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.
Very good advice! Along with calling the local social service office, try Lutheran Social services, or any place that houses the homeless. Even if they can't personally help, they will guide you. I worked for a non profit social service agency, and we kept phone numbers on hand to help these kinds of people. I also did some personal networking to find blankets, furnishings, and etc., for them. Along the way, there sometimes someone who had all the right answers.
I agree with the part about contacting your county social services agency. They have the resources to help him.
Do not bring him to your house.
The Lord’s Hand is all of this, many thanks!
Get a third party, preferably a private party, preferably through a private charity, to do the following:
1. Background check
2. Credit check
3. You have to get him to agree to see a doctor, preferably a primary care physician, or a mental health counselor. You also have to get him to agree to allow a trusted third party (also a mental health field pro) to have access to his HIPAA medical/mental health records. You either do this or you have to hand this off to the state or a private charity. You, and not you alone, for legal reasons, pick a few people in your study group to make a decision, decide on further action based on the advice of the attending physician and your 2nd opinion doc.
4. Get him a annual physical, pay for it out of pocket.
After you are done healing with his mind and body, start working on his soul.
i.e. A guy with a drinking problem and diabetes needs insulin before the Word.
That one can be ignored for most discussions unless you pimp a blog.
He needs work. Are you near a Goodwill or Salvation Army....
Yes, I will check Goodwill. Mitt been at salvsation army for bread and soup.
Goodwill can provide a job for a place to sleep. He must understand that his drinking days are over. Without that understanding, it is pointless.
He doesn’t want to use the local shelter because they won’t let him to come in under the influence.
What sort of shelter would you open? One where the residents can be high or drunk?
If he’s not willing to be sober for a night, he is missing step one. Why enable him to stay drunk? This does not help a man, it hurts him.
“Mitt is quite knowledgeable in Scripture.”
I don’t mean to slander Mitt, but Satan also knows the Bible well. Knowledge of the Bible, while impressive, does not mean you are saved.
It sounds like Mitt might lean towards Christianity in some from but is unwilling, some may say unable, to give up alcohol.
Hey...what is the first rule?
Vet him as if he was going to be your President. Check his story, all of it. Find out if he has friends. If he was living with mom then he should have plenty of friends in his neighborhood to vouch for him.
I have many years of working with the homeless. Do NOT let them into your home, especially if you have a family. Do NOT give them money unless it is done in a dispassionate obedience in the spirit, not from being swayed by a sob-story heart-tug.
There is so much money and help and food and shelter available to aid the truly needy 100 times over. That he will not avail himself of it is a big ol’ red flag.
Many thanks! I will ask Mitt to lay out his case but trying to do it in a dignifying manner.
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