Housing Assistance

Surviving Homelessness

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you ever found yourself in the position where you were without shelter? Many believe that it cannot happen to them, but I have met a number of individuals over the years, through no fault of their own, unable to find proper housing. One thing that we must realize that although society in general looks down on transients, God does not. In fact, a homeless person is in good company for even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was homeless during the final parts of his life here on earth. As Jesus said once, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20 & Luke 9:58) Furthermore, I think of the several other men of faith who were instructed by YHWH God to forsake their homes in hopes of a better home, an eternal home. (Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16, 24-27, 35b-40) For instance, Abraham was instructed by God to leave his home to live in tents in a country that he did not know. (Genesis 12:1) Lot was instructed to leave Sodom & Gomorrah before its destruction to go live in a cave. (Genesis 19:17) Lastly, I must remind you of Baruch, Jeremiah's Secretary, who was complaining about his lot in life during the Babylonian seige/ destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. God actually said to him: “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, YHWH, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 45:5)

In light of these examples, one may still wonder what they would do if they were ever in such a situation. With this in mind, I have decided to write this article. In the event that one would find themselves without shelter, or lacking in resources, the following list outlines some steps to take in order to alleviate the harshness of such a situation, namely:

1. If you have family and friends available to help, then don't let pride get in the way of you speaking to them. As the lyrics to the song lean on me, “Please swallow your pride/ If I have things you need to borrow/ For no one can fill those of your needs/ That you won't let show.”

2. If you are a member of a local congregation/church, contact them immediately in order to find out what types of assistance is available to their members and the community in general. They typically have benevolent funds and homeless ministry programs to assist their members and the public respectively. (Acts 2:45, James 1:27)

3. Contact local agencies to find out more information on public assistance programs, such as: shelters/housing programs, Children & Family, cash aid, food stamps, WIC, Jobcorp, and etc. In fact, I've personally been in dire straits in the past due to my lack of familiarity with the various resources available to me through our local government agencies.

4. Contact non profit organizations to see if you qualify for assistance, a few examples: Homeless Voice in Miami Dade/ Broward County, Habitat for Humanity, and many more.

5. Obtain the following necessary essentials if at all possible:

   1. Camping Tent/ Raincoat/ Warm clothes/ Sleeping bag (to weather the elements)

   2. Access to public shower/lavatory in order to maintain hygein to some extent so as to avoid worsening the effects of homelessness as a result of being sick from a preventable illness. Also, in some cases maintaining proper hygiene can assist in a quicker recovery process as it will allow you to project a more decent composure so as to attend job interviews. Even a low cost gym membership or public beach shower may be sufficient to maintain hygiene.

   3. If possible, a bicycle as a means of transportation will save you a lot of unnecessary gas expense; furthermore, they can even be equipped with trailers that can be used for luggage carrying purposes or sleeping cots.

   4. Public Library for free internet services to search job opportunities and local assistance.

   5. Obtain a Virtual address. There are many resources available to obtain this virtual address for free via the United States Postal Services (USPS) for the sake of mail reception. This would be helpful for the purpose of inclusion in your resume; receipt of official government documents and registration of your business.

   6. Lastly but lost importantly a Bible (a source of encouragement)

6. Try to work odd jobs here and there so as to provide for/supplement your nutritional and miscellaneous needs. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) Examples of a few jobs that don't require too much of an investment to get started:

   1. Car Detailing Services

   2. Handyman/Painting Services

   3. Hair braiding Services if you are so skilled 

   4. Or anything you are personally skilled or competent in

7. If you dealing with substance abuse (whether drugs or alcohol), then I would highly recommend checking to one of the many free substance abuse programs available in the area. For example: Faith Farm Ministries (SR7 & Boynton Beach) Also, highly recommend getting some types of therapy to address the root causes of your addiction.

Please note that this list is not all encompassing; thus, please feel free contact us at 1-855-YAHWEH-7 Ext 3 for additional information, strategies, and housing search assistance. 

For housing search assistance, please call us toll free:

1-855-YAHWEH-7 (924-9347) Ext 3

For immediate assistance, dial 211 in Florida to find local resources, shelters & mailing services. 

Email: hustlersanonymous305@gmail.com

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