Posted on 03/17/2012 12:35:46 PM PDT by God-fear-republican
I recently formed a Catholic Men Bible study for about 4 months. One day a black man walked for half hour in snow and the cold to join us. Since then, Mitt has continued to come. He recently left his mother's house as she went into a mental institution, Mitt has become homeless. He said he did not want to the local homeless shelter because of rules and regulations but the true reason might be because Mitt has felony in his book, therefore, he could not get a job either.He had a drinking problem according to people who knew him.
He has been living on the money we gave him and from bread & soup form Salvation Army. He seems to have a light mental problem, sincerity to avoid the dark side to become a Christian, but we don't know much about him, not sure what to do.
Driving home today the song on the radio goes like this, " Who is your neighbor? Who will bring Jesus to him?"
I don't know much about Mitt, but one thing I know, Mitt needs help.
Options: 1. open my house to shelter him; 2.Establish a shelter for him and those like him who fall through the crack. 3.???
Is there anything our current society can do for those who sincerely repent and want to have a second chance?
Thanks in advance for your inputs.
Call your priest right away.
Thanks for a great idea! Our church can establish a poor house like the old times. I think St. John Vianney’s parish once had a poor house which will be staffed by volunteer parishioners. I am going to do some research one the subject.
I would begin with calling Social Services. They have knowledge of resources that could be utilized to help this man, whether it be mental health programs or help with substance abuse or whatever his issue may be.
That way, you would be helping him without possibly putting yourself and your family in danger.
Before making a decision, a GREAT question to ask for your own sake might be, “Which of the shelter rules struck you as the last you’d be able to comply with...?”
This man most likely has an alcohol or drug problem. WHatever money you are giving is going to that. People do NOT end up under the bridge homeless in the US unless they are a) psychiatrically delusional and refuse help or b)they are drunks or druggies. There are plenty of places that will help him. He can get a job even with a felony on the books. NO shelter would turn him away unless he was drunk or drugged up. He has found himself some folks with a good heart to take money from
THANK YOU ALL!
Funny you should be writing this when I was just talking about the down and out guy I ran into yesterday. In search of the perfect boba milk tea, we found ourselves deep in Little Saigon (Westminster, CA) and upon parking, was approached by a white guy (unusual for about 3 miles in any direction) around 14 years old. The spiel began as usual, “Ma’am, could you spare anything... hungry... etc” when I looked at him and saw such potential in his young dirty face. Deep circles under his eyes, but he wasn’t gaunt. He told me he was 19 when I asked, which made him more of a genuine down-and-out than the fakers we see in our neighborhoods, where their “begging pimps” would take that 19 year old and DEFINITELY have him say he was 14 to get more $.
I asked him how it came to this, and he told me stories of living with his dad who had schizophrenia, trying to get a job, bla bla. I don’t know if any of that was true. But he had a sweet young face, was polite, and met my eyes. So I gave him a big bag of “emergency nuts” that we keep in the car.
I also told him to stay clean and get himself in shape, enough sleep, etc. I told him I saw potential in him, even in acting if he were interested, because he looked so much younger and was the kind of fresh face they tend to cast.
His face has stuck with me. I know the hard truth is he was probably a druggie and all, but it’s a shame to see young people out there whether they chose the wrong path or were dumped there by their elders. I pray he finds his way back into society.
Bum Fights can make him a star.
There is a big market for that stuff on Youtube.
>1. open my house to shelter him
No , this is inappropriate unless you know him from before or could perform your own police check, review his hospital/mental health records. Without that you cannot risk yourself or family.This advice applies in all these situations.
There are several or many Bible verses relating to helping your neighbor and the poor. Mathew 25 is my focus to feed the hungry, clothe the naked...etc. It doesnt say to give $$. Moreover, it doesnt say to give money to people with signs. Alot of $$ abuse in this area—too much abuse and scammer stories to detail. This is what churches and relief organizations are all about and their work is supposed to stem the appearance of people with signs.
Basically, I dont give money to people with signs. I help those I notice in supermarket areas who are ill clothed and either themselves or no one has been caring for them. I will buy fast food for those who are standing near a fast food joint and are hungry or begging for money there. I will ask them if they are hungry or the last meal they had, if it adds up, I buy them some food—I dont give money. If they need shoes, I might volunteer for that,etc. But I think about these things before I do them. If they need shoes,etc I’ll go to a Goodwill store etc. to get those items.
Outside of this, I do give to St. Vincent De Paul which in my area offers a range of services to those on the edge and the homeless. In addition I give to the Salvation Army which is excellent in this area(although nowadays they are somewhat tolerant of abortion in their theology), I dont think their $$ are spent in this area, all the same.
So basically I am helping on two fronts. I help those organizations that help them and I help those falling between the cracks. If someone has a thing about religion and cant’ sit in a Salvation Army gospel meeting or something else like pride stands in the way etc, then my money isnt’ good enough for them and they are refusing help but now are on street corners getting no strings attached money for drugs,booze, pay off their cable tv or cell phone while their living in a trailer or a van with a govt check,hidden from the public....not me, not my approval!.
You are a kind man.
In my view, it takes at least as much wisdom as compassion to really help someone. As an earlier poster pointed out - your kindness may simply be enabling them to remain in destructive sin.
I think the first step is to learn all you can about him - particularly if there are addictions or mental issues. Are there other relatives nearby? Is he on public assistance now? Is he “on file” somewhere? Health issues?
All I can say is - maybe a path will become clear after that.
What do you mean?
There’s a whole industry around getting drunk bums on video doing crazy stuff.
Dollars for everyone.
Go to Youtube and search “stunt bum” or “bum fights”.
People are giving homeless alcoholics money or alcohol, to fight one another, recording a video of it and posting it on YouTube for amusement.
It strikes me as depraved, like tying a firecracker to a cat’s tail and lighting it, only worse.
The poster was likely joking.
Do not bring him into your house. All you know about him is what he has told you and he could be dangerous.
I would begin with calling Social Services. They have knowledge of resources that could be utilized to help this man, whether it be mental health programs or help with substance abuse or whatever his issue may be.
That way, you would be helping him without possibly putting yourself and your family in danger.
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I so agree. This is how Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped.
Do what Giovanna says. Also see if he can get into a alcohol rehab to kick the habit. Remember however he has to want to. Usually the Salvation Army knows of these organizations and how to help people like this. Sometimes they even give them jobs around the church if they just show up and do it. I’ve seen it.
a lot of good good wisdom here already!
It is so sad that there are so many scammers out there.
I would hesitate to get him involved in the “social services” system. I think the government has been doing too much that the church should do. But it is hard dealing with an alcoholic/druggy/thief so protect yourself.
Mitt is quite knowledgeable in Scripture.
Check and see if there is a Places for People or organization like them anywhere nearby. Here in St. Louis they operate expressly to help people who are homeless and mentally ill/addicted.
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