CURRENTS

BRUNSWICK COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION VOLUME 1 NUMBER 3~~~~FALL 2012

BANQUET RAISES AWARENESS

On November 10th, 2012, Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC) joined forces with other groups throughout the nation to raise awareness of those who are hungry and homeless. BCHC sponsored a Hunger and Homeless Banquet at Seaside Methodist Church, Sunset Beach. A soup and water lunch was served to 108 participants representing faith-based ministries, churches, nonproKit organizations, and concerned citizens. Rita CanKield opened the day with a prayer. A fact sheet shared with the attendees reported that in Brunswick County 10,000 people were living in extreme poverty, and 23,593 families sought assistance from food pantries. During the 2011-2012 school year, 61% of the students in Brunswick County Public Schools received free or reduced lunches. From January through the end of June 2012, Brunswick County StreetReach provided emergency shelter for 89 people and Good Shepherd Center in Wilmington provided emergency shelter for an additional 64 people living in Brunswick County. Guest speakers enlightened us. Fran Salone-Pelletier, religion columnist for the Brunswick Beacon, was obviously moved when she spoke on her reKlection of the book of the Hebrew prophet, Amos, as it applied to the problem of hunger and homelessness in Brunswick County. Here are a few excerpts from her talk. "Do I grieve over the ruin of my brothers and sisters who have nothing but the clothes on their backs? I have never known the sorrow of being the object of disgust or the subject of judgment based on my inability to declare an address. I have never known what it is like to have people either stare at me because I am poorly clothed and dirty." At the conclusion of her talk, Fran reminded everyone, "If one person remains homeless, all of us are homeless. That's the price we pay. It's the cost of living as God's people. It's what happens when we respond to the call, Come follow me." Simone Weil states, "Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand." Joyce Beatty, Student Support Services Brunswick School System, presented the federal legislation that supports children in the educational setting who have been classiKied as homeless. McKinney Vento allows schools to identify these children while making sure they are not singled out and treated differently in any way. Social workers connect schools with community resources for families who lack a regular nighttime residence, live with another family, live in a hotel or motel, or live in a campsite, bus, or park. Each of the schools in Brunswick County has a liaison in place to assist with identiKication and support. Donna Phelps of Brunswick Streetreach, Inc. shared information about the interfaith night shelter program. Currently eight shelters are operational during the coldest months of the year: November, December, January, and February. Sixteen churches partner with them to support the host sites. She discussed the rules guests of the shelter must follow and the agreement to comply they must sign. Anyone found in violation of the rules is asked to leave the site. A sample of the cots and coverings used was displayed. Volunteers assisting with the night shelter program receive training and have opportunities to supply food and needed supplies, and to assist at the shelters. Poems and prayers written by the homeless and for the homeless were read by Barbara SeraKin. The life journey of a few homeless people was shared and the support given by volunteers and the resources available in Brunswick County were identiKied. A person leaving the homeless scene and becoming productive and independent again, encouraged those present to be sensitive and supportive to those trying to end homelessness. A prayer written by someone who was once homeless reads: "Lord, help my brothers./ I do not know their names/ people call them homeless./ Help them to know their worth,/ and live an abundant life."

Brent Tyndall, musician and song writer, played the keyboard and sang songs giving the participants a time for reKlection. At the end of the program the participants were invited to visit the educational displays and learn about the resources available in Brunswick County. There was time for fellowship and exploring volunteer opportunities. The written and verbal feedback BCHC received about the program was extremely positive and most comments addressed the amount of new knowledge gained and the opportunity for fellowship. BCHC, together with their partners, looks forward to continuing to serve as an advocate for the homeless and to increase awareness of issues concerning poverty in Brunswick County.

PARTNERS WITH THE BRUNSWICK COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION (BCHC) THE HUNGER AND HOMELESS BANQUET NOVEMBER 10TH, 2012
1. BRUNSWICK COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION (BCHC) 2. BRUNSWICK COUNTY STREETREACH, INC (BCSTR) 3. BRUNSWICK FAMILY ASSISTANCE (BFA) 4. BRUNSWICK SENIOR RESOURCES, INC. (BSRI) 5. BRUNSWICK COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 6. BREATH OF LIFE MINISTRIES 7. CREATIVE SPIRIT 8. GFWC - SOUTH BRUNSWICK ISLANDS 9. JOB LINK 10. LIGHT MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 11. BRUNSWICK COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL 12. NEW HOPE CLINIC 13. SEASIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 14. SOUTH BRUNSWICK INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL (SBIC) 15. ST. BRENDAN'S THE NAVIGATOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 16. ST. JAMES THE FISHERMAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH 17. UNITED WAY OF THE CAPE FEAR AREA 18. WIDOWS MITE EXPERIENCE

At the October meeting, BCHCs youngest member, Emily Marlowe presents her school project on the needs of the homeless.

Volunteers Train For Night Shelter Program

Since Brunswick County does not provide a shelter for the homeless, Streetreach has organized a program in which various churches host the homeless on a rotating basis. The training for the Streetreach Interfaith Winter Night Program was held on October 20, at the New Life Christian Fellowship with Pastor Bobby Norton in attendance. They were the host church for the Kirst week of this years program. Forty-nine volunteers attended the training. The program began with a light lunch provided by the church. Then Donna Phelps conducted the training by explaining the rules that govern the program. Using Brunswick County Homeless Coalition president, Barbara SeraKin, to play the role of a homeless person arriving at the shelter, Donna walked volunteers through the registration process. She showed residents how to handle various situations that might occur such as a guest arriving intoxicated. Several folks who participated in last years program shared their experiences. Donna showed the cots which have been purchased for each site and the bedding that is provided. In churches that have shower facilities, hotel sized shampoo and toiletries are provided for each guest. Many attending the training came because their church will serve as a host site. Others came to learn about the program and how they can best help host churches. Attendees agreed that the program was very informative and feel better prepared to meet the needs of the homeless.

Nine BCHC members pose by the cots which were set up to demonstrate the three stages of preparing the cots for the night shelter guests.

Creative Spirit Members Donate Hats and Scarves For the Homeless
Members of Creative Spirit, crochet and knitting group, (that meets every Friday at St. Brendan Catholic Church) donated nearly two hundred made with love hats and scarves to Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC) and Brunswick County StreetReach (BCSTR). Rev. Ryszard Kolodziej, (center) new Pastor of St. Brendan blessed all the handmade items before Eileen Brown, Creative Spirit member (standing far left ) who coordinated efforts with Lynn Yencik, BCHC Volunteer Director (standing far right), presented Gary Phelps and Rev. Donna Phelps, Vice President and President BCSTR (far left back row) and Dianne Cherry, BCSTR Board member (pictured next to Lynn) with the items that will become comfort from the cold for many men, women, and children in our area this winter.

BCHC Members Train To Be Mentors

Circles of Support is a part of The 10 Year Plan to end Chronic Homelessness and Reduce Homelessness in the Cape Fear Region, a United Way of the Cape Fear Area program that was started in Wilmington in 2009. This is a group mentoring program for individuals and families emerging from chronic homelessness. QualiKied volunteers willing to commit to being mentors for twelve months are trained by Julia Steffen, Projects Manager. The Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC) coordinated to have a training session in Brunswick County. Eleven Brunswick County citizens, eight of whom are BCHC members, completed the required training on Sept. 15th. When they have passed a background check, they will become the Kirst such mentoring group in the county. The training session provided potential mentors with instruction on how to help and support formerly homeless people with tasks necessary to stay housed including money management, organizational skills, job search, time management, and transportation. Mentors also provide a social support network, giving of themselves and their time. Mentors play the most important role in keeping someone emerging from chronic homelessness off the streets and in housing. Lora Moree, Director of Brunswick Family Assistance, concluded the training by providing information about the housing available in Brunswick County and a basic description of the clients presently needing mentors.

County Proclaims National Hunger Week

On November 5, 2012 BCHC gather to witness the Commissioners of Brunswick County present a resoluAon proclaiming November 10 - 18, 2012 asNaAonal Hunger and Homelessness Week in Brunswick County, North Carolina." Commissioner, J. MarAn Cooke read the resoluAon.

BCHC Volunteers Spread the Word

As part of the BCHC mission to raise awareness,Silvia Wiesensee and Mark Filipovic represent the Coali>on at Oak Island Family Fun Day on September 29th.

Barbara Serran, Ro Schwenk, Rita Caneld, and Lynn Yencik represent BCHC at the Stewardship Fair held at Saint Brendan Church on September 29th and 30th.

Opportunities to serve...
November 30/December 1......Dickens Fes>val in Southport
BCHC will place bins to collect the following items: warm clothes, gloves, hats,scarves, wash cloths, towels, hygiene products.

The next BCHC meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 6 pm at St. Brendans.

Currents is a periodic publication of the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition Editor: Kitty Kesler and Publisher: Susie Kubley