March 2019: What's new with GSC?

What makes snow beautiful to us? I often wonder whether we would find it so pretty if we weren’t able to get warm and dry. During the recent snow event, at Tent City 3, many tents collapsed, including the supply tent. Campers doubled up with friends, or stayed in the dormitory tents, and some had to move out entirely. Vital supplies were buried under sheets of ice. It was days before enough snow could be removed, damaged assessed, and the camp reset itself. Your caring and contributions are what allow us to speed up recovery from such disasters and get folks warm and dry again.

With your contributions, we continue to regularly support Tent City 3, Camp United We Stand, and Tent City 5 with items needed on a daily basis like trash bags, hand sanitizer, gas for generators, batteries, food, clothing, blankets, and office supplies. We also supply camp infrastructure including tents, tarps, microwaves, coffee makers, plywood, pallets and move supplies.

Through gleaning we occasionally receive and pass on bedding, battery chargers, clothing, laundry soap, toiletries and other items. More often though, we meet urgent and basic needs through the funds provided by our donors. Gleaned items that the encampments can’t manage such as sacks of raw rice and beans are routed to various food banks and shelters. Through gleaning we take items that would be thrown away and provide them to people who can really use them. This reduces waste for local retailers and allows store employees to participate in making a difference in people’s lives.

Tent City 3 continues to shelter a few younger children in residence who need diapers and warm clothing. During the warmer, drier months we would see one young boy riding a little toy car up and down the ramp in front of the camp’s front desk. This week his mother is just trying to keep him dry and warm.

Over the next few weeks, and even months, we will be working hard to replace damaged tents, to repair winter damage, and to bolster camp facilities against the coming spring storms. Please consider helping us in this effort with a donation today. Visit http://greaterseattlecares.org/ and select “Donate Today.” Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 77815, Seattle, WA 98177-0815. Thank you for your heart to help those experiencing homelessness, and we hope you will stay in touch with us.

Camp United We Stand at Haller Lake UMC

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hinkofer,
Secretary, Greater Seattle Cares

Does our help do harm?

Does helping people harm them?

This has been discussed in connection with foreign aid programs, parenting, and helping the poor. Peter Greer of Hope International talks about it with Forbes Magazine in connection with both foreign aid and helping the poor:

The poor helping the poor.
Illustration by Frederic Walker
(1840-1875)

When you spend time with people who are living in poverty there is a consistent request, and it’s not for more charity, it’s not for more hand-outs. The consistent request is for a job. People in the developing world don’t want to be poor, they don’t want to be someone else’s charity case...

-- Peter Greer of Hope International, in an interview (Forbes Magazine)

Does this apply to the homeless? Does this apply to the people in Tent Cities 3-4-5, United We Stand, and Camp Unity Eastside?

To be honest, it does. I can tell you firsthand -- having been there -- that many homeless would prefer to be self-sufficient and self-supporting. There are also many who would gladly be a "welfare case for life," living on the generosity of others.

The homeless face problems many others do not. For example, a homeless person has to lie to obtain a state identification card in Washington (they have no permanent physical address). They are constantly faced with the inability to get a job simply because of their mailing address, or the lack of a physical address. Or, perhaps, the lack of an identification card they cannot get without committing a mortal sin. So, to some extent, they need help simply to survive. Therefore, help is needed.

Yet I have some questions about how we help:

• When we give them help, does our help preserve their dignity?

• Does our help let them participate in the process?

• Is our help just and fair?

• Does our help provide them additional options they didn't have before?

• Does our help let them help themselves more?

And I'm not saying we shouldn't help -- certainly we should help -- but how we do that may matter even more than what we do.

What do you think?

Disclaimer: this post may not express the opinions or beliefs of Greater Seattle Cares. It may not even express my opinions in general.