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I received a call from a young woman who had a friend that came to Meridian to live a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately once here, they realized that the friend had been off her meds for bipolar and schizophrenia and could not get on meds in a timely manner here due to needing to see a physician. We are looking for help to purchase a bus ticket to Louisville, Kentucky.
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I just left the home of a young lady with some serious and complex problems. Not sure how to fix it for her. She is an 18 y/o female with a 2 month old daughter. She is also raising 3 siblings 7,15, 16 alone. Her mother is in the hospital in Jackson dying of brain cancer with frequent seizures. Overwhelmed with this alone but add to the problem is the fact that she was able to rent, along with a 19 yo friend a trailer in April. The friend left to move in with a boyfriend, leaving her with all the bills. The light bill which is in friends name was $550 for the first month. Rent is $545. Her water bill is over $100. (Welcome to the grown up world). Her income alone is under $750 a month and is unable to get food stamps yet. If the lights are cut off tomorrow, because they are in her friends name she would have to pay a $250 deposit. She would not be able to get lights turned back on until the bill gets paid. If she could because she is just 18. She apparently has a water leak and must get the landlord to see about fixing it. Why did they rent 2 minors a trailer that they could obviously not afford? They had no concept of how quickly bills occur. It was bad enough with 2 incomes and barely going to make it but with only one small income it is impossible. My first thought was to let it go. But at 18 she is unable to go into shelter. Having the responsibility of 3 siblings and a newborn as well as a mother dying she can't handle working any more right now. Oh yes. She does not have a drivers license or an ID and has no idea if her mother has her birth certificate so she can get an ID. Her mother is in no shape to tell her, advise her or anything else. Without an ID she can't get into other housing. I'm not sure how she got into this place without an ID but if they would rent to a very young looking 18 y/o they would skimp on other things. Because she is 18 her help is very limited. Reality is even if we could help with the light bill she will need help over and over again but then without help she has no options but her and her siblings and baby be homeless, then she will risk losing her baby and siblings. On the good side, I was very impressed at the cleanliness of her home and how well her siblings minded. She was very fearful of losing her siblings as she was losing her mom. How sad and overwhelming.
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This is definitely a week for 18 year olds. I felt that I had to help a young woman today who just tore at my heart. 18 is such a strange age. One that there is so many holes in the system. Mom sees you as a child, you see yourself as an adult. The state says an 18 year old female is a minor. DHS sees an 18 year old as an adult. Shelters see an 18 year old as a minor. An 18 year old female cannot legally enter into a housing contract. Most shelters will not let an 18 year old come in. If you are 18 and do something stupid, you can be tried as an adult. You can enter into the military at 18. An 18 year old is naive and vulnerable when left to the world, and sometimes this world is just plain scary and unsafe. Sometimes parents have to use tough love, but everything has consequences. I looked at a very scared young lady today and saw a very vulnerable child/young woman. Tonight we kept her safe and tomorrow we will continue our search for a safe place for her to go to with hopes of getting her life together. Reality it will probably next week before this comes to fruition. Prayers for this young scared and overwhelmed young lady.
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Winding down from a very busy day. From Hickory to Union, Union to Meridian, picked up client so I could help her while I was moving another client to a long awaited apartment in Louisville. It took 5 long months to get a young man who is in a wheelchair and homeless into housing when he has no income. Then back to Meridian only to get a call from a distraught father over a situation with his homeless son. On the way to check on son, I ran into a homeless man struggling to walk who had obviously had a stroke. Went by him in the car but had to turn around and pick him up. Could not understand a word he said so we developed a system of communication to take him close to where he was going. When we got to the point he wanted to stop at, when he got out of the car, I handed him a banana and a bottle of water and some peppermint and tootsie rolls I was carrying. He became very teary, took my hand and cuffed it into his face as a gesture of hugging me and thanking me with tears. I think it was the chocolate. I was so glad that the young woman that was with me was able to witness so many things on so many levels. From seeing the struggles of a young man who is struggled each day just to move and was in so much pain from an accident he had suffered which was an indirect result of his drug history. She was able to hear the distraught voice of a father who loved his child more than life himself, as he cried/sobbed over his broken son and his feelings of helplessness. We talked about the love we as parents have toward our children and the pain we go through when their child is bent on self destruction. I pray that I got through to this child and she knows how much her own parents love her, but sometimes they have to step back and not enable bad choices. So many cracks she falls through while she tries to stay safe. I wanted so much to bring her home with me. And walk her slowly through this journey. All in a single day at ASLANe'S as we deal with homelessness in all degrees in our small town. Yes there is homelessness in our community and help is needed. Prayers are needed.
We then took a young man to Mobile to a wonderful Rehab Center that is free. He had recently been released from prison and we had to work it out with his parole officer and get special permission from Jackson. This young man was ready for a positive change in his life and was excited about this positive change in his life.
Now to find a positive (free) place for a young lady. It is so much easier to to find placement for men than our vulnerable young ladies. My heart hurts for these young women who without a safety net can be could be trafficked.
Thank you for allowing us to share these blessings. Without your support we can't share this love of Christ. Tomorrow is another day with its on set of challenges. But I know I serve a huge God who guides me threw this journey.
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I saw it again in a 28 yo mother who, with 3 children 2-12, was living in a small tent. The fear I saw in her eyes and the eyes of one of children when I drove up. Was I there to remove her kids from her. The shame and embarrassment she was suffering from...school is fixing to start and how can I allow my children to go through this. Feeling so overwhelmed, feeling hopeless....no transportation, no phone....how do I overcome this? It's hopeless, I am a failure.
Tomorrow we start the road back to life. We will help her navigate what seems like the impossible. We will work on empowering her to move forward with her life and never look back. Today, I don't know her story, but tomorrow I will. I will also know what her hopes and dreams are....because, as long as there are hopes and dreams.... There is a future to go toward.
The harsh reality is that 1 in 4 children WILL live in homelessness in their lifetime. How many more are out there. This week, day 2, I have 6 new children living in homelessness and only weeks before school starts.
Supporting ASLANe'S Mission allows us to help each one of these individuals. Supporting the Thrift Store allows us to help each child out of homelessness. Each donation made makes a huge difference in a child's life. Having a safe shelter will help even more. Please help us build the shelter. Help us give hope to those feeling so hopeless. Life is hard, but looking into the eyes of a homeless child and a hopeless mother is even harder.
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I have a several young families in need of food. Easy open, that really does not to be cooked. One family in abandoned house in county, another in a tent in county. One has small children. Need to get them food until we can get stamps started. What would really be good is home canned/ cooked food/ meats/ vegetables etc. Thanks for any assistance you can give with these situations.
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Pray with me regarding these immediate needs:
1). We need to put a mother with 2 babies in a room as we work to do emergency housing for this family. We need to get them in a safe place. We will also need some assistance in feeding them. They don't have transportation to go to LOVE's.
2). I have a family in need of lot rent assistance. He is disabled with 2 girls. The trailer is paid for. Need $500 before Monday where they go to court. They have been struggling for 2 years while he is waiting on disability. Land lord doesn't want to work with them any longer. It will cost over $3000 to move trailer. He paid a $100 which landlord will not touch without full payment. Any assistance helps.
3). A couple that is disabled with kidney failure needs to move to s safe place asap. He is paying $300 a month for a trailer without stove or refrigerator and holes in floor. Landlord lost place due to not paying taxes so he will have to move anyway. Has lost 59# in 6 months due to living conditions. Looking for adequate housing.
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Can't sleep tonight. My heart is heavy as I saw 3 mothers today. One with a 1 year old child, another with 2 16 year olds. One sleeping in one of our many abandoned houses, another sleeping primarily in her car. Another one jumping from house to house or in an abandoned house. School is starting which makes their situation harder. One of these ladies would greatly benefit from the shelter we are to create. Such a sad situation. Praying for these women and children. My heart breaks as I talk to them without real solutions.
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Life is so incredibly hard for single moms. We have been diligently working with a mom that has a 3 month old who will have open heart surgery at 6 months, a 2 yo and a 10& 12 year, newly divorced. Got a ride to Laurel to take care of some business and now her tent is gone along with everything they had. Shoes, clothes, food diapers. She feels like giving up. So overwhelmed. It will be a few days before hopefully She can get into housing. Until then we will have to find a hotel. So so sad and so hard.
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I have another mom without a place to go and a one year old. It will be later in the week before her housing comes through. Hopefully. This job is so hard. Especially with the shear need and complexity of each situation and working with little financial support. Oh well, praying the lights won't get turned off because sick babies cannot be out in this heat and weather. Prayers and donations are badly needed to continue this ministry
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More calls today. Mom with 3 kids seeking shelter. One of the kids is 2, one 5 and 10. Doesn't understand why there is not a place for them to go in Meridian. My only reply is Hattiesburg, Laurel or Columbus.
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I have been worried about my mom with the 3 month old with the heart problem. Sunday someone stole everything she had, clothes tents diapers and shoes. No phone or reliable transportation I have been unable to find her since Tuesday morning. What about the older lady hanging out in the hospital because she has no place to go? There is no place for her to go. Life is so so hard. Prayer Warriors needed.
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I had 2 more moms today with a tota of 7 more children.....living in homelessness. Struggling moms in bad situations trying to create a normalcy for their children during this stressful season of their lives. All of these children were school age except for 1. How hard for these moms and babies.
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I have a family in the C'dale area with a small child whose lights are off. He has been laid off but has been called back to work starting Monday. He doesn't want to leave his wife and child in the dark while he is out of town working. If anyone would like to help with this situation, it would be greatly appreciated. His light bill is $350.
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Another homeless mom with a 3 year old sleeping in her car. 1 in 4 children will live in homelessness at some point in their lifetime. Life happens. This mom worked for a company that lost their contract and everyone was laid off, she has a non-compete clause so she cannot stay in the area that she lives in, and go to work...where they are hiring because of this Clause. To qualified for the jobs that are hiring. Would be a great employee for someone. She has done something right, she has a degree and a child who is away at a University. Just needs a break Right now. Heartbroken because she had to apply for food stamps.
I tell these stories in detail to help you understand that everyone who is homeless is an individual with there own story, their own problems. Not all those living in homeless chose to be homeless. Life sometimes takes that unexpected turn and spirals out of control. Without help it is impossible to overcome the obstacles. This veteran is worth fighting for.
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Good news is an elderly vet will now be getting the benefits he is entitled to, freeing his children up financially. They have been supporting him financially for several years. A special praise for being one step closer to getting the benefits and housing for the young veteran i told about last week. When I told him of the progress he wept. He said I really needed to hear that, I'm not in good place right now. We gave household items to 1 family today, a bed for another man who lives in horrible conditions and facing a life threatening surgery in a few weeks. We also gave out 2 food boxes because their was no food for them.
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Feeling good about our busy day. Today we helped an older gentleman who came from the shelter into housing 9 days ago with furniture and basic household items. It was so worth this blessing when we saw him break down in tears. He had been sleeping on the floor for 9 days without blankets or pillows. So blessed.
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Friday I met a 35 year old Veteran who has so many injustices and pitfalls throughout his military career and beyond. Out of high school he joined the Air Force and because of his intelligence he became a nuclear aircraft specialist. After 3 years he was caught in the base realignment. He was unable to be reassigned or renter the air force so he joined the marines. Paperwork got mixed up and he was sent to a different base and a different mission, he was assigned to welding Instead of special ops. When he re-enlisted again, they caught the problem and sent him to the right base and mission. In one of his missions in Kosovo he was hit with an IED and suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and other injuries. After discharge from the service he became homeless. His wife had filed for a divorce and gained custody of his son. He was ordered to pay over $500 a month in child support for 1 child. Recuperation was hard, he suffered from PTSD plus he was fighting the affects of the TBI. He finally awarded 10% disability but because of the way his discharge pay was given, (which he had sent to his ex wife for his son) is held up into 2019. He tried to work but was unable to consistently work enough to keep a roof over his and pay child support. He chose child support. He started college on something he felt he could do. As he finished his course of study and prepared to go to work he found out that his license had been suspended because he was behind in child support. He was able to keep up with payments from 2012 until October plus he had his $13,000 discharge pay sent for his child, which she did not report. He is now penalized an additional $500 by the state of Maine for his delinquencies. Making him now owe $1000 a month, up to $15,000 now. And unable to really work because of suspended drivers license. In the meantime his father had a stroke and required his assistance. Due to apartment rules, he can not stay with dad.
This was such a smart and remarkable young man who only wanted to be able work to take care of his son, whom he had not seen since 2012. Pulling up his records, we were able to verify that he does not get anything from his Traumatic Brain Injury, just for a shoulder that occurred with IED injury. REALLY. At this point I am so upset over this entire situation. How dare we treat our veterans with such indifference and push them into homelessness. Where is the sense of suspended license which helps people work because of back child support. I think of my own son who is in the military and I get more upset. What if this was my son? Christie is going into her "crazy mode" over this and will fight on his behalf as if he was my son.
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Making a difference. Spent the morning yesterday at MCC registering and ensuring that two young women, both homeless will be going to college, living in the dorm and able to eat 3 meals a day. We are also assisting a vet with re-entering college. Education is the key to success.
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Today was a great day. So much was accomplished with the help of LOL 2016. They are truly amazing. Today in all the business I had 2 families homeless with 2 children each desperately searching for a solution.2 different calls from 2 moms with several children out on the streets. Statistics are 1 in 4 children will live in homelessness at some point in their life time. I see that daily in this world God has placed me in.
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In need of assistance for a family to have their utilities turned on. He has metastatic prostate cancer and she has terminal metastatic breast Cancer and is ready for discharge from the hospital. She will be going home on Hospice for pain management and to keep comfortable. They are displaced due to the high cost of her medication. He cannot bring her home with out having the utilities on. Any assistance to help with the $590 needed to get the utilities on so she can come home and die with dignity.
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Looking for someone who can assist a young veteran get his truck from Scott Co. Where it is broke down. He needs a transmission put in his truck. He has started work. It is our prayer that he will be able to make it on this job despite the PTSD and traumatic brain Injury. Such a sweet guy.
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Mission accomplished. My goal today was to find resources for a man and his wife who was terminal being discharged from the hospital in the next day or two. Received call that she was being discharged around noon. Action put in place. 2 phones at a time and 2 computers in use. The problem they had no utilities on in their home and no furniture or basic essentials. We got the d/c pushed to 5 to buy time to get them the help they needed. After calls, prayers, calls and more prayers we were able to do it. At 4:45 the lights and water was turned on. Both the power and water company said we could not get it done today. But thanks to our LOL group praying with and far this gentleman and us turning it over to God to make sure it happened. He never wavers in answering prayers. It was going to cost $600 to get the power and water on. Thanks to MCCS helping and us picking up the difference, it got done. Praising GOD for always answering prayers. Hospice will help with her medication and pain control. Thanks to the ladies at Mississippi Power and SWLWA for helping make it happen. For going out of your way to help us get the utilities on. This is how your financial support helps us spread the Love of Christ. Because we do not receive any government funds, we will stop and pray with and for our clients. We will work double time to make sure the hard situations are completed. Thank you LOL for your help in getting this family beds, dressers and other items. Thanks to the Postal Drive a few months ago we were able to give this family some canned food. We did not have much left but was able to help some.
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Looking for a washer and dryer for the sick couple I have been working with. She is incontent of urine and is accumulating a lot of clothes. He is feeling pretty overwhelmed.
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Life is so hard. I see it so often in the eyes of those living in homelessness. I saw it this morning when I arrived at LOVE'S to pick up a guy that I was trying to get services for...Only to see him washing off with the hose outside the building. You see, he like so many sleeps, not in the woods, but on the eaves of the building. How thrilled he was to come to our building to be in the cool if only for a little while. I see it in the eyes of a homeless guy, who only a Short time ago had a job, surrounded with people who truly cared for him and a roof over his head. Now, it breaks my heart because he will not even make eye contact with me. He is his own worse enemy, sabotaging his self, because like many, gets uncomfortable with being comfortable. How I want to hug him and tell him he is a person of worth. God loves him so much it hurts.
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What a day. Young mom in a shelter had a severe hypoglycemic attack at work and had to be taken to ER. This is what happens when you stay in a place where you do not have food available I look at the mom with 3 adorable kids who when I approached them, asked me if I had some candy or something because they were hungry. The mom says they get food stamps but does not have anyway of cooking food so it has to be "not very nutritious" . Oh Jesus be with these sweet babies. I had a mom with 4mo old & 3 year old. Every day in a different house.feeling alone. Mom with 2 children. Living in a bad situation. Needing to find a home fast. A 50 yo whose husband left her for a younger women but not before he put the house in his mom's name. After he left they had her evicted. She has to the 1st to have everything out. She had never worked so now she has to start living in this horrible new normal she is now faced with.
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