Meshelle & her 6 kids/home & help
Donation protected
There was a desperation in her voice as she asked if I had a few dollars to spare. She was in an old beat up minivan with plastic covering the broken windows. I saw a couple little heads inside bopping around.... but I never have cash on me, so I said "I'm so sorry, I don't have anything", And as I walked away I remembered a $20 I had, at lunch the day before I paid with my card and my friend handed me the $20.
I walked back to give her the money and saw the 3 babies.... the young mom started sobbing as I gave her the $20. I asked her if I could pray for her, she said "yes" and bowed her head and sobbed as I prayed. I could feel her heart-wrenching desperation like I've never felt.
I asked where she was staying and she told me in her car.... no family around, the babies dad in prison, her own father she hasn't seen in years. Her mom an alcoholic and drug addict - It was almost 90 degrees out... you can't stay long in a car with babies in that heat! And running the car nonstop would take a lot of gas. (And it makes a horrible dinging noise the whole time it's on). I couldn't just leave her, so I bought a hotel for the night. I called my husband and he and others at his work started to say they would help.
Little did I know that trying to navigate this system is like hitting a brick wall! With help from friends and co- workers I have had money to keep her in a hotel for a week as I have poured over lists and more lists and called every agency I get a number to, to only find that every shelter is full, emergency children's shelter FULL, Every phone call is another dead end! Even those in the system don't know how to navigate the system... all I get is the funding has run out, put her on a waiting list.
When meeting her to take her to Walmart the other day to buy diapers and food and incidentals - out of her car popped 3 more kids! One young mom and 6 kids living in a car and nowhere to go as even the extended stay hotels are full. After all these calls to get help from government all the government agencies are telling me to call churches.
After a week of putting her up in a hotel, while trying to get her on waiting lists .... that may be a few more weeks I'm being told - we are needing those churches....
So if any of our Facebook friends in Atlanta have churches that have programs to help the homeless, please let me know... or if anyone who knows how to navigate this system or knows of places /resources to help this mom find a place to stay, or programs to help, please please please let me know!
She also is asking if I know of any work... but I don't know how she can work right now until she gets a place for their heads.
As I walked back to her car that day, I heard The Lord say
" what you do to the least of these, you have done unto Me". Matt. 25:40
I walked back to give her the money and saw the 3 babies.... the young mom started sobbing as I gave her the $20. I asked her if I could pray for her, she said "yes" and bowed her head and sobbed as I prayed. I could feel her heart-wrenching desperation like I've never felt.
I asked where she was staying and she told me in her car.... no family around, the babies dad in prison, her own father she hasn't seen in years. Her mom an alcoholic and drug addict - It was almost 90 degrees out... you can't stay long in a car with babies in that heat! And running the car nonstop would take a lot of gas. (And it makes a horrible dinging noise the whole time it's on). I couldn't just leave her, so I bought a hotel for the night. I called my husband and he and others at his work started to say they would help.
Little did I know that trying to navigate this system is like hitting a brick wall! With help from friends and co- workers I have had money to keep her in a hotel for a week as I have poured over lists and more lists and called every agency I get a number to, to only find that every shelter is full, emergency children's shelter FULL, Every phone call is another dead end! Even those in the system don't know how to navigate the system... all I get is the funding has run out, put her on a waiting list.
When meeting her to take her to Walmart the other day to buy diapers and food and incidentals - out of her car popped 3 more kids! One young mom and 6 kids living in a car and nowhere to go as even the extended stay hotels are full. After all these calls to get help from government all the government agencies are telling me to call churches.
After a week of putting her up in a hotel, while trying to get her on waiting lists .... that may be a few more weeks I'm being told - we are needing those churches....
So if any of our Facebook friends in Atlanta have churches that have programs to help the homeless, please let me know... or if anyone who knows how to navigate this system or knows of places /resources to help this mom find a place to stay, or programs to help, please please please let me know!
She also is asking if I know of any work... but I don't know how she can work right now until she gets a place for their heads.
As I walked back to her car that day, I heard The Lord say
" what you do to the least of these, you have done unto Me". Matt. 25:40
Organizer
Sharon Casey Enlow
Organizer
Conyers, GA
