Extreme Makeover: Homeless Edition?

This past week the team from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has been in Columbus building a brand new home for a deserving family.  The local news channels have all been covering the build, and it's pretty exciting to watch. 

If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me give a brief explanation of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  EMHE travels across the United States building new homes for deserving families whose homes are falling apart, and in some cases, really ought to be condemned because they're so unlivable.  It's a heart-warming show, and it truly changes the lives of the families who get a new home.

But as I've been watching the show and seeing this house being built, there's a thought in the back of my mind.... why aren't they building houses for homeless families?  Homeless families don't have a house that's falling a part.  They don't have a home.  Period.

Unless you consider the shelter they sleep in every night. 

Or the couch of a friend.

Or the park bench. 

Or the back of their car. 

Or the tent alongside the river.

But there's hope: Homes of Hope.

While Homes of Hope doesn't build homes for homeless families, we do provide transitional housing for them.  We provide a place of love and support for 3-6 months, allowing families to get back on their feet again.  We offer mentoring, budget counseling, and tutoring for children who are struggling in school.  We rally around these families and show them that there is hope.

Hope for now.

Hope for the future.

Hope that one day there will be one less homeless family in the world.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'  That is the promise we hold on to here at Homes of Hope for all the homeless families in Ross County & beyond. 

When you see shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, what do you think? Should we build homes for homeless families?

The Truth About Homelessness

Homelessness isn't something new to most of us.  We've seen it first-hand while visiting a big city such as Chicago, New York, or maybe even Columbus.  Or perhaps we've seen something on the news or while reading the paper. 

For those of us in the small city of Chillicothe, Ohio, homelessness is becoming more visible.  It's difficult to drive down Bridge Street without seeing the men & women standing there holding their signs asking for help.

Maybe you've given them a dollar or two.

Or maybe you haven't.

Maybe you've asked them their story.

Or maybe you just assumed they're lazy.

There are a lot of myths surrounding homelessness.  And then there's the truth.

The truth is, many homeless people are not homeless by choice.  More than half of the homeless are homeless due to a financial crisis that has occurred because of a loss of a job, divorce, or sickness.

The truth is, many homeless people are not lazy.  Many of the homeless are considered to be the "working poor," meaning they work 27 hours or more and are at or below the federal poverty level, and sometimes make too much for government assistance.

The truth is, many homeless people are not drug addicts, alcoholics, or mentally ill.  Only 1 out of 5 homeless people report drinking on a regular basis, and less than 1/3rd suffer from a mental illness.

The truth is, many homeless people are not middle-aged or elderly men.  The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old.  The fastest growing group of homleless is families with children.

The truth is, the homeless community of Ross County needs hope. 

That's where Homes of Hope comes in.  We're a relational ministry of Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) whose mission is to mobilize the Church to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ through transitional housing and supportive services.  Our goal is to help highly motivated homeless families get back on their feet and be successful on their own.  We're not just an emergency shelter.  We're a transitional housing program.  Each family is mentored and given budget counseling, health & nutritional training, tutoring for children, and pastoral counseling.  We love and support them through the process, and follow-up with each family for a year after they've graduated from the program.

The truth is, Homes of Hope is an effective ministry with an 80% success rate & is changing the lives of the homeless in Ross County, Ohio.

As you drive down Bridge Street and pass the homeless men & women holding their signs, pray for them.  Ask them their story.  Show them that there's still hope.