Faces of Homelessness Video

People in Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN who are or have been homeless speak about their experiences in the communty and with homelessness. Women, children and men describe the trauma and stereotypes they experience as they strive to find what most of us take for granted.  From MCHP

Adam's Journey - a story of hope

Nine years ago, we met Adam through his long-time partner, Jill.  Jill had called the crisis line in search of a safe place to stay—a place to keep their three children safe. 

Throughout the years his partner and children have attended HOPE support groups, but Adam has never been ready—or willing—to change.  He would move back in with Jill after making promises to quit drinking and then pick up the bottle.  Things would fall apart and he would become violent. 

Adam’s drinking is a way of coping with low self-esteem and hopelessness.  He has a learning disability and never learned to read, which has made it difficult to find employment.  He has been in and out of homeless shelters his entire life.   His mother died when his was little, and his father abandoned him at a Greyhound bus station when he was a teenager. 

Six months ago, Adam, now 46, was taken to jail on another domestic assault charge.  While in jail, he got news that his alcoholism was taking away more than his family—it was taking his life.  He was diagnosed with late-stage liver disease.  It was a wake-up call for Adam.  “I realized that without help, I was never going to stop drinking.  And if I didn't stop, I was going to lose my family for good—or lose my life to this addiction and never see my kids again.  The looks on their faces made me want to change.”

While in jail, Adam sought help.  His dream is to reunite his family and repair broken relationships. Adam took advantage of all of the self-help programs that the jail offered.  He regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous and HOPE’s group on Release Planning.   He was released from jail in March and has been clean and sober since. 

Within a week of being released, Adam moved into an apartment—the very first apartment that has even been “his.”  He has a network of supportive adults helping him on the road to success—five agencies, including HOPE, partnered to help Adam on his road to recovery.

Generation Why? trailer for new film on Youth Homelessness

The Conversation: Homeless Simulation Game

"Farmville" and "Angry Birds" are fun distractions from everyday life, but a new Web games hopes to make you think hard about the world around you.

Visit http://playspent.org/ to play the game for yourself.

How do you view homelessness?

My name is Maria, and I am homeless.

In October, Maria walked over two miles with her three children in a stroller to get to find help.  She had a car, but no money for gas and the tank had been on empty for three weeks.  She had been trying to find a job for months, but had limited skills and no prospects. 

This was Maria’s story when she walked through HOPE’s doors in October. After dealing with Maria’s most immediate crises (gas for her car, food for her cupboards and diapers for her two youngest children), JoAnn from HOPE’s Supportive Housing Services program worked with Maria on increasing her skills so she would be more employable. JoAnn accompanied Maria to Social Services where she met with a case worker and was able to sign up for health insurance and food stamps. JoAnn also helped Maria apply for subsidized housing. Thanks to JoAnn and HOPE’s Housing Support Services Program, Maria now has her own apartment within walking distance of her new job in downtown Red Wing. Her children are healthy and happy, and for the first time since before she met Travis, Maria has the self-confidence to know that she can make it on her own.

“My boyfriend, Travis, and I have been dating since high school.  We have three kids: Jason, 3; Aubrey, 2; and Mariah, 6 month.  When I became pregnant with Jason, my boyfriend started to become verbally and physically abusive.  It took me three years to get the courage to leave him, but not until he was arrested and we lost our apartment from too many noise complaints.  Our neighbors could hear me screaming and begging for him to stop hurting me.  I guess they thought they were helping by calling the police.  He is still in jail.  He has a roof over his head and food to eat, but we are homeless and hungry.  We are doubled up with family while I look for a job.  I have turned in over 65 job applications and haven’t received one interview.  I am beginning to lose hope."

Daniel’s home was his sleeping bag.

In June, a 31 year-old man named Daniel wandered into the Friendship House looking for help.  Originally from Wisconsin, Daniel had been homeless for the past nine years.  He had spent the last two traveling around the Midwest, hoping to find a place to call home.  He had one friend left – someone in Red Wing, and this was Daniel’s last chance at a “normal” life.  He had arrived the day before and spent the night on his friend’s living room floor – his first night indoors in over two months.

Daniel grew up in an extremely violent home.  His father was an alcoholic who physically and sexually abused both Daniel and his two sisters.  When Daniel was 16, his mother kicked him out of the house for “standing up for himself.”  Both Daniel’s parents suffered from persistent mental health issues.  Mental illness is often genetic, and Daniel was not an exception.  Daniel suffers from schizophrenia, paranoid delusions, and psychoses.   On bad days, he fantasizes about taking his own life, and on good days he consumes himself by reading books to escape from the life he is living. 

The day Daniel first entered the Friendship House he was having a “bad day.”  Just like most of the clients we see, Daniel didn’t really know what to ask for – he just wanted someone to listen to his story. 

JoAnn, our Housing Support Services program director, talked with him for three hours.  Daniel opened up and spoke to JoAnn about the abuse in his past, his family, his wanderings, his mental health issues – and his loss of hope. 

Over the past nine months JoAnn has spent many hours with Daniel.  With JoAnn’s support and encouragement Daniel has been able to create a new life for himself in our community.  With assistance from HOPE Coalition, Daniel has begun counseling, obtained medication for his mental illness, and has leased a one-bedroom apartment.  He has been in his new home for over three months – the longest period of time he’s had the same roof over his head for the past nine years.  Daniel has also joined a local church, which has given him considerable strength and hope on his “bad” days.  He has found a circle of people to support him, and now has mostly “good” days.

JoAnn continues to see Daniel – not because he is in crisis, but because she is part of his circle of support.  He stops in 2-3 times per week to update JoAnn on his progress, and is greeted with a smiling face and compassionate eyes.  Because of HOPE Coalition, for the first time in his life Daniel is healthy, safe…and happy.  And for the first time in nine years, Daniel has an apartment to call home, not just a sleeping bag. 

There are many stories like Daniel’s.  For every Daniel we help, there are 10 more living in our community, too scared or ashamed to seek help.