HUMANITY MAG WINTER 2017 EDITION REV 12.11.17

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
“Promoting awareness of social and non-profit organizations that sustain life”
It's Been A Wonderful Year!
Humanity Magazine
Celebrates A Year Against Homelessness.
For more info or to subscribe:
Humanity Magazine is a publication that promotes
awareness of social and other non-profit organizations
that sustain life. We exist to make the lives of those
afflicted by homelessness and hunger better. We ensure
this primarily through education and community support.
Our publication also serves as a resource for those who
are homeless by featuring local and national agencies,
organizations, and businesses that help homeless
families, youth, women and children, and veterans.
The magazine has been working hard to campaign
against homelessness in the past year throughout
communities in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South
Carolina. Over the summer months, many volunteers
took their posts to distribute literature and magazines to
educate and raise awareness of this social epidemic that
affects nearly 500,000 Americans. It has been a year of
tremendous success and a learning experience for many
of our outreach workers who were called upon to spread
the message about our homeless population.
Over the past year, our campaign has gained support
from many churches, organizations, businesses, and
individuals. We are so grateful for the financial
contributions from all involved. We especially thank the
many businesses who sponsored our information booth
kiosks and assisted us with raising awareness about
homelessness. With your help, many people have been
encouraged to do more to help those in need. In the past
year we have had our first annual community outreach to
the homeless community in Montgomery, Alabama. It is
largely because of a community-wide effort that we have
been able to reach many.
Be a part of this exciting anniversary and spread the
message: The End of Homelessness Begins With Me! To
contact us by email or learn how you can get involved
with this movement go to: www.HumanityMag.org/contact.
To donate go online to www.HumanityMag.org and click
on the link provided.
Thank You again for making this a great past year for
Humanity Magazine.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org The Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Ludie LeMont Hoffman 1
and the Staff and Workers of Humanity Magazine

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Are People In the U.S. Getting Enough To Eat?
Unfortunately, even though the U.S. is bountiful and the
world’s biggest individual exporter of food, millions of
Americans actually are not. Each year the Department
of Agriculture runs a nationwide survey to determine
how many people go hungry. The latest figures show
almost 6 percent of households – about 18 million
people – are consistently not getting enough to eat.
Another 8 percent – 30 million people – have occasional
problems feeding themselves.
Altogether, about 14 percent of U.S. households –
roughly 48 million people or one in seven Americans –
go hungry at some point during the year, and not
because they are trying to lose weight. This number
actually underestimates the problem because the
survey excludes the homeless and transients;
groups that almost by definition lack enough food.
Given the size of the problem, you might think it’d be a
prominent issue on the campaign trail this year. Yet
none of the presidential candidates discusses this issue,
even as they attend endless breakfast meetings, lunch
roundtables and dinner fundraisers. It doesn’t seem to
be on their minds, perhaps because they are
surrounded by food.
While the candidates, their staff and protectors are well
fed, the news is not as good for the rest of the country.
In other words, why do we have such a tough time
ending hunger in America?
What hunger really means
If you are like most people, you know what it is like to
think yourself, “I’m hungry.” You have probably said as
much to a friend or family member. In addition, your
hunger is real. It is a feeling of emptiness caused by a
lack of food.
However, being hungry in the moment – maybe you
skipped breakfast or missed lunch – is not the same as
hunger. Hunger is not knowing if there is a next meal,
which is quite different from being temporarily hungry.
The 48 million Americans who face hunger and food
insecurity are found across our nation. Yet, poverty, lack
of education and state programs as well as
infrastructure combine to concentrate hunger and food
insecurity in the South and especially in Mississippi,
Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina and
Kentucky.
This article is republished with permission
from The Conversation.
Defining food security
Food security is a simple concept. People who are “food
secure” have enough to eat. People who are “food
insecure” do not. Not only are the numbers large, the
Department of Agriculture survey shows the percentage
of households experiencing food insecurity has climbed
slightly since 1995. The survey tracks hunger each
December by asking if the following statements apply:
* “We worried whether our food would run out before we
got money to buy more.”
* “The food that we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t
have money to get more.”
* “We couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals.”
Using these questions and a few others, each
household is classified as “food secure,” “low food
security” or “very low food security.”
We often think of hunger as something happening far
away, but many Americans are also food insecure.
Can we end hunger in the U.S.?
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hunger. It is a
problem that will persist. Yet we do have some ways to
fight hunger and, with luck, reduce food insecurity. Aid is
a good place to start. By donating our time, money and
food to local charities, we become part of the solution.
No one should go hungry or feel insecure about their
next meal in the U.S. in the 21st century. As the 2016
presidential campaign slogs on, we can be part of the
solution by both giving of ourselves and asking our
leaders to address this vital issue and promote food
security as a sacred right for all Americans.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 2

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Genesis serves homeless, displaced, disabled,
female veterans in Middle Georgia and
surrounding areas, because they have served
unconditionally for us. Even as the Pentagon lifts
the ban on women in combat roles, returning
servicewomen are facing a battlefield of a
different kind: they are now the fastest growing
segment of the homeless population; an ofteninvisible
group bouncing between a soft air
mattress, overnighting in public storage lockers,
living in cars and learning to park inconspicuously
on the outskirts of shopping centers to avoid the
violence of the streets. The staggering number
of women returning from active duty to
homeless-ness represents a significant
challenge that can no longer remain
overlooked. How we target this concern will
determine how we respond to incarceration and
homelessness for many years to come. Mindful
of these challenges, and that limited resources
for these women are linked to recidivism and
mental illness—they are calling for partners and
community leaders to help alleviate these
problems through creating programs throughout
the community. They are asking individuals and
businesses to partner with them, and to walk with
them as they take the first steps to accomplishing
what has been seemingly an unreachable task.
Their clients may reach out to as a result of
variety of situations: (1) homelessness; (2) the
loss of a job or home; (3) the dissolution of a
relationship; (4) release from incarceration; (5)
release from a drug rehabilitation program; or (6)
an abusive relationship. Genesis help women
remain drug and alcohol free, obtain decent
housing and employment, gain access to
education, reunite with their children, secure
resources for them, and maintain physical and
emotional health, in a Christian environment,
rather than engage in behaviors that result in
abuse and homelessness.
Genesis encourages women to connect with
services that help them to become independent
and continues to ramp up our programs to meet
the needs of all homeless and at-risk female
veterans. Genesis has partnered with Daughters
I Believe In You (D.I.B.I.Y), a mentoring ministry
headed by Prophetess Sconiers that fosters
growth and legacy among women who are
hurting or have lost confidence because of the
struggles they have faced in life. Prophetess
Sconiers’ community involvement has placed her
in high demand at a variety of ministerial and
professional venues. She is best known through
her teachings and respected voice among circles
of women, and is forward in her approach to the
advancement of Genesis' mission.
They believe that higher learning academics are
an essential part to any rehabilitation model.
Their desire has always been to develop
mentoring and training programs that foster the
most growth. They strongly believe that through
incorporating God’s Word in a system of learning,
participants will become strengthened in every
area of their life. The information taught and
communicated through the Genesis Joy House
Model will encourage individuals to be a part of a
unique and life changing program. They are
excited to announce future partnerships with
universities and other educational institutions that
will contribute to a high impact season of learning
and development for our participants. They offer
participants hands-on executive training. These
intense hands-on executive level classes are
specifically designed to give participants high-end
corporate and marketplace experience. There’s
a lot that happens around the world we cannot
control. We can’t stop earthquakes, we can’t
prevent droughts, and we can’t prevent all
conflict, but when we know where the homeless
exist, then we can help. This is an excellent
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 3

opportunity support those that
have fought for our freedom.
H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
www.GenesisJoyHouse.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 6425 Warner Robins, GA 31095 Phone:478-918-7606
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 4

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Community
Improvement
Organization
Mission Statement
Their mission is to revitalize distressed communities by
improving the living conditions of underprivileged
children, the elderly, people with special needs, and
low-income families; as well as to further and
strengthen the education of college/university and K-12
students through hands-on service learning and civic
engagement.
Community Improvement Organization History
Community Improvement Organization Inc. (CIO) was
established on July 11, 2008 as a 501(3) nonprofit
organization with a public charity status, in Miami, FL.
Iris Paguada and Juan Paguada are the original
founders of CIO. Iris Paguada currently holds the
position of Chief Executive Officer and Juan Paguada
currently holds the position of Chief Operations Officer.
CIO has provided services to over 13,600 members
of the local communities of which include: providing
food to residents in need, rebuilding of homes, and
several park beautifications.
from College/Universities, High Schools, Middle
Schools, Elementary Schools & foster homes. This
program appoints tasks & duties participants to further
develop skills in the areas of their interest & academic
requirements, by participating in the development &
implementation of community improvement projects.
Their organization is currently running daily operations
from the city hall of Hialeah Gardens. In an effort to
acquire the necessary resources to enable their
organization to provide assistance to needy members
of our community the organization is engaged in a year
round fundraising campaign, as well as building
strategic partnerships with local organizations & local
charities, as well as continuously searching for new
sponsors. For more information about Community
Improvement Organization visit:
www.improvingourcommunity.org.
Current Activities
Their current activities include the ongoing
implementation the Basic Needs & Emergency
Assistance Program & Hand-On Service Learning
Program. Through their Basic Needs and Emergency
Assistance Program, they provide emergency
services & basic necessities to low income seniors,
people with special needs and low income families.
Through this program they provide assistance to over
4000 individuals yearly. Basic Needs & Emergency
Assistance services include, provisions of food,
clothing, blankets, bed linens, utility payments,
household products, furniture, infant needs,
prescriptions, rent down payment, shelter for
homeless people (thought-out our partners), bus fare,
gasoline gift card, small car repair, transportation,
personal hygiene products, assistance with letter
writing or completing applications, household items,
etc. Their Hands-On Service Learning Program is a
year round program which enrolls over 250 students
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 6

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Covenant House
Imagine walking in the footsteps of a kid who has
run away from home to escape years of physical
abuse, a dangerous human trafficking network,
the chaos of life with a drug-addicted parent, or a
house overflowing with rage.
The Crisis of Youth Homelessness
One out of every 45 children – some 1.6
million – in the United States is homeless,
according to a report released by the National
Center on Family Homelessness. The majority
of the children are under age 7. The number
of homeless children in 2010 exceeded even
the total in 2006, when thousands of families
displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita
produced a historic spike in homelessness.
Last year, at least 60,000 more children were
homeless.
Youth Homelessness
1.2 Million. This is the
number of homeless and
runaway youth that
Covenant House has
helped with food, shelter,
warmth, and love since
opening its doors more
than 35 years ago. The needs are greater than
ever, though, as each year more than 2 million
kids in America will face a period of
homelessness.
What Would You Do to Survive Homelessness?
Would you climb into a dirty dumpster filled with
trash, because at least inside a dumpster you
would be shielded from the wind and covered
from the cold? Would you find your way into a
dark and abandoned building, huddle under
newspapers, and try to ignore the rats scrambling
on the floor around your feet? Would you escape
underground to the subway and lie on the dirty
floor, praying that no one will kick you or hurt you
while you sleep? If you were a homeless kid, you
might do any or all those things ... you might not
have a choice.
Every day, Covenant House gives shelter to
homeless kids and responds to their most
Last year alone, more than 55,000 homeless
kids got help in Covenant House programs.
Youth homelessness robs our communities of the
potential talent and energy of these young
people. They are our future, and they need our
support. Covenant House is committed to
providing a place of shelter and support for every
homeless kid who passes through our doors.
How Human Trafficking and Child Slavery
Hurt Homeless Kids
There is a grave misconception in this country
that human trafficking is a trend relegated to
foreign soil. But the painful truth is that human
trafficking – one of the world's fastest-growing
criminal industries – is a monstrous issue in this
country. In fact, 85% of confirmed sex trafficking
victims are U.S. citizens, mostly runaway
children.
Often disconnected from family and friends,
homeless kids are particularly susceptible to
traffickers who will lure them with the promise of
food, warmth, and even false love. Once
snatched from the streets without anyone
noticing, they are sold for the highest price, their
dignity and sense of self destroyed.
Covenant House receives many of these young
people after they've found the courage to escape
capture, have been freed by police raids, or have
made contact with Covenant House outreach
staff combing the streets day and night looking
for kids in need and at risk. We must ignite, state
by state, a movement by schools, civic groups,
police, social service agencies, and child
advocates LIKE YOU to speak out for those who
have been victims, work together to raise
awareness of the crisis, and empower our
government to protect America's children.
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
To learn more about how Covenant House is helping to confront youth homelessness, visit their website at
www.CovenantHouse.org. If you are a youth needing help call 1-888-786-2929.
TRUE STORY:
I WAS
HOMELESS
This is one of many True
Story interviews in
which we talk to people
who have experienced
interesting/amazing/
challenging things. This
is the story of Salena and her time being
homeless.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m 19 and I grew up in California. I wouldn’t
call myself an artist, but I love to draw; mostly
anime and comics. Recently I’ve started doing
commissions which is a very big accomplishment
for me! I love creating and discovering,
storytelling and adventure. Currently I’m enrolled
in college, finally completing my first semester in
the spring after 3 or 4 tries. I hope to transfer to
university after getting an AA in Arts to study
Japanese and English.
What was your life like growing up?
My mother worked hard to raise me on her own.
We moved to California when I was 6; soon after
that we moved into the house I’d call a home for
11 years. She had a boyfriend for a time, whom I
hated with a 5th grader passion. My mom worked
a lot, more than she was supposed to even, to
make sure things stayed normal. She made sure to
do something with me every Friday after she
came home from work; she bought me books
when I ran out of things to read, drew Disney
characters so I could color them. I realize now
that she’s the World’s Greatest Mom. I was lucky.
Can you tell us about
the factors that led to
you being homeless?
My mom has been on
social security since a
few car accidents in her
20’s. Things started
changing for the worse
in her 40’s. I was in
junior high when she
lost her job.
Her boyfriend had been saying that he would help
pay for the bills [he was living with us] but never
gave up the cash. Fast forward to losing her job,
now on top of that she’s in quite a bit of debt
towards the house she owned and maintained for
11 years. And social security decided to stop
giving my mother benefits!
According to the law, a person on state benefits is
allowed to work part-time as long as they make
under a certain amount of money every month.
One month, Mom got a 25 cent raise, resulting in
about $100 extra income at the end of the month.
It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, especially
now that I know how long $100 lasts for two
people, but social security deemed it enough to
stop her benefits. Of course, they were taken to
court, however, this time she didn’t win.
Now, on top of the job loss, social security also
claimed that both my mother and I (she was
receiving benefits because of me) owed back all
the money paid out to us between the time they
notified mom of her termination and the final court
hearing. By this time I’d starting my first year of
high school. We managed okay for a couple of
months off workers’ compensation, but one day I
came home from school and our old real estate
agent was sitting at the table with mom. Before I
knew it, the house is sold, we’d packed everything
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 8

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
into storage, and purchased a new car with
nowhere to go.
Can you tell us about a day in the life of a
homeless person?
It’s actually boringly normal for the most part.
Wake up, find a bathroom, wash up, brush
teeth…etc. Go eat breakfast. Run errands, find a
way to not be homeless. If there’s nothing to do
just hang out, go to the library, a movie. Take a
nap. Eat lunch. Sit around and wait for the day to
be over please. Dinner. Find a place to settle
down, find a bathroom, change clothes, sleep.
There was no real reason to stop normal habits.
How did you deal with the logistics of
homelessness? Where did you shower? Where
did your mail go? What did you do with all your
‘stuff’?
In the beginning mail went to my aunt’s house,
then a P.O box, then an office that offered services
for homeless people. Home Base of the shelter
offered showers. But before that there were hotel
rooms, and before that we made due with park
bathrooms. Our stuff went into storage for the three
years we were homeless. During the fourth year we
had a late payment and they auctioned everything
from our two-bedroom home off for $400. We got
$98 of it. We stayed in one area, where my school
was located, until I graduated.
Did you ever live in a shelter? What was that like?
I had school from 7 to 2:30 during the week, so I
was occupied. My mom sat in the park mostly,
waiting to pick me out. At 3:30 the shelter opened
its doors, which lead to another 3 hours of waiting
before the first 50 of us were loaded onto a bus with
padded mats and garbage bags full of blankets and
the like.
The drive to the churches was usually between five
minutes to one hour, then we’d unload and eat the
dinner the churchgoers had prepared after letting
them pray at us (no really, I love Jesus personally,
but these people prayed AT us, every time)
We ate mostly meat and potatoes but there were a
few places that served us nice things, like pasta,
casserole and vegetarian options. After that there
was more cleaning, moving of objects, then the 50
sometimes plus of us would stealthily battle from
a spot to sleep. No one wanted to sleep next to the
snorers or the booze-reekers or the insomniacs or
the ‘monitors table’. After a few months my
mother and I got a hang of it. Lights out at 10pm
and on again at 6:30 am. More cleaning. Maybe
breakfast, depending on where we were staying
that night, loading the bus, driving back to home
base which closed at 7:30 am. Then we were left to
fend for ourselves for the rest of the day.
What do you think are the biggest
misconceptions about homelessness? Or
homeless people?
* That homeless people can just up and get a job
because it’s way more complicated than that.
Especially when you have limited clothing and
nowhere to really rest and a shelter that closes its
doors to anyone not there by 3:30 pm every day.
* That homeless people can just save money.
Like it’s that simple, like living doesn’t require
what little money, if any, they get.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 9

fs* That they’re idiots. There were tons of
perfectly capable human beings being treated like
dogs because they lost their home.
* That all homeless people don’t want to be
homeless. I’ve found out that a lot of them actually
don’t care about anything other than beer and
whatever vice they happen to have.
H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
* That we don’t have the right to be picky.
We came from a two-bedroom house and a
comfortable life. We cannot just, ‘give everything
up’ we cannot just ‘start over from the beginning’.
It’s painful. It sucks. And it’s hard – harder than
you’d think.
What lead to you eventually finding a home?
Giving in. We finally got accepted into a program
that pays like, 80% of rent based off income, but
couldn’t find anywhere but the cheap apartment
buildings right next to the shelter. Two years later
we’re still looking.
What advice would you give to someone facing
homelessness? Or someone whose loved one is
facing it?
Don’t judge them.
For whatever reason you or someone you know
has been rendered homeless, don’t guilt them or
pressure them or scorn them because of it.
Sympathize. Someone just lost everything, there’s
nothing left.
Keep your wits about you. Don’t give up. Don’t be
afraid to ask for help, but be careful who you tell.
Don’t settle, something better will come along.
Don’t stop living your normal life. Go to the
doctor, shop for a new dress, go out with friends,
keep going to school. A home doesn’t make you,
so don’t act as though your life is over.
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Homeless Service Organizations
Need help? We've listed some local resources that can
provide assistance.
Alabama has eight continuums of care organizations that
coordinate services for the homeless regionally, which may
also put you in touch with those who provide direct
services. These organizations are highlighted below. We
have also included in this list other non-profit organizations
that provide assistance.
Homeless Service Organizations - Alabama
Bessemer, Birmingham, Hoover (Jefferson, Shelby, St.
Clair Counties)
One Roof (formerly MBSH)
Mr. Stefan Kertesz, Board Chairman
Ms. Michelle Farley, Executive Director
1704 5th Ave., North Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone (205) 254-8833
Fax: (205) 951-9055
Recovery, and Re-Entry Programs, Transitional
Housing, Women Center,
Men Center, Outreach and Education Center
The Foundry Ministries
1800 4th Ave. North Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone:205-424-HOPE
Email: info@thefoundryonline.org
www.FoundryMinistries.com
205-424-HOPE (4673)
Jimmie Hale Mission
www.JimmieHaleMission.com
provides the following:
Homeless shelter and recovery program for men
(Shepura Men’s Center)
3420 2nd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone number: (205) 324-2271
Email: vines@jimmiehalemission.com
Education remediation and career readiness for men
and women (Shepura Men’s, Jessie’s Place, Royal
pines)
Phone number: (205) 323-5878
Email: learningcenter@jimmiehalemission.com
Intermediate shelter for Women and Children
(Jessie’s Place)
2305 5th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone number: (205) 323-0170
Email: latonya@jessiesplace.com
Recovery program for Men (Royal Pines Recovery
Center)
5 Guinns Cove Road Hayden, AL 35079
Phone number: (256) 352-9444
Email: george@royalpines.org
Florence (Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion,
Winston and Lawrence Counties)
Homeless Care Council of Northwest Alabama
John Corbin, Chairman
PO Box 98 Florence, AL 35631
Phone (256) 383-5610 Ext. 228
Fax (256) 760-6344
Huntsville, Decatur (Madison, Limestone and Morgan
Countie)
North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless
Mr. Ollie Orton, President
Ms. Lineise Arnold, Executive director
PO Box 2991 Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone (256) 551-1610 Ext. 223
Fax (256) 551-0722
Emergency Services (Shelter and more), Recovery
Services, Transitional Services...
Downtown Rescue Mission
1400 Evangel Drive Huntsville, AL 35816
Men: Dr. Kerry Walker (256) 536-2441 Ext. 302 Women:
Cara Henderson (256) 536-2441 Ext. 304
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
American Legion
The American Legion was
chartered and incorporated
by Congress in 1919 as a
patriotic veterans organization
devoted to mutual helpfulness.
Homeless Veteran Outreach
The American Legion supports the efforts of
public and private sector agencies and
organizations that aid homeless veterans and
their families. Additionally, the Legion supports
legislative proposals to provide medical,
rehabilitative and employment assistance to
homeless veterans and their families.
The Legion recognizes that aiding homeless
veterans requires a sustained coordinated effort,
which should provide secure housing and
nutritious meals; essential physical health care,
substance abuse aftercare and mental-health
counseling; as well as personal development and
empowerment. Homeless veterans also need job
assessment, training and placement assistance.
The ultimate goal is total self-management for the
homeless veteran.
The American Legion has stepped up its support
for homeless veterans, coordinating a Homeless
Veterans Task Force among its departments to
augment homeless service providers and fill in
the gaps where no assistance programs are
available. All departments have a Homeless
Veterans Task Force chairperson and an
Employment chairperson who are capable of
providing assistance to any homeless or
financially destitute veteran who contacts them.
The two chairpersons also can coordinate
activities with posts in their departments to aid
homeless veterans and their families and prevent
future homelessness among veterans.
Homeless Veterans Taskforce
The American Legion places special priority on
the issue of veteran homelessness. With
veterans making up approximately 11 percent of
our nation's total adult homeless population,
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 12

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Montgomery (Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and
Bullock Counties)
Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless
Ms. Charlene Robinson, President
Ms. Molly Stone, Executive Director
PO Box 242201 Montgomery, AL 36124-2201
Phone (334) 261-6182 Fax (334) 265-3391
Temporary Shelter
Faith Rescue Mission 334-262-6024
Friendship Mission 33-281-2395
Salvation Army 334-265-2018
Food, Clothing, Etc.
American Red Cross 334-260-3980
Catholic Social Services...334-288-8890
Community Action Agency 334-263-3474
Food Bank 334-263-3784
Department of Human Resources (DHR)
Montgomery 334-293-3100
Autauga 334-358-5000
Elmore 334-514-3200
Lowndes 334-548-3800
Family Promise of Montgomery
28 Crenshaw Street
334-265-2010
Friendship Mission
3561 Mobile Hwy
334-281-2395
Faith Rescue Mission
334-262-6024
Montgomery Rescue Mission
3823 Mobile Hwy
334-288-6031
River Region United Way
60 Commerce Street
334-264-7318
Renascence In-Prisoner Re-Entry
215 Clayton Street
334-832-1402
Community of Hope
2403 E. South Blvd.
Montgomery, AL 36111-0091
334-517-1473
* Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless Svcs
5748 Carmichael Pkwy Montgomery, AL 36117
334-273-0668, 1-855-810-2724
Fax 334-273-0669
Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless
101 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery, AL
334-261-6182
Family Endeavors (for Veterans)
4110 Wall Street, Ste. A Montgomery, AL 36106
334-513-1855
Transitional Housing for Women and Children
Mary Ellen's Hearth at Nellie Burge Community
Center
1226 Clay Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 264-4108
www.nellieburge.org
Mobile (Mobile and Baldwin Counties)
Housing First, Inc.
Ms. Shirley Jefferson, Board President
Mr. Eric Jefferson, Executive Director
2900 Old Shell Road Mobile, AL 36607
Phone (251) 450-3345
Fax (251) 450-3348
Family Promise of Baldwin Co. Homeless Services
20511 County Road 36, Summerdale, AL 36580
251-947-5641
www.FamilyPromiseBC.org
Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast
P.O. Box 18 Elberta, AL 36530
Administrator: Glenda Messina
Telephone: 251-986-6200 or 1-866-823-4674
* Note: Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH) Services serves remaining AL counties.: Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne,
Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall,
Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 13

there's plenty of reason to give the cause special
concern.
To help our struggling brothers-in-arms, the
Legion works on a global level, lobbying for
legislation affecting veteran homelessness, and
acts on a local level, directly assisting veterans
who have fallen on tough times and are without a
place to live or facing the prospect of it.
This direct assistance is coordinated by the
Legion's Homeless Veterans Task Force, which
works to ensure local services and resources are
available to homeless veterans and their families.
The Task Force, which has chairpersons in each
department, collaborates with government
agencies, homeless service providers and
veterans service organizations to develop and
implement initiatives that will help homeless
veterans.
Additionally, Homeless Veterans Task Force
chairpersons can provide direct aid to veterans
and their families who reach out to them. A
veteran who is homeless or facing possible
homelessness can contact a chairperson, who
will provide guidance and assistance to the
veteran and his or her family.
For all inquiries on veteran homelessness and
Legion outreach efforts, contact:
Mark Walker, Deputy Director, Economic
Division
mwalker@legion.org
(202) 861-2700
H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 14

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County)
Tuscaloosa Continuum of Care Group
West Alabama Coalition for the Homeless
Ms. LaShonda Hayes, President
West Alabama Outreach, Inc.
PO Box 2947 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
Phone (205) 759-8470
Fax (205) 366-9001
Anniston, Gadsden (Calhoun and Etowah
Counties)
Homeless Coalition of Northeast Alabama
Ms. Tara Breiner, Chairman
Ms. Becky Henson, Co-Chairman
The Salvation Army
PO Box 218 Anniston, AL 36202
Phone (256) 236-5643
Balance of the State of Alabama
*Alabama Rural Housing Coalition for the
Homeless
Ms. Amanda Ship, President
Ms. Felicia Watkins-Jackson, Executive Director
3521 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone (205) 324-9822 Ext. 19 Fax (205) 324-9311
Russell County (AL) and Muscogee County (GA)
Homeless Resource Network
Ms. Elizabeth Dillard, Executive Director
PO Box 811 Columbus, GA 31902
Phone (706) 571-3399 Fax (706) 571-0707
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 15

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
We initiate coordinated local efforts that bring
communities together to help homeless families
regain their housing, their independence, and
their dignity.
Providing a Way to Help
Americans are a compassionate people.
Enormous numbers of people would help their
neighbors in need if they had a way to help. We
bring people in need together with people who
want to help. We provide the framework that
turns compassion into action.
Family Promise
When Family Promise began, it was a local
response to problem in Union County, New
Jersey. Twenty-eight years later, we are a
national movement involving more than 180,000
volunteers and serving more than 50,000 people
yearly. But the core of what we do is still local—
partnerships within a city or county changing
lives. Family Promise makes that possible by
developing and supporting Affiliates that address
family homelessness right in their own
community.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help homeless and low-income
families achieve sustainable independence
through a community-based response. We
recognize that poverty is a complex problem that
requires a multifaceted response. We respond by
integrating educational outreach, smart
programming, effective policies, and the handson
work of thousands of volunteers. We provide
food, shelter, and support services for homeless
families. We provide advice and advocacy for atrisk
families to prevent their becoming homeless.
And we educate people about poverty and the
means to combat it.
Empowering Compassionate Individuals
The issue can seem overwhelming and
individuals may feel powerless to change the
lives of people in poverty. As Family Promise
volunteers, more than 180,000 people have
found a way. Working together, they provide
temporary housing, meals, and services to more
than 50,000 family members annually. They
mentor at-risk families. They teach financial
literacy. They help find jobs and affordable
housing. They create programs to meet specific
needs in their communities. And they advocate
for public policies that alleviate poverty and
promote the economic stability of low-income
families.
Our Vision
Our vision is a nation in which every family has a
home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a
better future.
Family Promise
28 Crenshaw Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone 334-265-2010
www.familypromisemontgomery.org
Tackling the Problem of Poverty
Poverty is a complex problem. It won’t yield to a
simple solution. It requires an integrated
approach that reaches beyond immediate needs.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 16

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Saint John's
Programs
There is no easy way
to escape living in crisis.
Since our founding on the
steps of St. John’s
Lutheran Church in
1985, we’ve challenged
many homeless mothers
with children to grapple with that difficult truth.
And not everyone can. It takes a certain type of
woman to stand up to everything that’s ever
damaged or broken her and take full, complete
control of her life. It’s difficult. It’s painful. And
again, it’s not for everyone. Saint John’s is for
the woman who wants to make the leap. Who will
fight the pervasive influence of homelessness,
poverty, and abuse. Who will make an
empowered decision to rise up and become a
productive community member. Who
understands, unequivocally, that the decision to
create a better life – for herself and for her family
– rests entirely on her.
The time for excuses is over. Make a stand.
Reach out, and create a powerful, lasting change
– for you and your children. When a family enters
Saint John’s year-long rehabilitative program,
they are immediately encircled with structure,
with mental health therapy, with alcohol and drug
counseling, with parenting education, with
budgeting classes, with healthy relationship
training, AND with hands-on employment training.
All services are onsite and required. The program
is designed to support these women in taking
responsibility for themselves and their families.
Each family receives an average of 675 hours of
services each month. 96% of mothers are placed
in non-subsidized employment upon completion
of our employment training!
examine her life, past and
future, receive in-depth
counseling, and further her
education. She must
participate in employment
training at one of our social
enterprises, Plates, Plates
Midtown and First Steps, in
which women build work
ethic and on-the-job
training skills. This sets them up for a new kind of
success and presents them as viable candidates
for the workforce and a new life.
In the past eight years, Saint John’s has evolved
from providing emergency shelter only, to a yearlong
program that provides real change in the lives
of women and children who have become
homeless. During that same period, we have
reduced our reliance on public funding to less than
20% of our $5M budget to have the flexibility to
require sobriety of our clients which is no longer
allowable if you accept HUD funding. We rely
heavily on private funding to fuel the programs we
provide to families who have become homeless.
We provide more than shelter and food. We
provide the ability to rise above devastating,
negative elements and achieve job-readiness and
self-sustainability. Entry into the program is
limited, and each step is extremely rigorous. But
those who see it through end up with rewarding,
happy, and productive lives – for themselves, and
for their children. To learn more about St. John's,
go to www.SaintJohnsProgram.org
Saint John’s is dedicated to the eradication of
homelessness for each woman and child it
serves. We require a far greater commitment from
her than she has ever made. Program residents
are not required to pay rent, but must commit to a
long-term, all-encompassing program. She must
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Success Stories in Ending Veteran Homelessness
Homeless Alabama Veteran Home At Last
continued…
Army Veteran April Rencher is building a new life for
herself with a little help from her friends at the
Tuscaloosa VA. PHOTO BY APRIL JONES, TUSCALOOSA
VA MEDICAL CENTER
By Tom Cramer
Thirty-eight-year-old April Rencher, who spent
eight years in the Army, didn’t plan on becoming
homeless. She didn’t plan on ending up in rehab,
either.
“I lost my employment late last year,” she said in
a tired voice. “I’ve been working since I was 14,
so it was frustrating, losing my job. On top of that
I had a crisis in my family, so everything sort of
snowballed from there. Things got unmanageable
for me. I guess I just got tired. My whole world
came screeching to a halt, and I ended up
homeless…
“I had become a very dark person,” she
continued. “But then I finally got to a point where I
could ask for help. It’s hard for us Veterans to ask
for help, but I went to the VA here in Tuscaloosa
and got into their residential rehab program. I
knew I was going to get the care I needed.
They’re helping me get well. They’re very
supportive of me.”
Rencher paused for a moment, then added:
“They saved my life, to be honest with you. They
turned me around and helped me walk in the
right direction. I still have good days and bad
days, but I know I’m better today than I was
yesterday.”
“I’m working on building a new me.”
Rencher said learning about herself is playing a
big role in her fight to recover her health, and her
life.
“When I first got here my mindset was scattered,”
she said. “But I’m working with the health care
professionals here. They’re helping me answer
the ‘why’ of things. They’re helping me clarify why
I’m having some of the problems I’m having; why
I was doing what I was doing. That was the main
thing for me. That’s what made a big difference
—understanding the ‘why.’
“I learned that I’d been neglecting myself. I was
always focused on other things, this person or
that person, and I never once looked at myself.
But now I can actually look in the mirror and see
the transformation that’s happening…
“For me to wake up in the morning, look in the
mirror and like who I see…that’s very big for me,”
she continued. “I can look at the sunshine now
and appreciate it. I can look out the window and
see the cats playing out there in the yard and that
makes me laugh. It’s cool seeing them playing
and not having a care in the world.”
The Army Veteran said one of the most beneficial
aspects of residential rehab is the comradery she
discovered there.
“The Veterans here support each other, pretty
much the way we did when we were on active
duty,” she explained. “Going through this
transition with other Veterans makes it easier for
me. They understand what I’m going through.
They get it. I’ve met some really wonderful
people here that I want to stay in contact with
them.”
Rencher said the next step in her journey is
finding a place to live after she leaves rehab.
A Voice for the Homeless www.HumanityMag.org 18

H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Homeless Alabama Veteran
Home At Last
(continued)
2 of 2 1/8 pg
They have apartments right
here on the grounds at VA!”
she beamed. “I’ve filled out an
application for one. I’m waiting
to see if I get it. The place is
called Valor Grove. If I could
live there that would be good,
because it would be easier to
keep my appointments here at
the hospital, easier to keep my
treatment going.”
“We’re hopeful she’ll be able
to get in there because it’s
right here on our campus,”
said Dave Gay Jr.,
Tuscaloosa’s homeless
program coordinator. “We
hope it works out for her,
because all the support she
needs is right here. This is
what we’re here for…to help
people put their lives back
together. That’s why we come
to work every day.”
“I still need some fine tuning,
but so far so good,” Rencher
said with a smile. “I’m working
on building a new me.”
Article reprinted from the
Fall/Winter 2015 issue of
VANGUARD magazine (page
8).
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
FS
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H U M A N I T Y M A G A Z I N E
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