1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 2: Homelessness is often viewed only through the lens of what 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 2: we see on the surface, sometimes tents on sidewalks, or 4 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: individuals holding signs, or people who seem lost in a crowd. 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:21,240 Speaker 2: Yet every face is a story, sometimes marked by trauma, loss, survival, 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: even a longing for dignity. Today, I want to pull 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: back the curtain to look deeper into the emotional, psychological, 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: and spiritual factors that contribute to homelessness, but more importantly, 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 2: the pathways that can lead towards healing, restoration, and lasting hope. 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 2: I want to uncover and dispel some of the myths 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: that surround this topic and bring light so that we 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: all have a greater understanding and how we can be 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: part of the solution. Our guest today serves on the 14 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: front lines, offering trauma informed care, emotional support, and compassionate 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: advocacy to individuals fighting their way out of a desperate situation. 16 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: You'll hear what truly makes it a difference, how healing begins, 17 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: and how we can each play a role in restoring 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: hope to those who may feel forgotten or hopeless. Whether 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: you've experienced instability yourself, or you just want to better 20 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: understand how to support those who do. This conversation will 21 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: open your heart and strengthen your faith in the God 22 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: who sees, knows, and redeems each story. Welcome to your 23 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: hope filled perspective, where it's always our goal to restore hope, 24 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 2: renew minds, and empower listeners to live in your God 25 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 2: given identity. I'm your host, doctor Michelle bankson Board, certified 26 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 2: clinical neuropsychologists, author, speaker, and companion on this journey to 27 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: emotional and spiritual wellness. I'm so thankful you've decided to 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: spend a few minutes of your week with us Today. 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: We are going to be talking about restoring dignity, how 30 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: trauma informs support brings hope to the homeless, and we'll 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: dive into this important conversation right after this brief word 32 00:01:52,600 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: from our sponsor. Too often homelessness is reduced to statistics, stereotypes, 33 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: or oversimplified assumptions about personal choices. But for many individuals, 34 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 2: homelessness is the culmination of trauma, mental health challenges, broken systems, 35 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 2: and overwhelming life circumstances. Today's episode invites you into a deeper, 36 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: more compassionate understanding of the complex realities people experiencing homelessness 37 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 2: may face and the emotional spiritual tools that can help 38 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 2: guide them back towards stability and purpose. My guest, Baron King, 39 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: brings the unique blend of clinical expertise, lived experience, and 40 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: heart centered compassion needed to walk individuals through some of 41 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: their darkest moments. You'll hear about the role of counseling, 42 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: the power of community support, and the importance of restoring 43 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: dignity as part of the healing journey. Wherever you are today, 44 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: I believe this conversation will remind you that no one 45 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: is beyond hope and God is still in the business 46 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 2: of restoring lives, one intentional act of love at a time. 47 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: In this episode, we are going to talk about out 48 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: restoring dignity, how trauma informs support brings hope to the homeless. 49 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 2: I want to remind you of Isaiah fifty eight, verse ten. 50 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 2: If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungary, and 51 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will 52 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: rise in the darkness, and your night will become like 53 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: the noonday. Baron King is the current President and chief 54 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: executive officer of the Chat Foundation, formerly the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. 55 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: It's a nonprofit organization serving the homeless in the Greater 56 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: Chattanooga region. Prior to that, Baron served as the CEO 57 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: of Liberty Ministries, Inc. Which was a large nonprofit serving 58 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: men and women inside state and county prisons of Pennsylvania 59 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: and those upon release in residential transition programs. Prior to that, 60 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: Baron served as Director of Health and Counseling Services, clinical 61 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: director and adjunct Professor of Psychology at Kieran University in 62 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: southeastern Pennsylvania. He holds a BS degree in theology and 63 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 2: MS in clinical counseling and has extensive background in organizational 64 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: leadership and development. He's passionate about providing services and support 65 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: to underserved people groups and providing pathways to self sustainability. 66 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: Welcome to the program, Baron. 67 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 3: Thank you, Michelle, Thanks for having me. 68 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: Many people assume that homelessness is primarily a housing issue. 69 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: What deeper, emotional, psychological, or systemic factors do you see 70 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: contributing to chronic homelessness? 71 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 3: To every complex problem, there's a simple answer, and it's 72 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 3: always wrong. Housing, by and large, is the single biggest 73 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: systemic contributor to our housing crisis. We could talk more 74 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 3: about that. But it's rare that somebody presents themselves to 75 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 3: our agency and the only reason that they are unsheltered 76 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 3: or homeless is because of lack of housing. There's usually 77 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 3: some other component, such as there are income levels just 78 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 3: don't match what the market and provide. Perhaps they have 79 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,559 Speaker 3: physical or psychological disabilities or challenges to a whole host. 80 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 3: Perhaps they're a caregiver of somebody that's dependent and they 81 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 3: lack some of these social safety nets that other people 82 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 3: have and they don't have. So it's usually very multi factorial. 83 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 3: When I started Chad Foundation, very much like what I've 84 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 3: done in my last couple roles, I said, hey, we're 85 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 3: going to use an individual assessment approach because my organization 86 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 3: provides over thirty services designed to support the daily needs 87 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: of those experiencing homelessness as well as putting people on 88 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 3: pathway to self sufficiency. But most individuals we come in 89 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: contact don't need all thirty services, and so it's important 90 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 3: for us to make an accurate assessment of their strengths, 91 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 3: their obstacles, their needs and then try and customize a 92 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 3: number of interventions that can get them secure, safe, housed, 93 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: and then the opportunity to thrive. 94 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: From your clinical perspective, what are some of the most 95 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: misunderstood mental health challenges that people facing homelessness frequently encounter. 96 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 3: I get this a lot, and I think before I 97 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 3: entered this specific arena, I probably held some of these misconceptions. 98 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 3: But a lot of people think that either substance use 99 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 3: or mental illness is a significant driver of homelessness. Statistically, 100 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,239 Speaker 3: it's not so. The State of Tennessee estimates that about 101 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 3: twenty to twenty five percent of the homeless population in 102 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 3: the state of Tennessee, where we're located, is struggling with 103 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 3: mental illness. But if you look at mental illness rates 104 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: in our general population or housed population, we're talking fifteen 105 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 3: to seventeen percent. And so while there is a slightly 106 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 3: higher prevalence, it's not statistically significant enough to be a 107 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 3: driver of that. We do come in contact with people 108 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 3: with mental illness, but I think there's also a chicken 109 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 3: in the egg to it. And here's what I would say. 110 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,119 Speaker 3: Do we see people that have lost their job, lost 111 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 3: their income, and eventually lost their housing due to chronic 112 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 3: mental illness? Absolutely, But I would propose that if any 113 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: of us were unsheltered for six eight twelve months that 114 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: we would be demonstrating signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, 115 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 3: and despondency. And so I think that it's reasonable to 116 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 3: assume that, yes, mental illness is something that has to 117 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 3: be taken into consideration when providing services. But correlation doesn't 118 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 3: prove causation, right, Seventy percent of the people that drove 119 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: to work this morning and got in a car accident 120 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: had breakfast before they left home. Seventy percent is a 121 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 3: pretty big number. But does that mean breakfast is causing 122 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 3: these car accidents. No, that's what's important. And the other 123 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: part of the drug or the mental illness component is 124 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 3: especially in certain states like Tennessee, where individuals with limited 125 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 3: or no income have virtually no services for a psychological 126 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: or psychiatric treatment, and so they're not going to be 127 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 3: able to get it to see a doctor. If they 128 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 3: need psychotropic medicines, they're probably going to be way more 129 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: than they can afford because they're uninsured. So that forces 130 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 3: them into other choices of how to handle their symptoms, 131 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 3: and oftentimes that become self medication. 132 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: I would love for you to touch on the idea 133 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: of Maslow's hierarchy of needs with respect to this population. 134 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I get to speak a lot in Chamber 135 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 3: of commerce meetings, business clubs, things like this on the 136 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 3: topic of homelessness, and usually before or after my presentation, 137 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 3: somebody comes up and asks a question, and it usually 138 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: starts with why don't these people just And you know, 139 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: it's fine, I don't mind the questions. I think you know, 140 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: they're trying to understand the problem better. So I appreciate 141 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 3: the questions. But is this idea that if they just 142 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 3: did one thing differently, everything would work out. So Master's 143 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: hierarchy of needs has been around for near it cops 144 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 3: nearly one hundred years now, and it's this premise that 145 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 3: we have layers of needs basically usually shown in a pyramid, 146 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: where the bottom layer, the most basic layer, is physical 147 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 3: and psychological safety, that if we don't have that, we 148 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 3: can't reach our higher needs, which lead up to well 149 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 3: being and self actualization. And so a good example of 150 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 3: this is if I get it in my head that 151 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 3: I want to go to medical school and become a doctor, 152 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 3: I'm going to be pushing myself. I'm going to be 153 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 3: digging deep trying to earn this goal, this really big 154 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 3: important thing in my life. But if I don't have 155 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 3: some of my basic needs met, such as physical safety, 156 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: psychological safety, my nutrition, in my health, I'm not sure 157 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 3: that I'm going to be able to climb that mountain effectively. 158 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 3: Understanding what it's like to be homeless but also unsheltered, 159 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 3: and that's a big jump. Most of the people that 160 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: we work with that are unsheltered have tremendous difficulty getting 161 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 3: a RESTful night's sleep. They're outside under a tarp in 162 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,239 Speaker 3: a tent, people trying to steal their things, They've been assaulted. 163 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 3: They are just naturally anxious and scared. And so when 164 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 3: I first started working at my facility, I was surprised 165 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 3: how many people would come into our community center and 166 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 3: come into the beginning of the day, lay down on 167 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: the floor and just sleep on the floor for maybe 168 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 3: four six eight hours. And I was like, Wow, they 169 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 3: are they hungover? Are they nodding off on opiates? Are 170 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: they just lazy? What I've realized is they can't sleep 171 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 3: at night, and they come into our facility because they 172 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 3: won't get assaulted and they can get sleep. Now, I 173 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: don't know about you, but when I last night, I 174 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 3: went to bed at my normal time, at ten thirty. 175 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 3: I got up, I had a good RESTful sleep, I 176 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 3: had my cup of coffee, shower, got dressed, hit the 177 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 3: garage door button, closed up my garage, and left, knowing 178 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: that my belongings were safe. That's what I do every day, 179 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 3: and it helps put me in a good space to 180 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 3: focus on what I have to do professionally, what I 181 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 3: have to do as a father, as a husband. But 182 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 3: if I'm just trying to survive, if I'm just trying 183 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 3: to stay alive all night, all of a sudden, my 184 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 3: ability to do that simple thing of going to work 185 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 3: is exponentially harder than it is for most people. The 186 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 3: other thing, too, is people that are living on the streets, 187 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 3: they'll have some clothes, they'll have some effects. They probably 188 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 3: push around in a card or a piece of luggage. 189 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 3: But going to work means leaving what little things you 190 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 3: have unprotected. And when you have nothing, what you do 191 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 3: have is everything, And so that's another challenge. 192 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 2: Talk a little bit more about some of the everyday 193 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: challenges that people who are unsheltered face that the general 194 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: population may not realize. Just you framing it in terms 195 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: of what your normal mourning routine looks like. After good 196 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 2: night's a sleep puts it in perspective, but I think 197 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,359 Speaker 2: it's difficult for us to have more empathy and compassion 198 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: when we don't understand some of the other everyday challenges experience. 199 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 3: Definitely, cleanliness and food insecurity is top of the list. 200 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 3: If you're unsheltered, likely that you have no income stream 201 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 3: or very little, you're maybe dumpster diving for food and 202 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 3: exposing yourself to food born illnesses. But in cleanliness and 203 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: hygiene is a big problem. We operate pretty large community center. 204 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 3: We have sixteen showers, and throughout the day people are 205 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 3: just coming in lining up to get a towel, getting 206 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 3: a small piece of soap, just to keep clean. I 207 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 3: think one of the things that people really struggle with, 208 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 3: and I think that most people probably wouldn't realize this 209 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 3: is a loss of identity. When people are homeless and 210 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 3: they start to look a certain way, it's pretty typical 211 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 3: that everybody else walking down the sidewalk gives them a 212 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 3: wide birth, won't look them in their eyes. We're not 213 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 3: interested in knowing their name, and they lose bit of 214 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 3: their humanity in the process. Our community center is where 215 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 3: people come for services, come to get their mail, come 216 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: to make phone calls things like that, and a lot 217 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 3: of the people that are in that facility are chronically unsheltered, 218 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 3: and so there's been a lot of sadness. It's a 219 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 3: pretty somber part of our facility. But we've partnered with 220 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 3: chat States Chattanooga States Barber's School and they come in 221 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: on Wednesday mornings and get free haircuts, and on Wednesday mornings, 222 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 3: the place is a place of joy. And why because 223 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 3: they're getting groomed by another human being that's looking in 224 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 3: their eyes, that's getting to know their name, that wants 225 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 3: to hear their story, and they're smiling for maybe twenty minutes. 226 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 3: They feel human again, they feel worthy again. And I 227 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 3: think probably people understand the physical difficulties of homelessness, especially 228 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 3: when the weather turns cold or when it's brutally hot 229 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 3: or storms, things of that nature, but I think the 230 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 3: psychological pain that individuals go through is pretty damaging. I 231 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 3: on one of my more recent podcasts on this topic, 232 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 3: I talk about there's a word out there that I 233 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 3: think is to those experience and homelessness, and that word 234 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 3: is no that the more often people apply for a 235 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 3: housing voucher, assistance, disability a handout a job, and the 236 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 3: answers always know. We are wired. God made us in 237 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 3: such a way that we have longings, we have desires. 238 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 3: It's the way we're created. Scripture says, hope defer makes 239 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: the heart sick. And so the longer we go without 240 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 3: things we want, or more importantly, the things that we need, 241 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: it creates a psychic pain. And what I've learned in 242 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 3: my clinical years is human beings are really really creative 243 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 3: in finding ways to kill pain, and so individuals will 244 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 3: start engaging in a process that essentially is trying to 245 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 3: kill desire. Isn't that Let that sink in that if 246 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 3: we want shelter so bad and we've tried for a 247 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 3: couple of years to get sheltered, it doesn't happen. I'm 248 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 3: going to try and con myself that I don't want 249 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 3: it anymore because the longing is too painful. And so 250 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 3: one of the questions people ask is don't people just 251 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 3: choose homelessness? And I think it's more nuanced than that. 252 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 3: No one chooses to be unsheltered, No one chooses to 253 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 3: be homeless, but maybe we choose to stop trying. And 254 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: that's not the same thing. That's not the same thing 255 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: we choose to stop trying because it hurts so darn bad. 256 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 2: Friends. We're going to take a short break for a 257 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 2: brief word from our sponsor, but I want you to 258 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 2: stick with us because when we return, we'll have Baron 259 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 2: share more about what we may not know or understand 260 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 2: about the homelessness epidemic. We'll be right back, Barn. Can 261 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 2: you share a story of perhaps transformation that illustrates how 262 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 2: hope and support and therapeutic care can help someone break 263 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 2: the cycle of homelessness? 264 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely, So this is a person I've learned a 265 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 3: lot from. I don't have former lived experience of homelessness, 266 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 3: so that automatically puts me at a big disadvantage of 267 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 3: somebody that's trying to be an expert on a problem, 268 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 3: on trying to solve. So I've learned a lot from 269 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 3: people that have experienced this. About forty percent of our 270 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 3: staff has a former lived experience of homelessness, and I'm 271 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: very proud of that. We see ourselves as a vehicle 272 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: to serve others, but also to help work with our 273 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 3: staff and heal them in the ways that to work 274 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 3: to do. But I came in contact with a young 275 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 3: lady we're going to call her Mary. She was a 276 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 3: behavioral health specialist working for a local community health center. 277 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 3: She wasn't a master's level therapist, but she had she 278 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 3: has bachelor's training to provide mental health services to people. 279 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: She had a good job. She never really touched drugs 280 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 3: or alcohol, didn't have a substance She's problem. A good 281 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 3: friend of hers was having some of her own problems 282 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 3: and had to go into a psychiatric hospital, and so 283 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: Mary agreed to take over supervision of this young child. 284 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 3: And this young child lived with Mary for about five 285 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 3: or six years. The woman successfully got out of her 286 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 3: treatment and was able and ready to take the child back. 287 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 3: And when she did, Mary fell into a significant oppression. 288 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 3: A big part of who she was and the life 289 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 3: she had built was drastically changed, and she did not 290 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: handle it well. She started missing work, eventually had to 291 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 3: resign her position, and shortly after that became homeless. Mary 292 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 3: lived on the streets for seven years. I was the 293 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 3: victim of numerous assaults, sexual and physical in nature, and 294 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 3: began to fear sleep. She began to fear sleep, and 295 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 3: so she made it a goal that I'm just not 296 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 3: going to fall asleep. I'm not going to fall asleep 297 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 3: at night, and she started turning to substances to help 298 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 3: her in that goal and ended up becoming a frequent 299 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 3: user and addict of methamphetamy. Now this is somebody without 300 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 3: a drug history. This is not recreational drug use. This 301 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 3: is and so to illustrate my point, a lot of 302 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 3: times people think that less this is caused by people 303 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: making bad choices. I would suggest that sometimes people don't 304 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 3: have good choices to make. They only have four choices, 305 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 3: and all of them come with pretty negative side effects. 306 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 3: And she made the choice that to protect myself physically, 307 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 3: I'm going to use the substance that I know isn't 308 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 3: any good, but it's going to keep me awake. She 309 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 3: had several hospitalizations, she experienced psychosis. Well, she finally got 310 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 3: herself clean and then she finally got a housing voucher. 311 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 3: And she's been nine years clean and eight years housed, 312 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 3: and now she's going back to working with us as 313 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 3: a pure support specialist for those that are experiencing the 314 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 3: same thing. So how'd she do it? Her faith was 315 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 3: a critical component that she never gave up. She never 316 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: allowed her heart and her mind to turn bitter towards 317 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 3: better opportunity, a better situation. But she also she had 318 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,479 Speaker 3: people that helped her. She had people that stayed alongside her, 319 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 3: that never gave up. And I think it's a pretty 320 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 3: interesting tale because I don't I think it's changed the 321 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 3: way I understand drug use in the homeless community. It's 322 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 3: not that I condone it, but let's face it, Mary 323 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 3: did not have access to legal things at the pharmacy 324 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 3: that might have helped her. Every time I see her 325 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 3: in the building, it makes me so happy to say, 326 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 3: here's somebody that has experienced the full experience, the full 327 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: emotions of reaching rock bottom and then climbing out of 328 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 3: it and wanting nothing but the best for people that 329 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: are struggling with the same thing. 330 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: And my audience knows that I frequently talk about sacred scars, 331 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 2: those really painful circumstances in life that God turns and 332 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 2: uses for good. And Mary is doing that now by 333 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 2: being a pure support counselor the worst thing she could 334 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 2: go through in the hands of a redemptive God is 335 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 2: now helping other people. But you mentioned Mary faith, so 336 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 2: in your experience, what spiritual or faith based components are 337 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: effective in helping individuals who go through such devastation. 338 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 3: I think when we are at our worst, when the 339 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 3: challenges seem insurmountable, I know for myself and other people, 340 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 3: I tend to pull inward. I tend to have a 341 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 3: downward gaze, starts affecting my ability to have hope. And 342 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 3: I think we constantly need to challenge ourselves to look 343 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 3: upward and outward, to hold on to the truths that 344 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 3: we know, to know that today is at the end 345 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 3: of the story, and that we serve a God that 346 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 3: is in control of the universe and currently has me 347 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 3: in this place. I think that is a key thing. 348 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 3: And I think community is really big. God made us 349 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 3: for a community for numerous reasons, and I know that 350 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 3: isolation in the midst of suffering is one of the 351 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 3: worst things that we can do. What Job needed wasn't 352 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 3: people coming alongside him and telling him what to do. 353 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: It was somebody to come along and sit and just 354 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 3: say I'm here. And I think that's a big part 355 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 3: of it in a sense, in whatever ways we can 356 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 3: surrounding those that are suffering and being the hands and 357 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 3: feet of Jesus and being that listening year, being that shoulder. 358 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 2: You mentioned the organization having over thirty services that you provide. 359 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 2: Are there practical strategies that you teach to clients to 360 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: help manage anything from anxiety to overwhelming life transitions. 361 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 3: I'm always been a big pontent of partnerships. We're a 362 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 3: nonprofit and we have limited funding, and so there's lots 363 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 3: of things that we want to do that well, we 364 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 3: just don't have the ability, the right to check to 365 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 3: make that happen. But there's other organizations that are providing 366 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 3: services at a high level have the additional capacity to 367 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 3: take on some of our clients. And so we have 368 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 3: an organization that is in town called First Things First, 369 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 3: and they basically are a human education organization providing everything 370 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 3: from training on nutrition to mental wellness, to spiritual formation, 371 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 3: financial literacy, parenting, all those types of things. And so 372 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 3: we have programs running at our facility to address all 373 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 3: of those. But we try and look at the physical, 374 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 3: we try and look at the mental and psychological, we 375 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 3: look at the vocational component of this. We're currently watching 376 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 3: as nearly a dozen social service safety nets are being 377 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 3: pulled back at the federal and state levels, and some 378 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 3: of these programs made it easier to get people into housing. 379 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 3: Now telling most people that it's going to be very 380 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 3: hard to get a housing voucher, and housing is really 381 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 3: going to have to come through income generation. So we developed, 382 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 3: with a grant from a great organization in town a 383 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 3: workforce development program to help people assess where they are 384 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 3: with job skills, what kind of income do they need, 385 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 3: building relationships with employers that are willing to give homeless 386 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 3: individuals maybe what is their second, third, or fourth chance 387 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 3: opportunity at employment, because we recognize that, hey, we're not 388 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 3: here just to band aid the problem. We want people 389 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 3: to thrive and if they're under employed, or if there's 390 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 3: a way that we can get scholarships to attend the 391 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 3: construction trade school in town Boy. I know electricians and 392 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 3: plumbers that are making really very good salaries, and I 393 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 3: think sometimes our folks think that those doors are closed 394 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 3: to them, but they don't have those opportunities, and so 395 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 3: we try and make as many of those happen. We 396 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 3: partner with two local bike companies that repair damage, discarded 397 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 3: and donated bikes, and each year we give away about 398 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 3: one hundred bicycles to people in the community and they 399 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 3: primarily use those for two things. To get to a 400 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 3: grocery store or to get to work. So I love 401 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 3: the network that we exist within because it makes us 402 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 3: feel like, hey, we have created a one stop shop 403 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 3: for homeless services, which is what the research says is 404 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 3: really necessary, and do it in partnership with others in 405 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 3: the community that can maybe do certain aspects of it 406 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 3: better than we could. 407 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 2: But what I appreciate about each of those different pieces 408 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 2: that you mentioned is it reminds me of the body 409 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 2: of Christ, like we need all parts and what you 410 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 2: mentioned there are so many creative ways that are people 411 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,880 Speaker 2: are being part of the solution. I want to talk 412 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 2: more about how we can be part of the solution 413 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: to the homelessness crisis right after this break from our 414 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 2: word from our sponsor Baron. For individuals who want to 415 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 2: help but they feel overwhelmed, what are some meaningful, sustainable 416 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 2: ways the community can support those experiencing homelessness. 417 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 3: I think probably a lot of people feel that the 418 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 3: problem has gotten so big it's a little overwhelming. Can 419 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 3: anything make a difference? And I would say every drop 420 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 3: of water in the sea makes makes some bit of difference. 421 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: And so I would google what are your local homeless 422 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 3: service support centers? Is there a shelter if there's a shelter, 423 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 3: I guarantee they need volunteers. I guarantee they need donations 424 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 3: of clothing and food and financial donations. There are so 425 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 3: many ways to get involved. If you're interested in how 426 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 3: your state's legislature is either creating progressive legislation that helps 427 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 3: solve the problem, or if they're criminalizing homelessness, you can 428 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 3: pick up the phone and call your representative and say, look, 429 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 3: I hear that we're charging people for public camping. But 430 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 3: doesn't that give them a criminal record and make it 431 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 3: harder to get them housed. So there's lots of things 432 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 3: to do. I think what I've learned is we tend 433 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 3: to keep our homeless neighbors beyond arms reach. We keep 434 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 3: them at a distance. And I came across this quote 435 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 3: by Mother Teresa that I like to share because I 436 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 3: think it's necessary if we're going to if we're going 437 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 3: to approach this problem as a community of believers. We 438 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 3: can't help them because we don't love them. We can't 439 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 3: love them because we don't know them. And we have 440 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 3: an army of volunteers that they come in on a 441 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 3: regular basis, either to serve meals, to work in the 442 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 3: Community Center to work in our clothing department, And what 443 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 3: I see is they come in on their first time 444 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 3: and they're scared. They're out of their element. It feels 445 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 3: a little threatening the environment. But they come with a 446 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 3: couple people and they find out it's not so bad. 447 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 3: And then they start seeing the look of appreciation and 448 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 3: thankfulness on people's faces that are just trying to make 449 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 3: it one more day. And then they learn their name, 450 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 3: and then they realize, Okay, I can make an impact. 451 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 3: At the very least, I can look them in the eyes, 452 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 3: smile at them, tell them I love them, and provide 453 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 3: some level of dignity. Dignity is the first thing people 454 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 3: lose when they become homeless. It's hard for me to 455 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 3: imagine that there's anybody in the United States that can't 456 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 3: do something, whether it's a financial donation, donating food, donating clothes, 457 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 3: getting involved as a volunteer, advocating for progressive homeless legislation. 458 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: Or listeners who may be experiencing instability or emotional exhaustion 459 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 2: or crisis themselves. What words of encouragement or hope filled 460 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:16,360 Speaker 2: perspective would you want to offer them? 461 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 3: Homelessness is or the threat of homelessness is impacting people 462 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 3: at a very high, an alarming rate. With last year's 463 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 3: point in time count, we reached seven hundred and seventy 464 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 3: one thousand people homeless on any given in the United States. 465 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 3: It's the highest number ever recorded. It still only equates 466 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 3: to one half of one percent, and so it seems 467 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 3: like a big number. At the same time, it seems 468 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 3: like a small number. But we also have about sixty 469 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 3: percent of the people who live in the United States 470 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 3: are living paycheck to paycheck, and I think there's a 471 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 3: high percentage of people that are either living very close 472 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 3: to homelessness or have that risk of falling in if 473 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,439 Speaker 3: they have the car breaks down, if they get laid off. 474 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 3: They don't have the social supports, they don't have the 475 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 3: capital supports that are going to keep them afloat. So 476 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,920 Speaker 3: you are close to that place or have become homeless, 477 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 3: the first thing I would say is you're not alone, 478 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 3: and there are organizations that are out there to help. 479 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 3: I would start asking everybody and ask for help soon, 480 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 3: because the longer you're homeless, it tends to life tends 481 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 3: to fall apart. Usually the people that we meet that 482 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,679 Speaker 3: got evicted yesterday, they still have a working automobile, they 483 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 3: still have a job, their health is still intact, they 484 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 3: haven't become depressed. But then one month, two months, three 485 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 3: months later, hits just keep on coming, and so early 486 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 3: quick intervention is always the best response to anybody struggling 487 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 3: with homelessness. 488 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 2: Aaron, thank you for coming on the program and sharing 489 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 2: out of your expertise and experience to help dispel some 490 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 2: of the myths and increase our understanding of this epidemic 491 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: and what we can do to be part of the 492 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 2: solution in that vein. Friends, i want to remind you 493 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 2: of Proverbs nineteen, verse seventeen that says whoever is kind 494 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 2: to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will 495 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 2: reward them for what they have done. I'm hoping that 496 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 2: this episode has increased your understanding but also encouraged you 497 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 2: that you can actually be part of the solution. Think 498 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 2: about what you would want someone to do if you 499 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 2: found yourself in that situation. There's something we can all do. Friends, 500 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: thank you for joining me on this episode of your 501 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: Hope Field perspective. If today's episode encouraged you in some way, 502 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 2: would you consider sharing it with someone else who needs 503 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 2: a biblically based hope filled perspective. I'll look forward to 504 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 2: being with you again next week, and until then, you 505 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 2: know it's my prayer for you that you have a 506 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 2: hope filled week. 507 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, 508 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, 509 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: or unexpected and unwanted change. Often pain is temporary, but 510 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: what do you do when it isn't When pain won't 511 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: go away, healing does not come, and grief and hurt 512 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: settle in to stay. Drawing on her experience of chronic 513 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: pain in her years as a board certified clinical neuropsychologist, 514 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: doctor Michelle Benkson provides a countercultural perspective on pain, offering 515 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: hope without any false promises or empty platitudes. Doctor Benkson 516 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 1: unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She 517 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the 518 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your perspective 519 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 1: based on the truth of God's word. Each chapter ends 520 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer. Your 521 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: pain may not change, but your experience with it can. 522 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: Doctor Sandra Dalton Smith, physician, best selling author and a 523 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: host of the I Choose My Best Life podcast, had 524 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: this to say about the Hem of His Garment. Doctor 525 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: Michelle Bankson is honest and transparent, and she gives the 526 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: reader permission to ask hard questions and practical guidance on 527 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 1: how to seek God during times when you feel the 528 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: most wounded. A beautiful gift for every person living with pain. 529 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: Holy Girth. Best selling author of What Your Mind Needs 530 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,719 Speaker 1: for Anxious Moments says pain is inevitable, but enduring it 531 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: alone is optional. Doctor Michelle Bankson is a voice of 532 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: hope who will speak into your struggles, a helping hand 533 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 1: who will point you to Jesus, and a wise guide 534 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: who will lead you through what you're facing so you 535 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: can embrace more of what our good God has for you. 536 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 1: Pick up a copy of The Hem of His Garments 537 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: for you and a friend wherever books are sold. 538 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 4: Thank you for joining doctor Bankson to your hope build perspective. 539 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 4: We hope you are encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and 540 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 4: biblical truths. If you enjoy today's conversation, when you take 541 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 4: a moment right now, open up your podcast app and 542 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 4: look for the subscribe button right next to our podcast 543 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 4: profile image. 544 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 5: We think this podcast is best enjoyed with friends, so 545 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 5: tell a friend and click share in your podcast app 546 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 5: and send a friend our link to share Hope with them. 547 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 5: If you have a comment, question, or suggest a topic 548 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 5: for a future show, reach out to our staff at 549 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 5: info at Hope Prevails dot org. For additional resources, information 550 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 5: about doctor Bankson's books where free downloads, or to contact 551 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 5: her to speak at your next event, Please visit doctor 552 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 5: michelb dot com. Until next time, May you have a 553 00:32:57,760 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 5: hope filled week. 554 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 2: I'd like to take just a second to thank the 555 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 2: team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on 556 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 2: this podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll 557 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 2: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 558 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.