November is Homeless Awareness Month

Public officials tell us that homelessness is on the rise. Last year alone, 60 homeless people died here in Cape Town. We cannot allow this to happen again given the growing number of homeless people. More must be done.

If we work together, we can make miracles happen. I see them every day as president of Homeless, not desperate. I recently saw one at the event we did with internet sensation, Father Ray Kelly, the singing Irish priest. The community turned out with supports from businesses, organizations and individuals who not only filled the house, but also donated over $100,000 to help combat the growing problem of homelessness. shelter in Cape Town. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate this support and this outpouring of love. Thanks, Cape Cod.

While this successful event allows us to continue our work to end homelessness here, we need to think about the future. Our model of helping people move from homelessness to self-sufficiency is working. We’ve had success since our organization was founded by homeless people in 2007. But with the growing need, we must move forward and help more people return to productive lives. We plan to increase capacity to allow residents who are ready to move out of our transitional housing and into suitable housing.

The month of November being Homeless Awareness MonthI ask you to join us in helping our brothers and sisters find a place in our community. Please consider supporting one of the worthy organizations that work with the homeless in our community. For more information on how you can contribute to our efforts at Homeless Not Hopeless, please visit our website: https://homelessnothopeless.org

Deacon Richard Murphy, PresidentHomeless Not Hopeless, Inc.119 Baxter Road, Hyannis

Help Homeless Students: Attend the Cranberry Fair on November 23 in Harwich

Imagine you are a 14 year old kid and you are homeless and living on Cape Cod. Sometimes you stay with relatives, in a shelter, other times, in a campground during the summer and when all else fails, in your mother’s car. The school keeps asking you for your home address. They just don’t understand that your aunt’s address and phone number are the only ones that are constant; your mother’s cell phone minutes expire quickly every month. School is hard because all the other kids have new clothes, hairstyles, cell phones and video games. All you hope for is clean clothes and hair and a warm jacket as winter approaches. It is also difficult to concentrate on schoolwork, as his stomach often growls loudly.

Other students have a place to call home, but your parents’ income is such that they can’t afford new clothes and certainly not a video game or cell phone. Your parents struggle to put food on the table and keep the place you call warm. It’s a way of life for many children who live on Cape Cod.

Since 2012, the PSALM (People Sharing and Loving More) group of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Harwich supports homeless and at-risk children in the Monomoy and Nauset school systems by donating ALL proceeds from their Cranberry Fair to students in need.

This process takes all year. People spend the year sewing, knitting, woodworking and crafting. Others are soliciting restaurants, businesses and artists to donate to our silent auction. Then, a few weeks before the Cranberry Fair, many gather to sort, clean and polish all the donated jewelry as well as items destined for attic treasures (think: Christmas decorations and household items you no longer have need). During the last week, they are busy making chili and other soups as well as cookies, pies and other baked goods.

Now imagine that you are that same 14 year old who is called to the school office before the break. You go in with dread, wondering what’s wrong this time, but instead you’re surprised by a beautiful gift bag filled with goodies as well as gift cards to area stores such as CVS, Marshalls, Stop & Shop or Shaws! You suddenly realize that the holidays won’t be so bad after all.

Since 2012, $74,000 has been awarded to 558 students. That’s a lot of gift cards. Last year, more than $13,000 was raised to support 100 students. This year’s Cranberry Fair will take place on Saturday, November 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Route 137 in Harwich.

Gayle Olson Dennis Port

This article was originally published on Cape Cod Times: Letters: Agency head calls for more support for homeless people