Homelessness...
a look at what being homeless means...
HOURS
Outreach Center Hours
Monday - Friday 6 to 3
Weekends and Evenings, as scheduled for programs
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8 to 3
Clothes Closet
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon
Community Cafe
Breakfast
Monday - Friday 6:00 to 8:30
Lunch
Monday - Saturday 11:30 to 1:00
Supper
Sunday - Monday 5:30 to 7:00
Food Box Distribution (sign up at office)
Monday - Friday 8:30 to 10:30 & 1:30 to 3:00
Laundry Hours
Monday - Friday 6:30 to noon*
*Last load of wash has to begin by 10:30 a.m. due to water pressure issues in
dish room during lunch
Shower Hours
Monday - Friday 6:00 to 11:30* & 2:30 to 3:00
*Showers closed during lunch due to water pressure issues in dish room during
lunch
Bible Studies
Open
Sunday 6:30 p.m. (tv room)
Ladies
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. (dining room/bread room lobby)
Open
Tuesday 1:00 p.m. (bread room lobby)
Open
Wednesday 1:00 p.m. (bread room lobby)
Men
Friday 6:00 a.m. (tv room)
GARDEN SEASON!
Would you enjoy helping in the garden? "2 Acres of Hope" is always ready for extra hands in the soil!
Contact Jenny Reid here
We Need:
Think of Things Our Clients Need
Several of the people we serve travel on foot. Especially in the heat of the summer, it would be nice to travel on a bicycle. Bikes with baskets are especially nice!
Helping Our Homeless
Why aren't you helping that fellow who is always asking me for my spare change?
You should be aware that those who make a public spectacle of their needs and panhandle around busy areas are often uninterested in improving their situation. They rely on the generosity of others to enable irresponsible behavior. We would be happy to help them, but they have to want our help.
Helping Our Homeless
Can't they just figure it out?
It's easy to think that those who are homeless should be able to figure out how they got in that mess and get themselves out, but it isn't very realistic. Substantial loss of income, difficulties dealing with a mental or physical issue, substance abuse issues...these are just a few of the things that can throw a person's normal world into a whirlwind that results in homelessness.
Helping Our Homeless
What can I really do to help?
Please understand that whether you are helping through The Journey Home, another organization, or no organization at all, you can't fix the problem. You can, however, be attentive to the people around you. You can be a part of the solution. The people who are around you at work or at school might be at risk for becoming homeless, or they might already be homeless.
With approximately 664,414 people in our country categorized as homeless, chances are pretty good that someone not too far from you is having problems.
Something as simple as taking the initiative to provide meals for a family, buying new clothes or donating your gently used clothes to someone, or asking what you can do...these are all a good place to start.
Homelessness...a difficult concept for many
Facts About Homelessness
HOMELESSNESS FACTS
The Face of Homelessness
Has Changed
Over 40% of the homeless population now consists of families with children--most of those children being infants, toddlers, and primary school age. The instability greatly affects their physical and social development and academic achievement.
Homelessness is not a static event
Some people are homeless for a short time, maybe even only days or weeks. Other people are homeless for years--or are in and out of homelessness for years.
It is estimated that between 1,600 and 2,400 of our neighbors in Rutherford County will experience homelessness this year.
The Mayor's Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness in Murfreesboro identified and counted about 1,000 homeless persons in our area in each of the last four annual counts. If we can find 1,000, there are probably many more we haven't found.
It Isn't Easy to Spot a Homeless Person
In many cases, they are folks just like you and me, who have had a life-changing crisis, usually economic, health or relational. In our current economic environment, we have many experiencing homelessness who have never even received any type of public assistance in the past.
Most Homeless People Go to Great Lengths to Seem Like Everyone Else
You don't often find homeless person sleeping on a park bench or pushing shopping carts around town. Homeless people don't necessarily live in shelter or tents in the woods or under bridges. Many live in their vehicles, in buildings not meant for human habitation, in motels from night to night or week to week, as they are able to afford. When money isn't available, many of our homeless surf between stays with family and friends for short periods of time.
