Carving Out Hunger and Homelessness

The National Hunger and Homeless Awareness week is November 14 through November 22. It comes just one week before Thanksgiving and serves as a reminder of those that are less fortunate. For many of us, the holiday season spurs reflection and gratitude for blessings and calls many to consider the opportunity to serve the less fortunate. Sometimes, it’s the seemingly insignificant daily details that function as the grandest of gifts – good health, shelter, ample food and warm clothing. For many, the holidays can represent a time of anxiety and loneliness.

There are so many in our country that are lacking the most basic provisions for material and emotional support. The effort to alleviate the dilemma of hunger and homelessness in the Pacific Northwest spans from the goliath of big business to most humble of church missions. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Union Gospel Mission are innovative organizations strategically seeking opportunity to curb the crisis of homelessness in the Pacific Northwest.

American generosity is unparalleled during the holiday season. We unavoidably see the faces of poverty, hunger and homelessness in almost every community. It is nearly impossible to drive down the streets of any community without seeing the face of poverty and destitution. We are left with questions of whether our finances actually reach the intended recipients for the desired purpose. It’s overwhelming to know where to begin or how to appropriately assist when the need is so vast.

Providing quantifiable data on homelessness poses a perpetual challenge. To find the precise headcount is a near impossibility due to a continuous roving population, an inability to locate every person, and inconsistent definitions among organizations. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) classifies homelessness as those living in places not established for human habitation or those using emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Often times, it can be families fleeing from domestic abuse situations, tenants that have been evicted without the means to acquire further housing, or those discharged from state facilities that are unable to obtain further housing.

Despite being home to some of the most renowned big businesses in the world, the Pacific Northwest is not immune to the crisis of homelessness. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is at the forefront in Washington State for objectively attempting to resolve some of the complexities of this crisis. HUD’s 2014 data shows that there are nearly 35,000 people living in homelessness in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The state of Washington accounts for over 55 percent of the homelessness in the PNW and is sixth in the nation for those living in emergency or transitional housing. Approximately 20,000 people in the state of Washington are homeless on any given day and it is estimated that nearly half of Washington’s homeless population is comprised of families.

The Gates Foundation reports that one in four children living in Washington is subject to a family’s struggle to afford the basic necessities. The Foundation recognizes and is making great strides in effort to address the challenges for children living in poverty. The Foundation expresses that Washington’s children are potentially slipping through the cracks as 35 percent of those living in low income will not graduate from high school. The dilemma of poverty and homelessness is multi-faceted for which there is no straightforward solution. The Gates Foundation has formulated a strategy and reserves a deep commitment to serving Washington’s families and children. They have partnered with public, private, and nonprofit sectors to close the gap for underprivileged children.

The Foundation maintains that education is the greatest tool to break the cycle of poverty. They have invested particularly in early education to prepare younger children in their formidable years for elementary school. In conjunction with supporting early learning education, the Gates Foundation advocates and supports the Road Map Project. The Foundation deems the Project to be a “community-driven effort to keep students on track.” The Road Map Project is exceedingly driven by data to set goals and requires participation from families and educational institutions. The notion is that every child will have ample opportunity for educational success.

Although the Gates Foundation fully utilizes education to break the next generation’s cycle of poverty, it affirms that the current state of homelessness has to be addressed. The Foundation asserts that local charities ultimately know their communities. They have forged relationships throughout the state to address the distinctive hardships for varying communities. The Foundation seeks homelessness prevention opportunity by supporting local charities and programs that seek to strengthen their community.

Similar to the Gates Foundation, the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) seeks opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness in the Pacific Northwest. The UGM has been deeply rooted in almost every community since the Great Depression. Its onset was to serve those struggling with addiction and lack of shelter. Since pre - World War II, they have been partnering with communities to offer food, clothing, shelter and recovery support in a Christian centered environment. Last year, communities rallied in support of the UGM enabling them to provide shelter and nearly 400,000 meals to over 4,000 men, women, and children.

The Union Gospel Mission operates entirely without government assistance. The majority of their funds come from either the generosity of individual monetary donations or from donations to support revenue generating entrepreneurships (such as thrift stores). Less than 5 percent of the generated finances are allocated to administration so that the bulk of the donations are invested directly into the mission. There is assurance with this program that the contributions do make a considerable difference and reach the needs of the intended recipients. The UGM focuses its support in the areas of basic necessities, recovery programs, education and career readiness, outreach, and long term affordable housing.

The UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is a newer (2012), state of the art five phase recovery program and shelter. In addition to a recovery program, the facility offers three meals a day, counseling, medical attention, Bible study, fitness, and opportunity for vocational growth. The Center methodically targets and addresses the root of the problem and treats the entire person in effort to break the cycle. The objective of the mission is to change lives by creating healthy, stable, and independent families.

The UGM Center does not function as a hand out but a hand up. The UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’ Alene implements a relatively rigid protocol to foster personal progress. The guests are required to attend counseling sessions and are expected to contribute to the work requirements and necessities of the facility. The women partake by making the meals, cleaning the facility, and working in the thrift store to generate UGM dollars. The UGM dollars are a form of in-house currency that can be utilized by guests to purchase additional toiletry items and personal items.

It’s not always about monetary contributions, but sometimes it’s just giving time as a resource. The UGM Center for Women and Children encourages community support and volunteer assistance. The Center welcomes volunteers to offer a few hours of their time for service. The volunteer training is concise and offers insightful perspective on the dilemma of homelessness and the needs of the guests. Volunteer groups will frequently bring and share a prepared meal for the guests. So many of these women and children are deeply hurting and appreciate the willingness and care from community members.

If anyone is familiar with the face of homelessness and poverty, it would be Spokane, Washington. UGM LIFE Recovery program in Spokane has partnered with local businesses to provide vocational training. The UGM has taken the stance that to break the cycle of homelessness, residents must be able to re-enter the workforce. Staff members at LIFE Recovery work with residents to assess their talents and to build their goals. The UGM states “The ultimate goal is not just to get a job – any job – but to engage their talents, skills and passions in meaningful work.” The LIFE Recovery program does seek the assistance of local business to aid in their effort to vocationally prepare residents. Residents are required to work 240 hours without pay so that they can acquire the skills that they need while building a resume.

As part of the career readiness process, the UGM purports that residents spend time in their educational centers where they can study for a GED, learn computer skills, draft resumes and can search for careers. The LIFE Program facilitates opportunity for residents to gradually re-enter the workforce, develop their resumes and a chance to acquire an important reference.

With the assistance of local businesses, educational and skill enhancement opportunity, the business practicum, and a life coach, residents are fully set up for success as they make the slow transition back into the workforce.

Almost half of Washington’s homeless live on the streets of Seattle and King County and are struggling to make ends meet. The Seattle Union Gospel Mission has partnered with a local grocery store and has launched its Holiday Meal Campaign. The UGM asserts that they are able to feed 10 guests a traditional holiday meal for as little as $1.92 per person. To put it into perspective, they suggest that the average American traditional household will spend approximately $13 per person. With the assistance of local merchants and the support of a generous community, the UGM is able to provide a bounty of holiday food for Seattle’s most disadvantaged.

The UGM recognizes and respects that most people are unable to give of their time during the holidays. In addition to their Holidays Meals Campaign, they offer supplementary recommendations for how people can give during the holidays. There are non-perishable food drop-off facilities, and they express a need for the donation of specific rescue blankets that can be purchased from Amazon for those living in unsheltered environments.

The Pacific Northwest has taken considerable strides to carve out hunger and homelessness. It’s an ongoing and complicated effort for which we are fortunate to have caring and innovative organizations seeking to break the cycle. As the holiday season draws closer and we reach the culmination of another year, consider reaching out into your local community. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Union Gospel Mission both provide a myriad of opportunities for the community to get involved. They require the support and assistance of all of those eager to assist – the smallest of effort of support can still make a huge impact. If you would like to get involved, please visit the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/US-Program/Washington-State or the Union Gospel Mission at www.ugm.org

• In January 2014, 578,424 people were homeless

on a given night. Most (69 percent) were

staying in residential programs for homeless

people, and the rest (31 percent) were found in

unsheltered locations.

• Nearly one-quarter of all homeless people were

children under the age of 18 (23 percent or

135,701). Ten percent (or 58,601) were between

the ages of 18 and 24, and 66 percent

(or 384,122) were 25 years or older.

• Homelessness declined by 2 percent

(or 13,344 people) between 2013 and 2014

and by 11 percent (or 72,718) since 2007.

In January 2014, 362,163 people experienced

homelessness as individuals (63 percent of all

homeless people).

• There were 216,261 homeless people in families

on a single night in January 2014, accounting

for 37 percent of all homeless people.

• Homelessness among individuals declined

by 2 percent (or 7,408) between 2013 and 2014,

and by 13 percent (or 53,434) between 2007

and 2014.

• Homelessness among people in families

declined by 3 percent (or 5,936) between 2013

and 2014, and by 8 percent (or 19,284) between

2007 and 2014.

“Our aim is not free meals, but freed persons; not free beds, but free beings.” – Albert Arend, founder of the Union Gospel Mission Association of Spokane

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