Already eight days into the month, and I’m just getting around to publishing this!

I really must love the pressure or something.

Now, to share with you the February installment of Project: We See You.

The good people at the Houston Coalition for the Homeless are collecting supplies for a number of homeless who now, thanks to so many, finally HAVE A HOME!

But, a house with nothing in it really isn’t a home at all…in the true sense of the word, anyway.

These people have fought tremendous odds their entire lives.

No, they aren’t lazy.

No, they aren’t moochers.

No, they aren’t trying to take advantage of the system.

Trust me when I say that they do not want to be who they are, or where they are. My guess is they’re already hard enough on themselves, without needing the extra judgement and side-eye of society, all of which are unproductive and damaging to the cause.

(If you don’t have anything nice to say….)

Luckily, there are people who are putting their heads together, thinking up new ways to help the homeless. Because, obviously, what we as a society have been doing isn’t working, and isn’t nearly enough.

Many cities are joining in a new Housing First approach, in an attempt to tackle the homeless epidemic from a different direction.

The lovely Whitney, of the Coalition, explained it to me in more detail.

“There are thousands of people in Houston who have lived outside for long periods of time, and who have severe enough issues with mental health and/or addictions that keeping a home is extremely challenging.  When you talk to these neighbors of ours, you learn that their lives have been anything but easy, and oftentimes beginning as infants or young children were dealt the hand of sexual, physical, emotional abuse or neglect.  Research has shown that when our brain develops in this environment, it is limited in its ability to experience feelings of happiness and security, and many people turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to experience those feelings.  ‘To expect an addict to give up her drug is like asking the average person to imagine living without all his social skills, support networks, emotional stability, and sense of physical and psychological comfort.  Those are the qualities that drugs, in their illusory and evanescent way, give the addict,’ according to Gabor Mate, a doctor who works with chronic substance abusers.  The hopeful thing is that our brains have extraordinary abilities to heal when surrounded with communities of support and opportunity.  In addition to our neighbors dealing with substance abuse issues, there are many people for whom mental illness has made exiting homelessness extremely challenging.  For people in these situations, permanent supportive housing can be a key to identifying the support needed for find stability in housing and health care.  While it might seem counter-intuitive to give someone a home before they address the issues that lead to their housing crisis to begin with, all of the evidence proves that it is much easier to work on issues of addiction, mental health, and other issues people are experiencing when their days are not consumed with looking for a safe place to sleep at night and the difficulties of surviving outside.

Houston currently has more than 3,000 permanent supportive housing units and providers are working diligently to ensure that appropriate housing options are available for even people with the most challenging needs.  A collaborative of providers are working together to house at least 165 people, who are chronically homeless with behavioral health issues, exit homelessness over the next 2 ½ years.  Through use of housing authority vouchers, intensive case management, peer to peer recovery support, and access to health care, 10 people have already moved into their apartments since the end of December, and another 20 will have moved in by the end of March.  While it might seem almost too good to be true to many of the people exiting homelessness, the vouchers are theirs to use for as long as they need them, and we are doing everything we can to help overcome issues that might lead to risking losing their housing again!  The grant funds are able to purchase a bed and table and chairs for each household, but we know that much more is needed to help make their apartments into homes.  We would love help in securing additional items.”

If you would like to learn more, I urge you to take some time, click on the link below, and watch the video. It really helped me gain a much better understanding of the housing first approach.

Home at Last?

Below I’ve listed some of the items needed most.

·         Shower Curtains and rings

·         Microwaves

·         Vacuum Cleaners

·         Brooms

·         Shampoo and soap

·         Pots and pans and dishes

So, if you’re interested in helping, and have an old broom, some pots, pans, and plates, or anything else you think would help, contact me, and I’ll arrange a way for you to get it here! Or, you can always leave a comment and I’ll get in touch with you.

Also, Whitney recommended I read Gabor Mate’s book, “In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” for a real eye-opener as to what a lot of these people have experienced, and what led them to a life without.

You guys have been tremendous. And, I certainly don’t expect you to just keep giving and giving and giving every time I ask! But, at the very least, I urge you to explore your own community’s homeless services and ask them how you can become involved!

It takes a village to give someone a village, right?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for always being so inspiring and supportive of all I’m trying to accomplish.

Cliche as it is, I could not have done any of it without you.

Have an awesome weekend!

You guys.

I don’t even know where to start, but I think I’ll begin by saying that you are all so amazing and I’m blessed to have each of you in my life.

This began as a small project, inspired by so many comments here.

But, in only a matter of days, it has grown so much. So, so many of you have offered to send things, have sent things, or are starting your own bags in your communities.

And, it’s just not individuals who have opened their hearts and wallets. It turns out, those big bad corporations have hearts, too!

Hilton Americas-Houston has gone above and beyond. I reached out to so many hotel chains and Hilton has majorly gone into action. When they asked me how many bags I wanted to fill, I told them 50.

And, then this happened…

They then followed up, making sure I had an SUV to pick up the donations.

Wow.

Four Seasons is also looking into what they can do to help!

So far, other than the things I have purchased, people have shipped me 50 long-sleeved t-shirts, 50 rain ponchos, 50 blankets, 50 water bottles, and 50 granola bars and other snacks.

The man I purchased the tote bags from offered to give me a discount when I told him how I’d be using them (I’ll share his info in the next post).

This has gotten big enough that I began to get nervous because I’m awful at math, so I signed up to be a legal private non-profit organization today – We See You.

That’s some legit shit right there, folks.

I want to put every dime and item I receive into the best hands possible, and want you all to know where it’s going and where it ends up.

My new mission is to make this a regular thing, and hopefully since I’m all like legal and stuff, I can make that happen.

I also want to thank each and every one of you personally, and I plan on it, once my head stops spinning.

As for now, I’m getting organized and will be updating you here every step of the way.

There have been so many times I’ve thought that humanity was a big, giant jerk.

And, now, I’m eating my words…and they are delicious.

xoxo

Update: Well, I just googled and apparently there is a We See You in Canada. I’ll see where to go from here to ensure I don’t step on any other well-meaning organizations’ feet!

I have an Aunt who sends my two young boys a Valentine’s goodie in the mail every year. And this year there was an extra special surprise, and a first. Having never received money before, they were both delivered a sweet card with a twenty dollar bill inside.

I quickly pocketed the seven month old’s greenback, knowing he would definitely want it to go towards my Starbucks’ fund. After all, what good is his mommy if she’s asleep?

Being that my other son is now old enough for cash, I handed over the card when I picked him up from school. Minus a few quarters here and there, this was the first time he’d ever received a crisp bill of his very own.

As he yanked the twenty dollar bill out of the heart-adorned Hallmark card, I proclaimed, in my best, albeit most annoying, exaggerated-mommy voice, “TWENTY DOLLARS!?” His response was a slightly more underwhelmed,”Why didn’t she send me more, mommy?”

I laughed, reminding him to be grateful she’d sent him anything at all, and quickly moved on to the next topic at hand.

But, the exchange lingered, and inside of me a chord was struck.

It’s time this kid learns about the real world.

While it’s true he’s not yet old enough to understand the value of money, nor the value of anything really (except for chocolate and gummy bears), my son’s comment reinforced my belief that one of our biggest responsibilities as parents is to give our kids an awareness of things outside of their safe world – full of food, warm beds, and toy trains. This is one of the most important values we can instill in them – a desire to give their time and excess to those less fortunate.

More important, and much more difficult, is making sure these lessons are lasting, staying with them as they grow older. The key is helping them develop a real love of giving, so they will help others because they want to, and not because they have to. That way, they’ll still feel inclined to lend a hand, even when mom or dad is no longer forcing theirs.

We can tell our kids until we’re blue in the face about the child who goes to bed hungry. Or the man without a house. Or the thousands of abandoned animals. But, this isn’t something that can truly be appreciated or internalized through words. We must take them out of their comfort zones and into situations they’ve never experienced (age appropriate, of course), for them to truly get a grasp on what it means to have and have-not.

And, really, it all starts with us and how we live our lives. Children are more likely to embrace the idea of helping others if they see their parents doing the same.

Regrettably, I’ve done my fair share of lip service over the years on volunteering my time and resources to those that desperately need it. Sure, I’ve given a few hours of my time, here and there, to various causes. I’ve babysat at homeless shelters and served plates of hot food to those with empty stomachs. I once signed up to volunteer with the youth chapter of our local Gay Pride organization, hoping to offer love and acceptance to teens whose parents have decided they don’t deserve either. But, when it came time to step away from the online registration form and into action, nine times out of ten, I failed miserably.

And unfortunately, when it comes to volunteering, it’s not the thought that counts at all. In fact, it couldn’t mean less. I need to put my time and energy where my mouth is and make doing for others a priority in our lives.

Not just a priority, but a habit.

Whether it’s helping out at your local soup kitchen, donating new or used items, mentoring kids, recycling, fund-raising, or giving a buck or a burger to the guy on the corner, helping is helping.  Large or small, it all makes a difference.

So, I’m on a mission to get myself and my family involved in various volunteer opportunities, whatever they may be.

Here are a few ideas that hopefully inspire you and your family to do the same.

Soldiers’ Angels

Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Relay For Life

Feeding America

National Coalition for the Homeless

Goodwill

Friends of Maddie

Hannah’s Buddies

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Toys for Tots

Tunes for Tots

And, remember, people aren’t the only ones who need our help.

The Earth does…

And so do it’s animals…

I’d love to hear more ideas from experienced volunteers on how to make a difference.

Because, while it’s true we shouldn’t ever feel guilty about having more, we should feel guilty about not lending a hand to those who have less.