparing dinner for my family, slipping into my cozy pajamas and snuggling up under my leopard-print comforter to watch television.

As I settled into the comfort of home, I began to collect my thoughts and reflect on my day as I normally do at the bedtime. Suddenly, I was struck with this vague feeling of uneasiness.

As I listened to the wind rap against my windows, I couldn’t help but to think of the persons I’d met that day; the people whom, contrary to my preconceived beliefs, have so much in common with myself: the homeless.

I thought about “Lou”, the college-degreed man who could not work in his field due to a stroke. I thought about “Steve”, the articulate antique dealer, who once owned a lucrative business. And then there was “James”, the witty and comical former van driver, who wished he could be more involved with his grandchildren. I thought about how “Ron”, who eventually wishes to work to help the homeless, admits to sometimes having to search trash dumpsters for food.

Each of these people touched me in a unique way, either with their gregarious personalities, their talents, their strengths and resourcefulness or their challenges. Beneath the superficial image of weathered clothing were unique individuals with stories of all their own. They eagerly spoke of lives they had when they were younger. They talked about their education, their families, their dreams and aspirations. At the same time, I was amazed at how candidly they expressed their challenges and details about how they became homeless.

What struck me the most was how homelessness affects one’s pride, self-confidence and sense of self-worth. Many of them told me that the stigma attached to being homeless causes them to be turned away from job interviews, housing and other help that they need. How dehumanizing! “You should try dressing like me. Go walk around looking like I look and try to get some help.See how people treat you,” “Mike” said. Several of them told me that they had gotten so discouraged by their experiences that they had given up hope.

So, as I sat in my warm bed with my full stomach, taking the simple things for granted, I could not get their faces out of my mind. Lou. Steve. James. Ron. Mike. What were they doing right at that moment? Were they indoors or out? Had they eaten? How would they survive the night? How could I help the weary soul of the person who feels forgotten about?

I wished that I had a place for each of them to go, clean and fitting clothes for them to wear and enough food for them to eat. I wished that I could help them put all of their talents to use. I wished that I could give them hope. I wanted them to know that they were not forgotten about…I knew that I would never forget about them.

Kristen Bolds
Research Associate
United Way 2-1-1

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives

Today I met a homeless woman, Monica, who has been living in a tent with her husband Angelo in the Downtown area of Detroit, Michigan, for two years. I learned that there are few shelters around and most of the shelters in her area are for men only.

It's hard for Monica and Angelo to find food and get money. Monica believes she can get a job - she's educated, she's smart. But she doesn't have the look to walk into a place of business and expect to get a job. That's her biggest concern, she just wants to have some descent clothes and fix her appearance so she can get a job.

Monica has family in the area but they have no idea where she is living. Monica was a single, divorced mother of three. She was living with her mother but couldn't keep up with with payments. She then lost custody of her kids and her father put her on the street.

I wonder what type of family would do that to their own daughter? Monica is a very strong woman and is determined to get back on her feet, she just needs a chance.

Loren Courts
Multimedia Intern
United Way Brand Identity and Communications

Labels: 2-1-1, 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, programs and initiatives