I have no more right to suggest that they move off of the street than one might have to ask me why I don’t live in a bigger house! The question is easy – but the answer is complicated.

Many of the homeless live on the streets (rather than the shelters) because there isn’t any room. The shelters only have limited space. In Dallas alone, there are estimates of 5,000 – 9,000 homeless (it all depends who you ask). There aren’t enough beds in all of the DFW metroplex shelters for even a fraction of those. In the picture to the left Cathy sits outside a shelter with a “Full” sign on the door. It was 40 degrees outside when we took that picture. Her choice was to go early to the shelter to guarantee a bed, or go to our ministry to guarantee a hot meal and enough food to last her the next few days. That is a choice that no one should ever have to make.

Many of homeless choose to live on the street rather than a shelter because sometimes the street is a better place to live. There are less rules, less politics, less regulations, less corruption and the opportunities are sometimes better. Some shelters are great places, but some are just “organized crack houses”. Some employ the homeless to manage the facilities. Sometimes this is great opportunity. Other times this is an example of homeless culture and turf wars given too much authority.

I think the question – is a dumb question.

A better question is “So why don’t you get off your butt – and help the homeless?”
Ha! – you thought I was talking about the homeless…

• Garrett – his brother is diabetic and praise that his brother (Jacob) is now home from the hospital.
• John - his step daughter is diabetic and almost passed away, also pray for him, 1 year ago he had no job or home and now he has a place to stay.
• Willie - 6 months ago he found out that his brother in law has colon cancer, since he is on the street he has no phone or other means of contacting him.
• Michael - for his process in the dialysis center (he has kidney failure), also a defective pace maker, then praise for the guy that helped him get to the center.
• Mariah - her great-grandmother had surgery on her arm and now has an infection, her great-grandfather cant help her much with 1 eye and 1 arm, her grandfather (Charles) is sick and has kidney failure but mainly needs prayer because he is not a Christian, also an unspoken friends grandfather has cancer and isnt expected to live.
• Fuqua – their family lost a daughter (16 years old) in a car accident.
• Mark – that Joe and Julie come to know the Lord, also the same for Randy’s brother and sister.
• Brittany – her friend Devon is going through a hard time.
• Charles – would like job with his poem that is getting published.
• Bruce & Denise – praise that many of the foster homes are empty.
• Shawna – her mom, brother and sister are in a shelter, just wants for them to be ok and a peace knowing that they are, she isnt sure where they are at the moment, also prayer for their abusive father.
• Michael – he has a defective pace maker and is looking for a new job.
• Cullem – that he will have a better year in 2008.
• David – pray for Andy Wicker as he is leading people to Christ in Kazakhstan.
• Jodi – praise that he just found his family.
• Chris – he is trying to register with the labor hall.
• Mark – unspoken prayer for his brother Stewart.
• In general prayer for the families during the holidays.
• Tina – prayer for less negativity, praise Martha for her help.
• David – Donnie whom had a stroke, for Celebrate Recovery in Kazakhstan.
• Kareem – praise the Lord for work.
• Tim – unspoken prayer for self.
• Andy – for the family of the guy that passed away on the Tollway, and his going to Kazakhstan; he would also like to thank everyone for their help and prayers.
• Alan – he is stranded and needs to get back to Shreveport.
• Randy - praise for the opportunity to serve we are all very honored, thank you for the opportunity.
• Wayne – praise for the skin cancer that was on his back that is now taken care of, wants to thank everyone for all of your prayers.
• David – for his girlfriend, Mia, on her travels to Buffalo.
• Bill – for a new job because he was laid off.
• Jerry – his wife and son are using drugs and need help.
• David – there are a lot of people on the street getting sick with colds, prayer that there would be healing, and no more strokes, also praise that he and so many others are alive.
• Bill – praise God for what He’s doing in his life, for the understanding and adversity, also praise that he does believe and have faith.
• Dorothy – praise that she is healthy, has life (and life more abundantly), also prayer for her ministry. Also on a personal note: Thank you for ministering to all of us through song. God has given you a beautiful voice!

How do you search for a missing person?

There are a tons of web searches and services that allow you to pay a premium to find people. Google only goes so far and old records are even harder to come by.

I am asking because I can’t find the answer. I need a search tool that allows us to search by various criteria. Sometimes we know a name, an age and an area of the country. Sometimes we have more or even less information to go by. I want to be able to contact the family and ask them if they want to have contact with their missing relative. Sometimes people are hard to find because they don’t want to be found. Sometimes the search is difficult because people keep poor records and don’t update their address.

If you know of any service that can help us, please pass the information along. Comment on this post or shoot me an email.

Drew became homeless about 15 years ago. It all started when he started drinking and using drugs in his early twenties.

How many bad decisions result in homelessness? All it takes is one. Many suggest that we are all just a few bad decisions away from being homeless. For many the problems are related to finances. Bills and debt pile up beyond our graps. This leads to depression and guilt. For some they respond with substance abuse. Their families have bailed them out too many times.

For others the situation is health. I have met many homeless men and women who are struck with various health conditions. Michael is on dialysis. Yet despite having lost his kidneys, one leg, and a struggle with diabetes, he remains positive because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

Help us help those who need it. Volunteer on a Friday night and give your time.