World Homeless Day: 'It's to honor them'

If Shirley Provo had not stepped into a church less than a year ago, and learned about Hope Inspired Ministries, she knows she would not have a roof over her head today.

She knows she might be back on the streets instead of in the HIM program that is helping the 57-year-old reach her full potential in obtaining a job.

And this week, in recognition of World Homeless Day, she found herself in a position to give back.

On Thursday, she and other students involved in HIM fed the homeless.

"One of the things that our students get by going through this training, is that they are getting served by so many different people," said Michael Coleman, executive director of Hope Inspired Ministries. "And so a mentor, David Garner, suggested in celebration of that day, to give our students an opportunity to serve. They’ve helped cook, have served the homeless, and it’s to honor them and let them know how good it feels to not only be served, but to serve.

"It is teaching them a whole value lesson that we rarely get the opportunity to teach."

Hope Inspired Ministries seeks to serve those who are chronically unemployed by preparing and equipping them to obtain and maintain employment through a 13-week job training course. The program is relational and transformative in nature, providing more than 400 hours of training, including life skills, employment skills, unpaid internships with local businesses and GED preparation.

World Homeless Day

The concept of "World Homeless Day" emerged from online discussions between people working to respond to homelessness from various parts of the world. The Inaugural World Homeless Day was marked on Oct. 10, 2010.

Since its founding, World Homeless Day has been observed on every continent except Antarctica, in several dozen countries.

The last time a global survey was attempted – by the United Nations in 2005 – an estimated 100 million people were homeless worldwide and as many as 1 billion people lacked adequate housing, according to Global Homelessness Statistics.

Use of the idea of "World Homeless Day" is open for all to use, anywhere in the world. Its purpose is to draw attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, while taking advantage of the stage an "international day" provides, according to worldhomelessday.org.

From homelessness to a future

Provo decided to inquire about the HIM program because she didn't have a job. She said she wasn't homeless at the time, but on the verge. She heard about the program through the Common Ground ministry.

"I found out it was a job program," she said. "It helps you find the right career. I couldn't pay my bills. The last job that I worked, I got sick and was in the hospital, stayed a couple of days. I got out, and tried going back to the job, and the position was filled. Have been out of a job for a year or so. I tried getting unemployment, but was unsuccessful."

Right now, she depends on help from churches. Or family members.

"At one point, I thought the only thing I thought I could do was clean houses," she said. "But now, it's gotten to the point where I'm looking at secretarial work. Without (HIM), I think I would have been back on the streets. Because the fact is, this was a big turnaround for me. I was going from place to place without a home, a stable place to stay. If it wasn't for a church, or church members, I wouldn't have had a roof over my head. Because they paid for motels that I stayed in. And transportation. So it was a lot. And that's why I said this program helped out a lot. If I hadn't stepped in and into a church, I wouldn't have found out about HIM."

The program is what is helping 27-year-old Tiffany Hartley earn her GED. And with her relationship with Christ.

Hartley lost her job at an IHOP after she experienced complications with her pregnancy, and through help with Gift of Life, learned about HIM, and learned it was Christ-centered. And, sighed.

"I thought about it, and stayed," she said.

She liked that she had choices. And she said Coleman told her the program could help her, but that she needed to want it.

And while the program did help with her Christianity, she wants to go deeper into it.

"Now, I love hearing the word of God," she said.

She said some people are too prideful to ask for help.

"But if you're in a situation, you have to set the pride aside, and be willing," she said. "If you see someone extending their hand out to you, take it because nine times out of 10 it's just God tugging on your heart. Something that you're doing, you're not doing it right, according to God."

For more information

World Homeless Day: http://www.worldhomelessday.org/ 

Hope Inspired Ministries: http://www.hopeinspiredministries.org/ or call 649-4330