Join us for the Solidarity Sleep-Out

With homelessness increasing and the disappearance of nearly 400 seasonal shelter beds by May 1st, OUR SHELTER SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS. This does not have to happen. You can make a difference.

Please join HHH in the spirit of solidarity for an evening of music, speakers, and prayer, as we ask for an additional 250 year-round shelter beds called for in the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Details:

Solidarity Sleep Out

May 1, 2009

7 pm - 7 am at Marshall Park

1129 E. 3rd St., Charlotte, NC

Light food provided. Please bring your sleeping bag. If you cannot spend the night, please show your support through attending the evening's activities.

For more information, contact 704-926-0608 or lclasen@urbanministrycenter.org

Easter Morning

Writings from new HHH member Wendell Parham. Wendell is a budding writer and gifted graphic designer. You can read more of his writings at: CharlotteRefugee .

On the bus ride to UNCC, I sit in the side seat facing the curb side of the bus, directly across from “Chilly Willy”, local homeless celeb. Willy is a character, always shouting out how he will kick this one or that one’s southern and rear anatomy. I often quietly observer Chilly Willy, whom never really appears to want to hurt anyone, but does not tolerate others picking with him either.

I think Willy spends much of his time pursuing, with, or recovering from drink. In fact, this day would be my first to see Chilly Willy sober. He was on his way to the store. A little of this ‘amo’ will send ‘Chilly Willy’, as he would say with Cajun accent, fired up and ready to contest any windmill that moved. You can see yourself should you Google “chilly willy, homeless, charlotte” and witness a full page dedicated to one man.

This day on the bus, Chilly Willy was with warm Easter spirit. His complete ride he spoke with a woman, her granddaughter in tow, of how God loves and blesses us all. “Look at me. I’m ragged, but God still loves me!”, he softly said at one point.

Throughout the ride, all of 20 minutes long, he spoke with such focus of God’s endearing love, that I am sure he had God’s ear, ‘cause he had mine and everyone else on the bus. Then, in one of those unexpected moments that could have been announced with a thunderclap, Willy asked the lady, “Do you know my name?”. I paused in hesitation, waiting for the punch line, ‘I’m Chilly Willy’. This never happened. Instead he said, “My name is William Morris Majors. Would you please pray for me.” I watched as a tear formed in the corner of his right eye. He was not begging for help, just to have a presence in the House of the Lord during the celebration of The Resurrection. He continued, “Do me a favor and put my name in a prayer box, William Morris Majors.”

A now silent bus, as he rings for the next stop. Once he left, no words towards him, no words against him. Intelligence was shown in the silent appreciating of his requests, as if we all bowed our heads in prayer.“Dear Lord, I thank you for your gift this Easter morning, in the words of William Morris Majors. Yes Lord, today he commanded the floor with Your praise, word of Your love and tears of joy in acknowledging Your acceptance and presence. Testimony so great, Dear Lord, that it filled the hearts of all who witnessed. I humbly ask that You give as gift, the smile that is Your love this day, towards Mr. William Morris Majors, and brighten this day as a happy one for him.”

Solidarity Sleep-Out at Davidson

On Monday, March 23rd, twenty-three members of the homeless community joined around fifty Davidson College Students in a solidarity sleepout. Food, stories, and laughter were shared in an educational and uplifiting evening.

Here is a portion of one account, written by Wendell Parham (for the full account, check out Wendell's blog at: http://charlotterefugee.blogspot.com/)

Spending the night camping out under the stars was not intended to force all involved to experience the hardship of having to survive the cold breeze that dipped below forty degrees this night. Nor was it to demonstrate the effects of hunger, with the catered Chinese food that greeted our arrival. The Solidarity Sleep Out was designed to bring awareness to homelessness by allowing students to interact with us trough conversation. That was the design, the reality develop into something a bit more complex.

We divided into smaller groups consisting of 3 or 4 of us from the homeless community to how ever many students would like to sit and speak with us. We each should speak at this moment and considering the silence appeared as hesitancy, I opened with my account of myself.I tell of my coming to Charlotte after 4 mediocre years in Raleigh ended with my unemployment and the loss of my apartment. That I would seek out a restart in a true city with large population and equal amounts of opportunity. I do fine Charlotte exciting and quick sought to develop myself into job and home, even though I arrived without even family here to assist. With an ID theft from Maryland attached to criminal activity, though small, still blocks all who check background from hiring me and presenting and even greater challenge to my struggle.

As I look around, I see bright eyes stare in anticipation of my next sentence that make me feel the grand story teller at the campfire. I stay up and talk past 11:30 talking ever more, which all who know me, is unheard of. Only turning in because I have an early day Tuesday. I still hear conversations continue as I struggle to sleep in the brisk cold. I finally do, only to awaken around 3 for the chill.

As I sit up to smoke, I notice John Behm, whom came over to speak to me several times beyond our group session in admiration of my efforts. I explain each time that life deals these hands over and over and he can do as I do. John humbly admits of the stereotype he expected to find and was happy to have met me instead. I express appreciation for the compliment. He said that he wish there was something he could give or do to help. I tell him that the homeless are often isolated in plain view and that friendship and gestures of simple kindness prove most valuable. That when I sat up for a cigarette and saw him over at a distance rolling out his sleeping bag to join in, it warmed my heart. I thanked him for showing he cared. We talk a few moments more and bid goodnight once again.

The next morning I could see we would depart before he would wake. I leave a message in chalk on the ground near where I slept, ‘Had a great time! Glad you were here!’

Once back in Charlotte, as I ride the bus to the main library Uptown I ask the young lady next to me if she was getting off at the next stop. She sneered at me as if how dare I speak to her. Oh, yeah, I’m carrying bags again. You would never know if not for the bags. Life return to the appearance of normal.