Homeless Crisis!

What are They Worth to You and Your Community?

2010-10-27T20:38:00.004-04:00

A Blog from Lance Greene – Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.

@HOMELESSCRISIS on Twitter

STA

@HOMELESSCRISIS on Twitter

Please consider this. As Community Members, what would the following be worth to you, personally. Many ask for "numbers" in order to validate funding. I ask You - What "numbers" can you apply to the following. What is it worth toYou as a Community?

Each person mentioned here is fully aware we speak of them over the web, online, and in direct conversations and each one gladly gives their full permission to do so. Each one of them were “Homeless” at one time, either for days, months or years. I do not typically put all this information out there and trust me there is much more. I don’t because of the time involved as I feel the time is always much better spent on concentrating on those we help. You may feel maybe I am wrong, maybe that is why we do not get more funding. However, the people we help are what are of most importance. Not me, not STA, not you. Them, our Friends In Need.

Kendal B. – 40 years old

1) Kendal: This photo of Kendal is dated 9/9/2010. One month after Kendal came to live with us here in St. Petersburg FL from Knoxville TN. It is a very good photo. I can show you photos of Kendal that are not so flattering; bloated from drugs, alcohol, anti-depressants her body cannot process, and ashen in color, but I choose not to. Not STA’s style. We helped her a number of times off the streets of Knoxville since 2007- She is a tough case. We first met her in late 2007 and received our first monetary assistance for her rent at the YWCA in 2008 of $250. We have intervened on Kendal with the Knoxville Police Dept and spent countless hours, days and about 2.5 years both in the streets and at our personal residence in Knoxville helping Kendal. It has been an ongoing Intervention since we met her. Kendal is tough. Kendal has been kicked out of or refused services at numerous programs in Knoxville, including KARM, VMC, Peninsula, Salvation Army, and Lakeshore due to her use of alcohol, drugs and more. Kendal has been chronically homeless, or as we say a "Friend In Need" for over 15 years. She has lost her housing twice at Summit Towers whom VMC helped her get via voucher, but did not provide the much needed guidance and social support. Kendal held a job at the Crowne Plaza for 2 years in housekeeping until approx this last January. People like Kendal, "the homeless" do drink in excess, do use drugs in excess and do pretty much everything in excess including talk, walk, and use each other.

Orgs like us, homeless assistance orgs, are in the business supposedly to help these very people. YES, they will be drunk and or high. THAT, is when they are in crisis and need our help,,,,,,,,NOT the time to kick them out. Kendal is one of them, one of many. Kendal has been in and out of the Knoxville Court system numerous times, on different charges. We have gone to court with her in the past. We have picked her up from the Knoxville Police drunk and disorderly or found her the same in the streets, brought her to our home there in Knoxville and stayed up with her all night, literally, on our front porch in Knoxville and had her sleep at our home until she was sober, calmed down and sleeping, then gave her a ride back into town in the morning so she could go to work or she would just stay at our home.

NOW, since AUGUST 10th of this year, we brought Kendal from Knoxville to our home (which we rent) in St. Petersburg FL to live with us here, detox her body and thought process as much as possible and re-socialize her. She is doing better then she ever has. Kendal since August 24th, 2010 has been going to school preparing for her GED and she volunteers at an Assisted Living Facility. Kendal will test out for her GED on Dec 8th & 9th, 2010 We, STA have removed Kendal from the Knoxville System. The courts don’t have her, the KPD are not dealing with her, and VMC, KARM, Salvation Army, the Cherokee Health System and the rest do not have to deal with her. We, STA, Lance & Pat, have Kendal here in our personal home and are working with her 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. I could go into more detail. Do you need more? How much is this worth to Knoxville? How much is what we are doing, we being STA, Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc., how much is it worth to you as a Community? What would someone like Kendal be worth to your community?

Donna F. – 40 years old

2) Donna is the one in the Wal-Mart wheelchair scooter, my fiancé Pat, V.P. of STA is with Donna. Donna, was sleeping in Knoxville in Market Square nightly in front of The Tomato Head restaurant so she could plug in her electric wheelchair from October 2007 when she was evicted from Cagle Terrace. Donna did this until we took her off the streets at 2am one night in June 2008. Donna would not stay at the local Mission if she could help it because of the violence and theft. Donnas’ daily routine is detailed on our website.

We took Donna, who has a brain injury, physical disabilities and is confined to a wheelchair into our personal home in Knoxville in June 2008 which we rented. Mayor Haslam should personally recognize Donna. Our home in Knoxville was most definitely not wheelchair friendly. Donna stayed with us for just about 4 months. Donna has many outbursts and many different needs. We cared for and helped Donna out of our own personal funds during this time. We hauled Donna around in our van using a piece of plywood to load her chair into the van. We provided transportation everywhere Donna needed to go. We got help from no-one. We asked VMC for glasses for Donna. I called them as Founder of STA and they refused me because Donna had missed a “Staffing Meeting” “some time ago.” I actually begged them. Still they turned me down. I never asked again. When I was in Knoxville this plast September 2010, I went to see Donna in Oak Ridge where we obtained housing for her in 2008. To this dang day, she still is wearing MY fiancés’ old glasses. Wow!

STA, has done favors for VMC, KARM, Salvation Army and more at their request - without hesitation. To make a very long story as short as possible, we had Donna in our personal home for almost 4 months giving her 24/7 care, attention, support, transportation, housing and housing location assistance. We took her off the streets of Knoxville where the patrons of Market Square, in particular the Tomato Head and Preservation Pub employees knew Donna and always seen her everyday. We took her to Oak Ridge. We obtained a Payee for Donna and she now has remained at her apartment since Oct 10th 2008 until present. I flew to Knoxville on September 19th and brought Donna to ORHA to get her on their assistance list for the second time as we had received a generous donation which enabled us to do so. It was an extremely difficult trip for me. That’s a story for another time and place.

Bottom line, we took Donna from Knoxville, relieved Knoxville of her burden, relieved the restaurants and patrons of Market Square of her constant requests for cold drinks, cigarettes and more. Currently, Donna lives on and pays all of her expenses including rent, utilities etc out of her entire $673/month SSI/SSDI and $174 in Food Stamps/month. She has approx $20-$30 left per month for incidentals. Donna is one we would house permanently in our STA Facility were we able to obtain one. In all reality, Donna is and has been for quite some time a positive contributing force to both the Knoxville and Oak Ridge Communities So, for 24/7 care for almost 4 months, transportation, and taking off the streets of Knoxville and away from the City and its resources. What is it worth? What numbers would you or can you apply to it? What is that worth to a community like Knoxville? What would it be worth to your community?

Dusty F. Standing behind Kendal & I

3) Dusty, Dusty, Dusty - What an awesome story. She was ready, still a handful but ready. Kendal referred us to her back when we first met Kendal. Dusty was living under the bridge on the Salvation Army side where all the drug dealers are. “Fish” we will call him, a big drug dealer there, was “her man”, or more like it, she was “his girl”. Kendal asked us to please help her. Dusty was a hardcore crack addict. Was.

With Kendal cowering in our van scared to death, my fiancé Pat, Kendal and I went under the bridge in the late night of July 1st, 2008. There were drug dealers and users every where and ”Fish” was right there next to Dusty. I pulled my van up onto the sidewalk and left it running locking Pat and Kendal inside. “Fish” has beaten and been known in that world to beat & kill others and he still roams the streets. He would be selling drugs in daylight right there under the bridge, and a Sherriff sat 20 feet away in his car guarding the construction workers. It goes on all day long, 24 hours a day. We have sat across the street in a parking lot watching drug dealers make deals in the Salvation Army lot. With the support of Jesus standing beside me I got out of the van and in my normal fashion walked right into the den of wolves up to Dusty. I asked if it was her. “Fish” stepped into my face and asked what I wanted. I stated I was not there to speak to him or anyone else for that matter other then Dusty. They all dispersed. Everyone. Dusty and I were left alone to talk. She cried. I listened. She agreed to allow us to help her. It was her time. I listened and did “my thing.” It was what I talk about in my printed material and on my website. It was Jesus at work using me as a tool. Period.

After that night, we requested Pastor Mike of KARM to allow Dusty into the Volunteer program at KARM even though they were full, he agreed. Because of his assistance, STA will always do whatever we can for him and KARM.

To this very day, we still stay involved with Dusty also. We talk to her every day. When I was in Knoxville in September I made sure she was able to see one of her homeless friends in the ICU at St. Mary’s and brought her to see her friend there. She lives in a small apartment we worked hard to locate for her, meeting with the landlord on her behalf so she could make room for someone else at KARM. Dusty worked extremely hard also to get in to the apartment as she had to prove she had been clean for 6 weeks. It was at the YWCA. Dusty stayed there almost two years and since has moved out of the YWCA this year into her own very nice, 1 bedroom apartment. Dusty has been “clean” now, 100% free of drugs ever since that July 1st 2008 night. Over 2 years! She works at Market Square Kitchen and has been for over two years. Stop in and say hello to her please. The photos with Kendal and Dusty were taken there this last January 2009. Dusty has told us numerous times, if we would not have stopped to see her on that night in July she does not believe she would be alive today. She has worked so very very hard. We, STA, got her off the streets of Knoxville in 2008 and she still is a positive contributing force to the community. She shops like crazy! She keeps a beautiful apartment. She does excellent. What is a person like Dusty worth? What is this worth to a community like Knoxville. What would it be worth in Your community?

John S. on right - Lance Greene on Left

4) STA was instrumental in helping CAC get John off the streets and into housing. John has spent the last 18 years or so sleeping in the woods. Although, John really was not ready for housing and struggles to this day, he is still in housing but has been moved three times since 2008. John is a long and confidential story so I will not go into much other then to say John is very close to our heart. We believe in John and spent countless hours all thru the day and night for months on end helping CAC keep John in line so to speak. We continue to this day even though we have never been the main case manager for John. No one will ever be able to truly understand what we went thru with John unless maybe you heard it from him. When I was in Knoxville in September, myself and Miss Mary Hawk went to court with John on his behalf and won the case against him. He was relieved and very pleased and STA is now working on a major case for John to try and relieve him of some other situations which I am unable to talk about at this time. We continue to provide emotional encouragement and support to John via phone primarily when we can reach John and or when he can get to a phone to reach us as he does not have a phone in his home or a cell phone. If it had not been for STA at the time, CAC would not have been successful in getting John off the streets of Knoxville. I know this. No doubt in my mind and I can explain further in person if you like sometime. It’s a very long story. Again, when we were helping CAC with John, everything we did came out of our own personal wages and funds. In fact, we spent a good deal of funds bringing John to PILOT Travel Center on Lovell Rd to get him Showers, smokes, snacks and ,meals weekly for quite some time. Those funds came directly out of our personal funds. If STA was Johns main Case Manager he would do much much better then he is now, nut none the less he is doing very well due to our involvement with him. I am sure he would be glad to let you know. What is he worth to you all? He is now a positive contributing force to Knoxville. What would someone like John be worth to your community?

5) Kimberly B. No photo available – Kimberly is another awesome lady – She was fresh out of Prison and staying at Salvation Army in Knoxville and going through their program as mandated. We met her through OLA at Salvation Army. I was manager for a high end carpet cleaning company at the time called Eco Clean Carpet Solutions in Knoxville. We hired her to answer phones and make sales calls and I spent extensive time coaching and listening to Kimberly about all her situations. Her job with us helped her to pay her way at Salvation Army and gave her the confidence to stay straight and get her life back. She was able to stay straight and able to move back to Atlanta with her parole officers blessing and approvals. To this day we keep in contact and she is doing excellent back in her field of law as an Admin and is looking at getting into Insurance Appraisals, got married and more. What is Kimberly worth?? Kimberly is not in Knoxville any longer and is a positive contributing force big time in her community in Atlanta. What is she worth to you all as a Community? What would someone like Kimberly be worth to you and your community?

Jennifer H. – St. Petersburg, FL

6) Jennifer H - St. Petersburg FL. – Tomlinson Adult learning Center of St. Petersburg FL called us on this family for help. Jennifer is a 26 year old Mother of 3 girls and one boy. WOW. Try to find safe emergency shelter and or housing in our society today for a young mother of 3 girls and one boy! It is disturbing. First the shelters know that they are not typically safe enough for a family like this, the women shelters are not big enough, all the shelters are too full annnnnnnnd not to mention I typically will try everything in my power NOT to bring anyone to a shelter unless I have absolutely no alternative. In fact I will leave someone on the streets before I will bring them to a shelter if at all possible. In this case, I did try to find a shelter for Jennifer and her kids. I have never had this type of situation before with a family of this size and the “type”, 3 girls and one boy. The one boy being the issue. I couldn’t even locate a Domestic Abuse center to help. No one. I called everyone in the area including meeting with the Mayor of St, Petes office. I met with Catholic Charities, called over 30 service organizations and stopped at over 20 churches. I was either refused or not returned my calls. The photo of her and the kids was taken in the motel we placed them in for 4 days. We also let them all stay in our personal home for one night where we also have KENDAL staying. Keep in mind we rent a 900 sq ft 2 bedrm 1 bath house and we have two dogs. So we had 8 of us here including Pat and I plus our dogs.

Long story short, we were able to do a lot of “talking” and secure a temporary living situation for her and the kids. I located both the Executive and Assistant Directors Homes and phone numbers from a Domestic Abuse Center her in St. Pete and called them at their homes and pleaded with them pitifully. After many calls and meetings Jennifer and her 4 kids were accepted by the organization and her transitional housing is being readied. She was to move in already but it had been moved to November. She is still ok at her temporary housing for now. See, the issue is this: She is a female, she has 3 female children and one boy. The boy must have his own room according to DCS laws and he may not share one with the Mother. So the shelters and all the programs here were not big enough or willing to stretch the boundaries at all. Just one was able to accommodate but it took a lot of stress and work. I refused to let this family of great kids and a worried Mom end up on the streets. I fought with her and fought to get her in somewhere.

We, STA made sure she was able to get where she needed to go to keep up with her commitments, drove, and picked up her kids from school, to the grocery store, Mom to school, to the Employment end of Pinellas County, provide ongoing emotional support and coaching and more. STA, normally handles single individuals or pairs, not a whole family especially like this ones makeup. BUT, we succeeded. They were homeless as of 9-15-2010 after being kicked out of a family members home. Tomlinson Adult Learning Center called me and I dropped everything immediately and went to the school where the Mother was sitting in the hall crying and had no clue what to do. Her kids didn’t even know yet that they were homeless. They never had to live in the streets, or a shelter. And now, they have been reunited with some long time family friends via a conversation I had with the family friends and have a safe place to live until their transitional housing is readied in November. WE, STA, prevented FIVE more homeless statistics and 5 more tragedies to our world. You may call Tomlinson Adult Learning center to validate this if you like. I will be glad to provide the contact name and phone number if you wish. What is this family worth to the St. Petersburg FL community? What would a family like this be worth to you and your community?

Ms. Edna - Back to the camera & our vans mirror - Lance talking to her.

7) Miss Edna: Pictured with her back to our van and Lance talking to her. Miss Edna. To date, My failure. STA’s failure. The one I beat myself up about probably the most. Daily. However, will always hope to help her more. Why a failure? Because simply, she is an over 70 year old female on the streets of Knoxville and STA just does not have the funds it takes to help her. Miss Edna needs continual care in an assisted living, nursing home type facility. We could do it. We are willing and we have the people in line waiting to help us with Miss Edna. We do not have the facility or the funds. I have spent extensive time with Miss Edna. I am mad at myself for getting involved with her, because STA just isn’t big enough to help her like she needs. We can be and will. She was hit by a drunk driver while sleeping in a bus stop on Chapman Highway in Knoxville. IN KNOXVILLE! Not acceptable. Yes, it angers me. It takes creativity and money, yes, yes yes, I know, a lot of money. We are willing to do the work to take care of her, not many others are that I know of. Ask Them. Ask all of them. KARM, Salvation Army, VMC. None of them will help her as she is and with all her belongings. We, STA will. We know her. We know how ugly it will be and what we are in for. It takes You All and people like you to be able to provide us the funds to do so. If Not You, then Who?

I could go on and list more, but then this would become so much more lengthy then it already is.

To be honest I realize this email has a tone of frustration. I, Lance Greene, have done this work since 1985 primarily out of my own and my fiancé Pat Mishler’s pockets. It was not until 2007 that I made Straight Ahead Outreach and what we do public. It was not until 2008 that we started seeking donations. I do not like the process or even the thought of having to ask for funds. I know I am not good at it. I am excellent at helping people “Take Back Their lives.” That is my specialty I guess you could say, just like you all have yours. It is understood we will need to obtain someone who is a “fundraiser” so to speak, however until we can do that then I must be the one to do it.

If you can imagine what we must have spent over the years out of our own pockets, never claiming it on taxes because of how I believe. Since 2008, we have received approx $10,000.00 in donations total. Our last donation was received on July 24th and used up on our beneficiaries by September 15th and we still have Kendal from Knoxville, TN staying with us in our personal home and we are covering all costs out of personal funds so she can succeed. Again she is almost done with her GED schooling and tests out on Dec 8th & 9th. Today, 10/27/2010 we were just approved by Tomlinson Adult learning Center for Kendal’s Scholarship to pay for her classes and testing. Jennifer H above also was approved for the same Scholarship and has already tested out for her GED and will find out her results in about 4 weeks.

Although Jesus is where I know I get my talents and direct guidance from, I am not the type to say “God Bless” to everything and everyone. I do not mean to offend anyone, it is just the way it is. To be sure, I am a tad hardcore I admit, but that is why we get the results we do. We literally and directly do everything to satisfy our Mission Statement keeping the IRS in mind as they are who granted it based on what we said we would do. If we do this, we know the Mission Statement will be accomplished and those we seek to help will benefit.

STA needs your help, personally. Monetarily. We need it today.

Thank you all for your time and energies in reading this info, our website and my blog.

Lance Greene/Founder
Cell: 865-964-1461
Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
Knoxville, TN 37902 & St. Petersburg, FL 33710
501c3 Public Charity - EIN#: 27-1534584
TN Corporate Control #: 620488
Email: straightaheadlwg@gmail.com
Web: http://www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com/

My hopes for you today: That you take time to laugh. That business or work has been good for you today. That someone has made your day enjoyable.

Critical Need: Mobile Crisis Unit/Office

2010-05-20T09:07:00.004-04:00

We need to obtain the following critical piece of equipment. The photo shows what the graphics would look like which are being designed by Creative Edge Graphics of Knoxville, TN. This would be a "Closed Door Unit." Available to those truely showing they want help and to "Take Back Their Life." This unit would be outfitted with 3 showers, 3 toilets, 2 stackable washer/dryers, handicapped lift, handicapped accessible shower & toilet, office capabilities, 3 beds and a kitchen. This would enable "STA" to have a Mobile Crisis Unit/Office where we can interview our homeless "friends" right in the streets where they are, allow them to take a shower, launder their clothes and give them a meal all at one time at any hour of the day or night. The perfect fit. We need to raise $400,000 to purchase this unit and for operating costs for one year. It will be Designed and built to our specifications.

**5/27/2010 UPDATE: The company that was going to build this for us has gone out of business, but the salesman who quoted us is still in the business. We can have it built by any RV builder so that is not an issue.

*** Also, we can put a lower cost unit on the road as the white one pictured here, but we do need to get something on the road soon. A lower cost unit could be put together by purchasing a used bus and reto-fitting it for a total of approx $50,000.00 - $60,000.00. We would also need to raise funds then to operate it for 6-12 months so we would need to raise a total of $100,000.00 for this unit. When we say "to operate it" we are including all our services which we make available 24/7 including meals, clothing, interviews, one on one intensive support, showers, laundry, transportation, haircuts, and more services all involved in our Mobile Crisis/Intervention program as described on our website http://www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com/

PLEASE HELP US TODAY! YOU MAY CALL ME AT 865-964-1461 THANK YOU!
LANCE GREENE / Founder/CEO

Where Did The Homeless Come From?

2010-04-14T13:37:00.002-04:00

Are YOU a Friend In Need? Are YOU Homeless?

IF, you are Happy Living in the Streets. That is YOUR Business.

IF, You "Think" You are Happy living in the Streets, Want to get off the Streets, or are Trapped in the Streets. THAT is OUR Business!

So, where do these as we call them.....our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" come from?
They are viewed as the bottom of the Earth, they are Over Looked, Turned Away from, Ignored, Scoffed at, Heckled, viewed as "Losers", beaten, murdered, set on fire, prostituted, "used" (smoke & mirrors) for funding sake, to support high nonprofit salaries and luxurious homes and more.

THEY used to be members of a FAMILY. Maybe even YOUR family. They used to be NEIGHBORS. Maybe even YOUR neighbors. Literally.
They do not just appear like some slug under a rock. They are REAL people. With feelings, desires, needs. They have had their personalities, their tears, their smiles, their laughter all "Stolen" from them by us as a Society. We as people hurt each other terribly and think we do not have to be accountable. We ARE accountable, YOU are accountable.

By the way, a Friend In Need can be anyone, they do not have to be what Society labels as Homeless. That is why we are trying to change from using the "Homeless" term to using Friends In Need.

What we say, What we do, and how we treat others can do a great deal of "damage" and it is just a "cop-out" to remove ourselves from accountability and to put the blame on the "Friend In Need" or the "Homeless." Yes, there are "bad apples" out there in the streets, just like there is in your neighborhood, 2 blocks from you, yes, even in the gated communities, no matter what color, race or culture origin.

Do you know what got them there, sleeping under that bridge or in those woods? Do you know why they are drinking or drugging until they cant see, hear or breathe anymore? Until the snot is running out their nose and they are defecating all over themselves? Do YOU? Do you know? Most likely not. Because you Turn Away. Because you Heckle, Blame, Scoff at, Ignore and just plain call them a "Loser." "Ahhhh just get the Hell up and go get a job" you say!! How about most of America right now that have been trying for the last TWO years to get jobs. Even those with experience, educations, and homes cannot locate jobs. Are they, YOU losers? NO. But i tell you this, many, many of you have and will end up Homeless soon, I could end up a "Friend In Need" - and myself and my crew juuuuust might come upon YOU in the Streets and In Need --- "How Would YOU Want To Be Treated?" How should We Treat You??

How often have you seen those on the streets crying? I mean on the streets, not in the shelter where you just came from having fun helping serve them. I mean on the streets as you drive by. Have you seen them crying? Most likely not. The tears are not there. They are numb from the World as we know it. They have given up and given in to the thought that this is what their life has to be now. IT DOES NOT. IT WILL NOT, if we have anything to do with it.

Again. THEY used to be members of a FAMILY. Maybe even YOUR family. They used to be NEIGHBORS. Maybe even YOUR neighbors. Literally.
They do not just appear like some slug under a rock. They are REAL people. With feelings, desires, needs. They have had their personalities, their tears, their smiles, their laughter all "Stolen" from them by us as a Society. We as people hurt each other terribly and think we do not have to be accountable. We ARE accountable, YOU are accountable. We help them to "Take Back Your Life" we say, really, to "Steal" back their life from those who stole it from them in the first place.

The old style "Mental Institutions" as we knew them are now the "Streets" and have been for many years now. The thing is, there just is not enough being done in the streets to help. It takes money, and lots of it. And it takes people to use that money properly. Do you feel comfortable donating to an organization that operates 9-5? And supports executive salaries in excess of $100,000.00 per year and supports the executives $300,000.00 - $900,000.00 or more homes? Do You? I invite you to check up on those salaries of the nonprofits you Donate to. They need a salary yes, i most definitely agree, because the work, IF done properly is intense and very difficult and draining. However, in excess of $100,000.00 is the average salary of a nonprofit Executive? And how many of those levels of executives are employed by the nonprofit you Donate to? Why did those people get into the business? Was it for the benefit of the beneficiary? The Friends In Need, the Homeless? Could an executive live good on say $85,000.00 max? Absolutely. It does not matter if the org is a 10 million dollar org. The bottom line is the money has to be properly spent for the intended reasons, those in need. IT IS NOT. THAT is why we have so many in need out there. I shudder to think how many we could help if we had $200,000.00 of one of their salaries. And many people donate to support those salaries and lavish homes. The executives of nonprofits should not have salaries the same as the millionaires donating to their cause. It just doesn't compute.

So, you see. It is not the fault entirely of the "Friends In Need." There are many many factors.

I am asking that from now on, you look at our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" differently.
Look at them with concern. Concern for, do they want to be off the street? Do they know they do not have to be on the street? Do they know there are people who care? Do they know they deserve to be off the streets? Do they understand how deep they are in? Do they need medical care? Are they dangerously hungry? In dehydration? Have they given in and given up to the streets? Why? Why are they on the streets? What got them here? Why? Why? Why? What? What? What?

Ask, Ask YourSelf. "What can I do Differently, to help this Friend In Need." What will maybe give a more permanent result to this "Friend In Need?" It is NOT always a bag of socks. It is NOT always a sandwich. It is NOT most definitely NOT always that $1 or $5 you just gave them from the window of your car. It is more, much much more then all of that. It is TIME, lots of one on one time. And the follow up with them and to back up what you, we just got them to agree to try and do. THAT my friends is where the money comes in, LOTS of $$. For example: Just like if You were going to rent an apartment. ALL the same things are needed. How much does it cost? Think about that. You know what it is. It is ALL the same. The needs are ALL the same.

So, please. Look at Charity Differently. Look at our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" differently.

Start TODAY. Start Right NOW.

Thank You.

Lance Greene / HOMELESSCRISIS and Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
Knoxville, TN

And the Clock Stopped at Six O'Clock

2010-04-14T08:41:00.000-04:00

For a Friend, our Friend, Your Friend, A True Twitter Friend. A Friend to Many. @brendamantz

Brenda on this April 12th Day was like any other day, doing what she does.

Enjoying life, being a wife and a Mom to her pups.

Fluffing this, admiring that, looking forward to her friends, being her comfortable, caring, sharing self.

On this particular day, this mover & shaker of a woman, this talented writer and lover of people is herself shaken.

On this particular day for our Friend Brenda, at Six O'Clock, the Clock Stopped .

One of her Dear Candles was whisped out and taken from her. One of her Dear Friends, Tancy.

Hmmmm,,,interesting, the new Candle Stand Miss Brenda? Yes, Today Light a candle on that stand and relax on the deck by it with Tancy. She will be there just like before. Maybe even more.

Today, right now as i write, i light a Candle for Brenda, and for her Tancy, the candle holder says: The Lord Bless You and Keep You. I pray that the Lord Bless and keep both of these Souls. Tancy to her place. Brenda, safe, here with all of us.

So, to You our Friend In Need, Brenda, our Love goes out to You. Take some time, rest, rest your Heart, rest Your Soul. Let your Heart catch up to you now, Let your Soul Heal.

Tancy is gone only from this place we call Earth, but she continues on in her Journey and will always be there when you talk to her, when you reach your hand to her.

She will Always be there, Look for her as you sit on your deck, light the candle, watch for her, She is there.

We Love You Brenda.

Lance Greene and Pat Mishler
(@Homelesscrisis and @patmish2004)

The "Streets" are the "Institutions"

2010-04-13T22:18:00.002-04:00

I have been working intensely for over more then 8 wks via Twitter and phone with a sister of a lady in Indy who has extensive mental health issues & was to be evicted from her Fathers house due to him passing. Evicted via Sheriff last Thurs, sent to hospital for evaluation, then to a mental health facilty, where she was released after the damned 72 hr rule. Where was she released to? The Streets! Exactly what i was afraid would happen. Happens everyday, YES, in YOUR community TOO! We, we at Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc., spend endless hours with these who we call our Friends In Need who end up on the streets homeless. We would like to prevent this from happening and in the case i am talking about above we could have prevented someone from being homeless. We made numerous calls to the county for assistance in this situation, to other outreach organizations in the area, the mental health facility and to the Sheriff's office. The other outreach orgs were either unwilling to assist or out of business in the rural area, nobody could help or even wanted to help. Nothing.

It is a simple fact. We do this kind of work, we spend 24 hours, 7 days a week if needed and when needed. THAT is what is needed when we release these with mental health issues to the streets. Working with them in the streets when they need it at any hour in order to gain their trust and boost their confidence. Since we as a society have deinstitutionalized America, then it is orgs like ours that are left to help these Friends In Need. The "Streets" are the "Institutions." Families cannot handle it as it is much too close and many are unwilling. We do the work, we enjoy the work. It is our "CALLING."

In order to help in situations like these, we need to travel to the persons location. THAT means money is needed or we cant help in the way that is needed. In other words, anytime of day or night. In the case above, we have not been able to physically travel there and so we were not able to prevent this case of homelessness. The family has gone through extensive unnecessary stress. We need to be there. IT takes money. Period. It is a simple fact. We still need to and are willing to go and provide our services to see what we can do for this lady, she needs the help, she deserves the help. Since the medical community does not want to help, that is their business. This lady needs to be secure. We DO help! We DO the WORK! We get them to "Take Back Their LIfe." THAT IS OUR BUSINESS!

I am angry over this, yes, i am angry, so don't even go there with me. I am tired of seeing it done this way, practiced this way, being accepted this way. We are NOT your typical outreach organization. We are only three. We do not take things lightly. We do not take any bull! We do not work 9-5 Monday through Friday. I have seen people released to the streets this way for 25 years now. It is NOT acceptable. Organizations like us that are willing to do the work and help must, must have the funds in order to do it.

Help us Do The Work. DONATE TODAY!
$1500-$2000 needed for this trip. Could be one to two weeks. Includes airfare, car, motel, food and unexpected incidentals.

Thank you!

Lance Greene / HOMELESSCRISIS and Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.

Would YOU Give Up Your Birthday or Anniversary to help Others?

2010-04-10T20:48:00.002-04:00

I am copying this idea from charity: water http://www.charitywater.org/ Out of respect and concern for the organization, charity: water. I contacted them by email and asked if they would mind me copying their idea of giving up birthdays and the like in order to raise donations for our organization. Scott Harrison's (Founder) response to me through his assistant, Elise, was "Go For It." So, our sincere Thank You goes out to Scott Harrison and his organization charity: water.

We, Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. are now carrying out this campaign through Twitter, Facebook and beyond!

Will YOU please give up YOUR BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY and ask your friends, family and aquaintances to instead DONATE to our organization to help our "Friends In Need?'

A Twitter friend of ours @brendamantz did just this. She was the first one to do so, giving me the idea. THANK YOU Brenda Mantz!

We Thank YOU all in Advance!

Lance Greene ( Founder) of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) and @HOMELESSCRISIS on Twitter.

Just The Way It Is - Video #3

2010-04-09T10:29:00.000-04:00

How We Do What We Do (In A Very Tiny Nutshell) :-))!

2010-04-08T08:42:00.003-04:00

1) We go into the streets “looking” for one to help, one that stands out or we are referred to one by another Friend In Need. They can be someone in the streets and homeless or just even someone who is in a tough situation and is having some sort of trouble and is in need at home.

2) We see if the person wants to talk. If they are not ready, we will come back again another day. If they will talk, we ask if they are needing any help, what they are needing help with, what they may need, if they are hungry and so on. We do a lot of “observing” to see if they are dehydrated from too much alcohol etc and lack of food for instance. We observe their body language and actions. We observe their conversation. We are not here to just hand them something and leave and not come back. We are there to determine if we can give them permanent results. Once we have observed enough, we attempt to advise our “friend In Need if we feel we can be of help to them. We are mainly after permanent results. If they want to live in the streets and are satisfied there we look further and maybe end up coming back to them another day. If they seem dangerously hungry then we will give them a meal or if maybe they are just to depressed and hungry we may take them for a meal. There is a lot of energy that goes into this visit and it must be done with a sense of urgency.

3) If we have determined we can help the friend in need we will ask if they would like to go get a shower. If they do, then we will take them to a truck stop and pay for their shower and maybe a snack, smokes etc. This keeps them comfortable for the night so they feel good the next day and have something to look forward to when we see them again in a few days or sooner if needed.

4) When we see this friend in need again, we ask if they would like a haircut. If so we either take them or make a time to do so for the next day.

5) We ask again what they are needing, wanting to work on, like maybe ID’s, SS card, food stamps etc and determine if we can help them with that and make a time to do so.

6) If they are hungry on this visit we might take them and sit and have a meal somewhere with them. McDonalds, Subway or whatever they feel they could eat or like to eat within reason.

7) From here we see if they are still serious about getting off the streets. If they are this is when we start our more intense one on one daily contact with the friend in need, and when we say daily we mean in the morning, afternoon, evening and middle of the night contact like midnight or 2am if needed and we do not let up until we have gained what we are after for them, which is……

Permanent Results—Self Reliant-UP&OUT of the Chronic Assistance Cycle , including free of us at Straight Ahead Outreach.

Our New Newsletter

2010-04-06T13:29:00.002-04:00

Please Click on the link below to view our New Newsletter.

ENJOY!

http://homelesscrisis.wordpress.com/newsletter/

So, YOU Want To Help The Homeless?

2010-04-06T11:09:00.001-04:00

To See More Videos from @HOMELESSCRISIS please go to My YOUTUBE Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/StraightAheadlwg

Helping Us Help Those In Need - Our "Friends In Need"

2010-04-03T19:46:00.002-04:00

Our, Straight Ahead Outreach's Increasing World

2010-03-29T17:32:00.014-04:00

Yes, at Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. we are seeing our World Increase. What i mean by that is our reach is expanding through the use of Twitter and Facebook. Our Friends In need are surfacing more and more and we know we have the capabilities mentally and phsically to help them, it is the funds we do not have which makes it frustrating and difficult in our efforts to Increase our World and the assistance we so want to expand into and provide.

With this in mind, we are needing to fund at the very least, the following trips to help our Friends In Need.

1) PRIORITY -Greensboro, NC from Tampa Bay Florida - $800.00 to escort a Friend In Need to Greensboro, NC to allow him to be interviewed for possible acceptance into another orgs program (Delancey Street Foundation) which could be both life altering and life saving for this chronically homeless individual. This individuals homelessness and being a Friend In Need has spanned from PA to TN to MD and finally to FL. It is time to help us help him end his struggle.

2) Knoxville, TN - St. Petersburg, Florida and back - Multiple Ongoing trips: Each Trip approx $1250.00 each: These funds account for fuel, food, motels, and possible repairs needed. As often as is possible we make one week trips between Knoxville Tn and St. Petersburg Florida in our efforts to improve our "Friends In Need" lives. This trip is done by driving our mobile Crisis Van back and forth. Sometimes it involves air fare.

3) San Francisco: $3220.00 for 3 Staff: 4 day Trip to San Francisco in September of 2010 to the Delancey Street Foundation Headquarters to take classes in order to better our staff's knowledge and efficiency. This amount covers $300 each for the two day classes, $300 for Hotel, $420 for food for 3 staff for the four days of travel and classes, $1400.00 airfare for 3 and $200 for emergency incidentals.

4) This situation has been rectified-- this trip no longer needed at this time. Indianapolis - $1500-$2000: To help a family "Prevent" a difficult family member from becoming homeless. Will be there most likely at least one week. These funds will be for round trip Air fare, Motel like (Super 8, Laquinta etc), car/truck rental, food, fuel and other unexpected incedentals as needed.

Please DONATE TODAY to help fund one of these trips. Currently trip #1 is main Priority.

Thank you!

Lance Greene / HomeLessCrisis

Don't YOU Wonder?

2010-03-29T13:41:00.002-04:00

Don't you ever wonder what it takes to help our "Friends In Need?" Friends In Need can be homeless or anyone that is down and out. In order to do the work we do it takes a great deal of money. I hate having to even talk about the money part. It is the part of my job a like the least. When we are helping our Friends In Need in the streets or where ever they may be we have to:
1) Have gas in the Mobile Crisis Van
2) Have oil in the Van.
3) Make sure van is operating safely and in proper repair.
4) Insurance on the Mobile Crisis Van.
5) Cells phones in good operation.
6) Internet access and printing capabilities.
7) Food or cash on hand in case we need to provide a meal on the street or at someones home.
8) Cash on hand to take a Friend In need for a Shower at one of the Pilot Travel Centers in Knoxville or to a truck stop near where ever we may be 24 hours a day 7 days per week.
9) Cash on hand to take a Friend in need for a much needed haircut.
10) Cash on hand in case we need to go to a laundry near by to do our Friends In Need laundry in case we are to far from oour home, one quick load.

11) THENNNNNN, once we get our Friends In Need moving forward we need to find for instance, Housing maybe. We have given them a reason to fight after weeks and months of intense one on one in the streets and now they are ready to get housing. How do we do that??? How do we now BACK UP what we got our Friends In Need to agree to?? IT TAKES MONEY. Lots of it. And i am not even counting yet wages for our staff. THAT is the last thing i will ever include. Yes, just like if You or I were to go rent an apartment anywhere. It takes the exact same stuff. Deposit, rent, utilities, phone, cable, furnishings, linens, groceries and on and on. Just because they are Friends In Need does not mean they have different needs, desires, expectations etc. They are like You and Me. They were yours and mine neighbors at one time! They were our family members at one time! We are all one actually when you think about it. Can we help everyone? No, not our org alone. It takes many. We do not just provide food en mass to a group out on the streets for instance. We are very specific as to how we do what we do in getting our "friends In Need" out of the Chronic Assistance Cycle. we help them one by one, so all your donations go specifically, literally to help a specific "friend In Need" and to all the operational needs in order to help that individual.

Are you beginning to get the picture? Funds are needed to help our Friends In Need. We do not help JUST the homeless, we help the "Formerly Homeless" also in order to prevent them from becoming homeless again so they can get a firm grip on life and their feet grounded. In addition, if we hear of someone who is living in a home and is just plain in need, we will also do what we can to help them. Like recently, we were able to provide repairs to a "friend In Needs" washing machine so she could do her laundry like normal rather then use her plunger in the washer to clean her clothes.

The staff of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. has only taken a wage of $50.00 so far this year of 2010 and that is for 3 people. Yes, i will be honest i would like to be able for us to make a wage so we may do our work full-time and not have to worry about where we will get gas money to put in our Mobile Crisis Van or to help someone to go get groceries. One thing about our org is i will guarantee you our wages will NEVER be excessive. I have detailed that in a previous post along with the dollar amounts.

Ok, so are you wondering NOW?

Please Donate to our work TODAY!

Thank you very much for reading my rant :-))!

Lance Greene/ HomeLessCrisis

Having One of Those Days Today,,,,,,

2010-03-29T12:59:00.001-04:00

Today i am having one of those days, weeks actually where my Mind is just plain tired, heart & Soul as usual, are not. Our body, heart & Soul, know way more then we understand or give them credit for. They push us beyond our percepted capabilities. At times, it is difficult to let your mind catch up with your Soul. My Soul leads me, directs me, teaches me, pushes me to do more and more. It can sometimes get wayyyy ahead of my mind. It helps me to help others round the clock if needed on an endless basis. It is days like this though that i feel i just will not or am not doing enough to help others. Our Soul is where God is, Jesus is, whoever U call your Higher Power is. Today i am Waiting for Him to let my Mind catch up with my Soul. He always takes care of me this way and re-energizes me and my mind. I have to keep myself open to Him, keep working my mind and He will always take care of me this way, some days i just need it more then others. Today is one of those days. :-))!

Hmmm,,

2010-03-29T12:49:00.000-04:00

For the last 25 years In the work i do helping others i have always done it with and due to a sense of urgency within my Soul, Deep within my Soul. Always, the work has been for the most part very localized except for one time i had helped prevent a Suicide in Seattle via telephone back in 1996. However, due to Twitter and Facebook, i am finding that this is increasing many fold soooooo, Thus this is why i see my world increasing and the need to increase my world.

World Increased

2010-03-29T12:44:00.001-04:00

"I am finding i Must Increase my World, Because my World is Increasing"

Lance Greene/HomeLessCrisis on Twitter -----Just a little bit of pressure! :-))!

Helping in Indianapolis Area

2010-03-19T11:44:00.005-04:00

Been helping a lady in Indianapolis area via TWITTER prevent her sister from becoming homeless for the last few weeks. Next week will be the decider as the family farm has been sold and the sis is being evicted March 24th by the Sherriff as she refuses to leave. Heart breaking story.

We would love to go there to help them with this sister as she is alot like our DONNA shown on our website at: www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com.

If you would like to donate to help fund our trip to Indianapolis please DONATE TODAY! Need $1500.00- $2000 (as i do not know how long i need to be there) for flight, car, motel by Tuesday March 23rd please!

Thank You!

TODAY, Me, HomeLessCrisis is a "Friend In Need"

2010-02-28T06:25:00.005-05:00

Today, 2/28/2010 is NOT a good day. Today, My 55 year old Sister lays in a hospital in Minnesota on a ventilator and a bypass machine to keep her heart beating. This morning sometime, they will be removing those machines to see if they can get her heart to beat on its own. Yes, she has had heart trouble for a long time, but this recent episode was sudden and unexpected to all of us.

So, i wait for the call. Will she come out of it? Or will it be the call nobody likes to get?

Yes, it will be whatever God's will is. I realize this.

However, Today as i write this is am angry at a number of things. Mostly my inability, due to lack of money to go be at her side to let her know I am there.

I have done this work of helping others for the last 24 years and never taken or requested any wages for doing so. To this day we try to raise money to help others. Thursday we paid $635 worth of donated money to help someone pay their past due rent bill in order to help them move towards getting better assistance for their current housing and we will be paying more soon. Nothing ever goes to us as a "wage" to cover what we need. We have needs also. We are people too. The money currently in our Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. bank account is funds donated for "specific" reasons and it is money we cannot touch for ourselves, ethically or morally as we have given our word as to what those funds will be used for. Not for our personal needs.

For 22 of the last 24 years of doing this work we have funded everything we do out of our own pockets. For the last two years 90% of what we do has been funded by donors, two in particular. Today, personally i do not have a dime in the bank any longer as i have not had a regular job now in over one year. But yet, again, i continue to help others. Yes, it is my calling.

However, i am still a person. One with feelings. Should i have saved better in my life for myself instead of giving everything i had to others? Maybe. But then i would have not made the differences i have made in others.

So, i sit here Today beating myself up, ok, i guess feeling sorry for myself maybe and very very mad at myself for not having the money in the bank (that is mine that is) to jump on a plane , rent a car and stay in a motel to go be by my sisters side.

Is it my fault? Yes. Of course it is. BUT, again, i am human. It makes me frustrated and hurts to the very core of my soul.

Will i get through it? Yes. Unscathed? No.

So, TODAY, Me, HomeLessCrisis is a "Friend In Need."

So, here is what i am going to do. If you want to help, you may click on the Donate button here on the Blog page. Please leave a note when you submit your donation and say "For STA Wages" and we will send you a receipt showing that. If for some reason PayPal does not give you the window to leave a note, then please email me and let me know at: straightaheadlwg@gmail.com
If, she does not pull through before i am able to get there, then we will return your donated funds to you unless you specifically tell us to keep them.

Thank you for taking the time to come here today.

Take care of yourselves,

HomeLessCrisis/Lance Greene
Website: www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com
Cell: 865-964-1461

DID YOU KNOW??

2010-02-24T08:49:00.014-05:00

Did you know that our homeless assistance program is supported entirely by charitable donations?
Straight Ahead Outreach does not receive any funding from government, or other charities.

We are solely dependent on the donations our caring supporters provide.

So, please give generously towards the efforts of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc., in our efforts to assist, educate and turn around the lives of our "Friends In Need" and the homeless of Knoxville, TN.

***2/23/2010- Also DID YOU KNOW? Currently, and for the last 24 years of helping homeless and people with suicidal tendancies, none of us at Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. has never and does not currently take wages from any donations or funds received. ZERO wages. One day we hope to, but at this current time we do not.

Our March 2010 application for our 501c3 nonprofit determination states the following in regards to Current and Future wages:
CURRENT
1) Lance Greene – Founder/CEO/Sr. Case Mgr. – One Market Sq. Knoxville, TN. 37902
Wages: (Past/Present/Planned) = Zero Wages
**Please see separate attached packet of “Speculative/Proposed” wages we will seek once grants/donations are secured to allow.

2) Patricia Mishler – Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer - One Market Sq. Knoxville, TN. 37902
Wages: (Past/Present/Planned) = Zero Wages
**Please see separate attached packet of “Speculative/Proposed” wages we will seek once grants/donations are secured to allow.

3) Mr. Hossein Ghodrat – Advisory Group Member (Culinary Advisor) – Uncompensated Volunteer - One Market Sq. Knoxville, TN. 37902
Wages: (Past/Present/Planned) Wages = Zero Wages

4) Ms. Mary Hawk - Advisory Group Member (Resources/Social Services Advisor/Volunteer Case Manager) – Uncompensated Volunteer - One Market Sq. Knoxville, TN. 37902
Wages: (Past/Present/Planned) Wages – Zero Wages
**Please see separate attached packet of “Speculative/Proposed” wages we will seek once grants/donations are secured to allow.

"Proposed" or "Future" Compensation: Please keep in mind, we are a 24/7 operation, and only 3 of the 4 people listed below do all the work involved in this 24/7 operation, so you will see the "Proposed" or desired future wages are extremely reasonable. If you should have any questions, please feel free to call me. Lance Greene - Cell: 865-964-1461
Officers & Directors
1) Lance Greene – Founder/CEO/Sr. Case Manager
Past- 1985 - Present – Zero Wages
Proposed Wages - $39,400.00/yr includes (Health Ins, deferred retirement, Use of vehicle,). Wages will only be paid once we are able to raise tax deductible donations enabling us to provide first for those we assist. All wages including mine will be kept at a reasonable level and with a cap. Mine for example is not to exceed $60,000.00 and will only reach that level once if ever we reach a $5 million budget. Forms will be signed by myself and all other future compensated employees of STA stating their wages and wage caps. Wages for this position are to never exceed $85,000.00/year at any point in time no matter the budget level and may reach this level of $85,000.00/yr only once the $5 million budget is attained and the performance and or combined needs warrant the raise. This, is for all services provided to STA in this position.

2) Patricia Mishler – Vice President/Assistant Director:
Past –Present – Zero wages
Proposed Wages- $39,400.00/yr - includes (Health Ins, deferred retirement, Use of vehicle,). Wages will only be paid once we are able to raise tax deductible donations enabling us to provide first for those we assist. All wages including Patricia Mishlers will be kept at a reasonable level and with a cap. For example V.P Patricia Mishler is not to exceed $60,000.00 and will only reach that level once, if ever we reach a $5 million budget. Forms will be signed by myself and all other paid employees of STA stating their wages and wage caps. Wages for this position are to never exceed $85,000.00/year at any point in time no matter the budget level and may reach this level of $85,000.00 only once the $5 million budget is attained and the performance and or combined needs warrant the raise. This, is for all services provided to STA in this position.

3) Mr. Hossein Ghodrat – Advisory Group Member (Culinary Advisor):
Joined STA 1/15/2010 – Zero Wages - Uncompensated
(Past=Zero Wages/Present=Zero Wages/Planned= Zero Wages)

4) Ms. Mary Hawk – Planned Advisory Group Member (Resources/Social Services Advisor/Volunteer Case Manager)
Joined STA 1/15/2010 - Wages – Uncompensated – (Past/Present) – See below for Proposed wages as we will hire Ms. Mary Hawk as an STA employee as growth permits.
Proposed Wages - Full-time Case Manager I & Advisory Group Member – ie: Ms. Mary Hawk.
This will be a newly added position once funds warrant as we need this position filled as soon as is possible.
$39,400.00/yr (Includes Health ins., deferred retirement, use of company vehicle on as needed basis)
Wage cap for this position will be $45,000.00/yr.
This is for all services provided to STA in this position.

Proposed Part-time Case Manager II - Proposed Wages:
This will be a newly added position once funds & growth warrant.
$28,500.00/yr – (includes Health Ins.) – No retirement contribution planned at this time, but may change and no use of company vehicle planned at this time but, also may change.
Wage Cap is the $28,500/yr- Cap may include Health insurance to be determined. This is for all services provided to STA in this position.

Will YOU Give even $1.00 to Help DONNA??

2010-02-17T12:29:00.007-05:00

***URGENT*** We are in desperate need to help Donna raise a minimum of $1070.06 to pay a past rent bill in order for Donna to keep her current housing in Oak Ridge, TN., and to prevent her from becoming homeless again. Your donated monies may go directly to the source which is KCDC of Knoxville. They will even take your payment right over the phone. We want to raise more then the $1070.06 for Donna so we may increase her quality of life. Please call me for details on how to help Donna and KCDC payment info. Your Donations are Tax Deductible.
Call me anytime, 24/7 on my cell: 865-964-1461

If we are able to pay off DONNA's past debt of $1070.06 then OAK RIDGE HOUSING AUTHORITY will be able to assist Donna properly, but cannot until KCDC is paid off

100% of every dollar YOU give this week will go directly to and 100% to DONNA's back rent at KCDC (Knoxville Community Development Corporation) Knoxville's Housing Authority. KCDC's contact information is 865-403-1201 (Linda T.). Your donations may also go directly to them in DONNA's name. Please call me for details.

You may read more about DONNA at our website: http://www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com/

Thank you, Lance Greene/Founder - Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
CELL: 865-964-1461

What Will "Just" $1.00 Do???

2010-02-16T11:37:00.004-05:00

What will "Just" $1.00 do ??? For example it will provide 5 bottles of water to our "Friends In Need."
YOUR $1.00 combined with everyone elses will help our "Friends In Need" along the path to what we call "Taking Back Your Life."
Any amount will help. You may give less and you may give more then $1.00, that is up to you. Anything you give will go towards providing a positive future and making a difference in the life of one of our "Friends in Need." It will go towards enabling them to "Take Back Their Life." Will you help us?

We Thank You in advance :-))!

Lance Greene / Founder
Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
Website: http://www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com/
Cell: 865-964-1461
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me anytime, 24 Hours per Day / 7 Days a week.
**All funds raised will go to our "Friends In Need" and to reasonable operating expenses.

Will YOU Invest in a Homeless Persons Future?

2009-11-17T23:13:00.005-05:00

11/17/09

Will YOU Invest in Helping the Homeless off the streets, and becoming self reliant instead of allowing them to stay stuck in the typical cyclical, chronic reliance on HAO’s (Homeless Assistance Orgs)?

Yes, I said Invest. The reality is even when you donate to a “Charitable Group” you are investing in them and what they do.

The idea we are proposing is an effort to raise funds to support our valuable community work. It is very basically a form of investing. Where one can "invest" in a Charitable Group like Straight Ahead Outreach and have a portion returned to them over a period of time or one can "gift" their investment. How this works is a person, group, or business invests in our organization with the knowledge they can elect to have 25-100% of their investment returned to them, or simply gift (donate) their investment.

As Straight Ahead Outreach receives investments and or gifts/donations we will use each one of those to repay the previous investments if an investor has requested a portion to be returned. However, the investor needs to be aware there is always a risk that their investment could be lost completely if for instance the charitable group, such as ours is not able to raise enough additional investments or donations to make the return.

While we are not a 501c3, we are a valuable, credible Charitable Group operating as a not for profit homeless assistance group supplying all our services for free. Our choice is to concentrate on the Homeless population we strive to assist, not on red tape or cumbersome processes. We will comply with all normal business rules within the IRS and will voluntarily meet with them at any time to provide information regarding our charitable activities and monetary flow.

When you invest in a 501c3 I understand you receive some tax benefits, and for many this is an attraction. Our assistance group is for investors or the everyday donor who wants to invest in something they believe in with the knowledge they can “gift” their investment, lose their investment, or select to have a percentage of the investment returned - but not make a profit or any other benefit other then the satisfaction of “Doing Good.” Sort of a Pay it Forward if you will.

Example of the Investment Scenario:
In this example we will say, Charitable Group #1 has a monthly operating cost of $4000.00 and receives the following:
Investor #1: Invests $1000.00 - Investor is asking for 25% of his/her investment back or $250.00
Investor #2: Invests $1000.00 - Investor "Gifts" entire investment - Investor does not want any returned. $1000.00 "Gifted"
Investor #3: Invests $500.00 - Investor requests 100% of investment returned over time.
Investor #4: Invests $5000.00 - Investor requests 100% of investment returned over time.

Recap:
Investor #1: $1000.00 - 25% or $250 return requested over time.
Investor #2: $1000.00 – 100% "Gifted" No return desired.
Investor #3: $500.00 - 100% return requested over time.
Investor #4: $5000.00 - 100% return requested over time

Total Investments Received = $7500.00
Total Investments "Gifted" = <$1000.00>
Total Investments to return = $6500.00 Over Time
Monthly Operating Expenses for Charitable Group #1 = <$4000.00>

Charitable Group #1 has Monthly Operating Costs of $4000.00 - The Charitable group in this example needs to maintain a running balance of 3 months worth of operating expenses or in this case $12,000.00. So, they need to raise $12,000.00 before they can begin to return any requested investments. Why only 3 months? We understand this is a short time, but it will keep the group on their toes with fund raising. Yes, it will be more difficult, but without this system they would have nothing. Without you caring Investors, they would have nothing. Once that 3 months nest egg is reached they will then and only then, begin to repay the Investor his/her requested return. As the new investments/gifts come in Charitable Group #1 will then disburse return payments in the original order received beginning with Investor #1 and so on in the below manner.
Over the last 6 months Charitable Group #1 has raised the needed 3 Month Operating Expenses (Nest Egg) of: $12,000.00
They then receive a New Investment of: $2500.00, so they are $2500.00 in excess. Now they can begin the Investment repayments.

Investment repayment:
Charitable Group #1 now begins to return the Investors funds in the following order:
Investor #1: $250.00 – Investment Re-Paid in Full !
Investor #2: $0.00 - Investor "gifted" their investment. No return necessary.
Investor #3: $1000.00 – Investment Re-Paid in Full !
Investor #4: $1250.00 - Balance of $3750.00
Any new investment or monetary gift will be sent to Investor #4 until balance is Paid in Full! Once the balance is paid in full, the process then repeats itself.

Everyone’s money helping to “Do Good” in a global circle. Cool? I think so! Enjoy :-))!

**Over Time definition: Investors who are requesting a percentage of or all of their investment returned must keep in mind that their return may not begin to take place for up to and including 6-12 months. This is why we have explained this is for people who truly want to "help" a Charitable Group or Organization help others in desperate need although that group or organization is not a 501c3 IRS certified non-profit. To help unconditionally - Not for Profit. Not for the tax benefits, but for the beneficiary. In this case the Homeless Population.

Over the past 24 years of assisting the homeless, suicidal and their families, I have come to the conclusion from what I have seen and experienced that the 501c3 process actually clouds and is a deterrent to accomplishing the valuable work to be done in the community. This is why we refrain from becoming a 501c3. We believe it interferes with achieving the end result which in our case is - helping the homeless person off the street permanently and from chronic reliance on HAOs, even us Straight Ahead Outreach – Taking Back Your Life. That is where the Taking Back Your Life part comes in. We want them to have their own lives back. We want them to succeed. Permanently!

***Although we are not a 501c3, we will be in continual voluntary contact with the IRS in an effort to prove and show our charitable activities with the intention of proving our Investors and Donors true intentions of “Doing Good”. Our goal will be to ask the IRS to allow Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life Investors and Donors a tax deduction for those who elect to do so.

If you have any questions or concerns please email or call me anytime.
Thank you,
Lance Greene / Founder
EMAIL: straightaheadlwg@gmail.com
CELL: 865-964-1461

Please DONATE OR INVEST TODAY!

Food Stamps program(SNAP) and the Homeless

2009-11-16T09:15:00.012-05:00

Hi All. What I hope to accomplish here is to get the USDA's attention in regard to the Food Stamp program(SNAP) and what they allow or emit from eligible purchases.

The USDA's Food Stamp program or as it is called SNAP, issues food stamp benefits to an extremely large population of homeless all across our country. The USDA knows they are homeless. I would like to make some suggestions to them as far as ineligible food items and request they please make them eligible and will state my reasons why.

Examples of food items you may purchase as copied from the USDA website, http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/Retailers/ELIGIBLE.HTM are:

Foods for the household to eat, such as:
breads and cereals;
fruits and vegetables;
meats, fish and poultry; and
dairy products.
Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals. The State of Tennessee does not allow this at this time per the USDA.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
Any nonfood items, such as:
pet foods;
soaps, paper products; and
household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.
Food that will be eaten in the store.
Hot foods.

Above in RED are the items I am very concerned about and would like to see addressed and considered to be eligible on SNAP. While you may purchase a cake from the bakery for example, you cannot purchase a hot food item.

In reference to the homeless: Homeless do not typically have anywhere to properly, prep, prepare or store perishable food items. Health wise this is a danger as they are unable to properly clean food items, store at a proper cold temperature or heat them to proper temperatures among numerous other dangers such as protection from parasites in preparation and storage of their food. This should actually be a no-brainer. Homeless, just like anyone else, need a nutritious, filling meal to carry them through their days and nights. Yesterday, 11/15/09, I went to the grocery store to get my groceries with my Food Stamp(SNAP) benefits. Yep, for the first time in my life due to this economy I get Food Stamps for the last 6 months. I am 50. I selected my groceries which included a prepared Hot Rotisserie Whole Chicken for $7.39. On a previous trip, I picked up a chocolate cake from the bakery for $8.99 among other additional grocery items. I was not allowed to purchase the Chicken, but was allowed to purchase the chocolate cake. In my activities helping the homeless for the past 24 years I have purchased(not with food stamps) many of the Rotisserie Chickens, prepared hoagies/sandwiches and salads for the homeless and found them to be excellent, easy forms of nutritious meals for them. The chickens alone I have seen feed up to 4 people. That's incredible to feed 4 people for anywheres from $5.99 - $7.39.

So, simply, I would like to see the Hot Food items from the deli areas etc on the eligible list. Things like the following:
ALL Hot Food Items such as and including Hot Rotisserie Chicken

Benefits:
1) This is "Prevention". What it will do is help to prevent the homeless from getting unnecessarily ill from poorly, improperly stored and prepared foods.
2) Another benefit of this then is some level of relief on the emergency personnel and medical facilities for these types of illnesses from the homeless population.
3) One less reason the people who receive the SNAP benefits will have to sell their benefits for cash in order to get easily accessible meals.

It is just common sense. The Homeless problem is obvious. Access to a good meal especially at night is not feasible. Not all homeless want to eat at a shelter. In fact this has nothing to do with the shelters. The SNAP benefits are so people can go obtain their food on their own, by themselves, take it home and prepare it and comfortably consume it. Well, the homeless do not have a home to do that.

So, please. Lets make it easier for them to feed themselves.

I am not saying it is a perfect fix, but it can alleviate some of the panhandling one feels the need to do in order to get a hot meal when on the street. No, it will not be an end all save all. And not all homeless want to panhandle. But many times they feel they have no choice.

If we authorise the Hot Foods, or anything prepared by the delis it will honestly make a huge difference to the Homeless population. After all, it is all food.

IN CLOSING: I would like to mention we are aware of the extensive work the USDA has done to try and provide these SNAP benefits to the general population and for the most part except for what I have detailed here I feel they have done an awesome job and service and Thank the USDA for their efforts.

***UPDATE: Since I wrote this post, I emailed the USDA. I have been contacted by the USDA twice in response to my emails. Also, I have updated this blog just a little to reflect their communication. Cold sandwishes and salads can be purchased on Food Stamps/SNAP and if stores are not allowing it they are in error. They provided valuable information for me to use in our efforts to assist the Homeless. I want to say, the USDA seems to be very much on the ball in their responses. They were extremely quick and professional. Our sincerest gratitiude goes out to them for their efficient communication with us.

If you agree with me please write to the below contact information at the USDA as I also will be.

Lets make a difference.

Thank you!
Lance Greene / @HOMELESSCRISIS
Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life / Founder
Knoxville TN.
Cell: 865-964-1461

In order to expedite future requests for determination, please submit by mail or email a complete and legible product label or a sample of the item(s) to:

Chief
Retailer Management and Issuance Branch
Benefit Redemption Division
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 404
Alexandria, VA 22302
BRDHQ-WEB@fns.usda.gov

Examples of How You Can Make A Difference

2009-11-13T09:42:00.031-05:00

$1000.00 - Will supply STA with a Scooter for our qualified Homeless Friends to use to go to jobs and job interviews only.

$600.00 - Will help cover Wages for two for one week.

$200.00 - Will provide Emergency motel stays for one week to a Homeless Friend when we feel they are in danger health wise or physically and need an emergency break from the streets until we can obtain housing for them.

$140.00 - Will supply a Homeless Friend with an "Interview Package" - We interview them as to their needs and history and provide them with an Interview Package which consists of: 1 backpack, a meal with us, 1-flashlight, 1-raincoat, 1-pkg 10 pair of socks, toiletries, nutritious snack for later, $10 worth of canned goods, 1-sleeping bag. Needed personal items for women as needed, rolling tobacco as needed. (Contrary to some peoples ideals, smoking supplies are a necessity when you are on the street for some of our homeless friends.)

$80.00 - Fuel for our current Mobile Crisis Unit van for one week.

$75.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a Bicycle to get around town, to jobs and job interviews

$50.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a Tent

$50.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with misc. Clothing like jeans, shirts undergarments etc.

$50.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend one Full Meal per day for a week.

$40.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a Bus Pass for one month.

$35.00 - Will provide a Nutritious snack for later in the evening, one per day for a week.

$30.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend a Tobacco Roll ups kit - one per month.

$30.00 - Will Provide a Homeless Friend with 300 minutes of Cell Phone time.

$25.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend a Cell Phone which is quite honestly a "Lifeline" to keep in communication with us at STA, jobs or potential job interviews and more.

$25.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a Sleeping Bag.

$20.00 - Will provide specific Womans Toiletries needs.

$20.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a pair of Shoes from Walmart.

$15.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend One package of Undergarments.

$15.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a Blanket.

$12.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend a pair of Jeans from Walmart.

$10.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with a package of 10 pair of Socks.

$10.00 - Will provide a Homeles Friend a Shower at Pilot Travel Centers.

$10.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend a Haircut.

$10.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with Canned goods for one week.

$10.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with 2 loads of Laundry Services.

$7.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with one Meal.

$5.00 - Will provide a Homeless Friend with one Snack for later in the evening.

As you will see we provide a great deal of services and even more then is listed. Yes, we provide each and every one. Just the two of us,,myself and Pat.

***Please keep in mind. While there are times when we do give some of the above supplies to a Homeless person as a handout, we do so only on a limited basis. If we are able to help them, that is when they get our full services. We at STA do not believe that just giving a handout and walking away helps someone get off the street. However, there are times when it is best to do just that and we must make a judgement call.

Please do not ever forget,,,You or I could be homeless at any moment,,no matter what our wealth is,,,,how would YOU want to be treated?

How Will Your Donation Gifts be Used?

2009-11-13T08:18:00.005-05:00

Not For Profit - Non-Non-Profit

2009-11-01T18:00:00.005-05:00

The First, NOT for Profit – NON-Non-Profit

We are in need of those of you who want to use your means to give unconditionally. Far too many give in order to elevate their position, to increase sales, or ‘for a return on investment’ Giving should be about the beneficiary.

In this case the beneficiaries are the Homeless.

No, at this time we are not 501(c)3 however, as of 3/16/09 we filed the 501c paperwork with our attorney, but for some reason our attorney decided to drop the ball and so now it has put us off track. Personally I believe it happened for a reason and so I am not pursuing it any further at this time. However, everything we provide to those we help is 100% Free of Charge, done in a charitable manner.

Straight Ahead Outreach's activities are based out of Knoxville, TN and has been designed for individuals and/or companies who want to invest in something you believe in with the understanding that you will not make a profit or achieve a monetary gain from your investment, but rather you will have the assurance and proof that you are helping someone “Take Back Their Life.” You will be supporting an organization performing the vital work you believe in although the business is not a 501c 3 Non Profit although everything we do is Charitable and our products, supplies and services are free to those we help.

Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life, will be designed to not make a profit through its charitable services assisting Homeless Communities and operating similar to a non-profit. Sort of a “Pay it Forward” if you will. "Gifts” will be accepted. Taxes and tax documents will be filed as normal. Write-offs, deductibility as normal business will allow. We will also conduct “self audits” and converse with the IRS to determine additional deductibility for businesses to make it more cost effective and appealing to you, the potential Gifter.

You know what we do already. If you do not, please take a look at our website: http://homelesscrisis.cfsites.org/

If you have any questions or concerns, you may call me anytime on my Cell anytime: 865-964-1461

Thank you and I hope you have a pleasant day!

Lance Greene - @Homelesscrisis / Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life
My hopes for you today: That you take time to laugh. That business or work has been good for you today. That someone has made your day enjoyable.

Continuing the work of Doing Good

2009-11-01T17:39:00.006-05:00

Just a short note to ask you a favor. Please go to our website http://www.homelesscrisis.cfsites.org/ read a little about what we do and what our goals are. If you like what we do and are trying to accomplish, please if you are able make a contribution to our work by clicking on the "Donate" button here on this blog site.

Please be aware, we are not a 501c3 non-profit. However, 100% of the products and services we provide to those we help are done on a charitable basis Free of Charge. If needed, we would be glad to provide you with any documentation or speak to the IRS to show your donation was truly for charitable work.

If you have any questions or concerns you may call me on my Cell anytime: 865-964-1461

Thank you!! Lance Greene - @Homelesscrisis/Straight Ahead Outreach Founder

Will YOU Pray for him to beg for Forgiveness?

2009-10-22T10:30:00.013-04:00

Satan: So what comes to your mind when you hear the word....SATAN??
Devil? God of this System of things? Horrible? Dreadful? Murderer? Deceiver? Darkness? Selfish? Disrespector of the Creator? (is disrespector even a word?? LOL) One who disguises himself as an Angel of Light (again deceiver), we could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Bottom line we have been taught to Hate him. Who is he? Where did he come from? Many of you know, however I am confident and have personal proof there are many who do not know or even believe he is real. Well, the answers, if you know Jesus, or if you really know your Creator, who ever that may be to you, you will know the answers.

Our Creator, created the perfect, yes perfect being who became Satan. He became Satan, he was not created as Satan. Just as a child is born and becomes a murderer or the like. A parent does not set out to give birth to a murderer and our Creator did not set out to create Satan. You can see it in the Bible but it just makes good common sense also.

If you believe in the Bible, it can teach you a great deal about many things including Satan. I will be very honest here. I use the Bible. I have read it, studied it and given speeches from it. However, I do not use it everyday or in everything. I believe Jesus, or who ever is your equivalent to Jesus is saying,,,,,COME ON PEOPLE,,,,Know ME,,,don't just believe everything you read! GET TO KNOW ME! SPEND TIME WITH ME! And yes, he is a tad irritated and offended that we don't,,thus the bold caps,,,:-))! I can tell you more about his personality if you like, but I am sure he will show you if you spend time talking with him.

When we get to know Him,,,we we also get to know His and our Creator. Let me ask you this. Do you need a book to get to know or to be a friend to your best friend? Noooo, you spend time with them, you talk to them. Many times you talk to them for hours on end.
So, get to know your Jesus, and your Creator...whoever that is, is the same Creator who created every single thing and every single body, soul and mind. Spend hours on end with them. You will be glad you did. You will get the answers you are looking for. Ok, no not all of them, but many of them and you will be surprised.

Ok, so where am I going with all this? Well, alot of what I just said comes from what I learned in my studying of religion. I have been a non-believer(in my younger days), then became a believer, counselor, a speaker, a minister of his word. A very nice progression I must say. Like many, we have learned what to believe from the Bible, the Koran, or the Torah, etc etc. Why not take time, take time to get to know who they are writing about? Not just take the words in those books for granted. After all, they are written by Man. Although supposedly inspired by the entities, they are still written by Man. How? Talk to your Jesus, or your Creator or both,,,all the time,,talk to them many times through the day, just like you would your best friend. TRUST me, you will get to know them better then any Bible, Koran or Torah can teach you.

Ok, BACK to Satan. We are taught by religions to Hate Satan,,,,,,,,,,via the Bible and teachings in the Church. Am I wrong? No. I am not. We are taught to Hate Satan. We are taught to keep him at bay and we as believers are given the spiritual tools to do so. To keep Satan in the doghouse in a matter of speaking.

If I said to you,,,YOU the Mothers of this world. If I said to you, your son or daughter is Horrible, they are deceitful, they are a murderer, they are darkness, they are a liar, they are a Devil!!! You would be horrified. Especially if you loved them completely because you gave birth to them, you carried them for nine months in your womb. What if everyone hated your Child? What if we as a socity taught people to hate your Child? WOW,,,,just think of that for a minute. I have. I have thought long and hard about it.

Yet, many of us have exactly these types in our families: murderers, liars, deceivers, horrible dark people who enjoy harming others. However, we will pray for that family member, friend or stranger to repent and turn around, to turn to Jesus, Jehovah, Yahweh, Buddha or some other known entity, whom ever is yours. We pray and ask them to forgive those we care about and love. To end their horribleness, to repair our families,,,,to repair our families. RIGHT??? Do you do that? Have you ever prayed for that??

So, I started to think. I know how sensitive Jesus is. I know His tenderness. I thought,,,mannn,,,what a bummer it must be to know so many people hate His brother. Thats right,,,His Brother. Then I thought and felt a great ache in my heart and deep in my Soul for our Creator. Because I also know the personality of our Creator and his sense of Love and HIS needs. HE needs us to follow HIM and to NEED HIM. HOW HORRIBLE, that we have to be taught to hate one of HIS sons, one of HIS Children,,,one of HIS creations. One of HIS FAMILY.

So, in my conversations with HIM(I call him Jehovah), no I am not a Jehovah's Witness(any longer since 1993) and Jesus it came to me, why can we not pray for Satan,,,,,thats right, I just said,,,Why Can We Not Pray For Satan??? Why, can we not pray for him to be forgiven??? Why can we not pray for our Creators Family to be repaired!!?? Why can we not pray for Satan to want to be forgiven?? Why can we not pray for Satan to be remorseful for what he has done to our Creator and how he has shamed HIM and spit in HIS face? I do not care what any Biblical style book says. There is NO reason why we can't. Can you imagine what would happen if Satan DID ask for forgiveness from our Creator?? WOW,,,,Peace on Earth! That's What!! COME ON!! Isn't that what everyone wants???? What is so wrong with GOD's Family being repaired?? What is so wrong with one of HIS Children being forgiven and vrought back into the Family??

NOTHING!!

So, I dare you today. Talk to your Jesus, and your Creator, today, now, whomever you consider it to be and pray for Satan to ask for forgiveness, to repent, to be remorseful, to be sorry. Lets be done with all this ugliness in our world today. Pray today, talk to them today!! It might not happen overnight or even in a month or a year,,,,but you just never know,,,,,if enough of us pray and ask for our Creators son Satan to beg for forgiveness just like we have to, then it could actually happen in an instant! World Peace in an instant! It's all up to Jehovah or whoever you call your Creator, it's all uip to HIM.

Pray TODAY,,talk to them TODAY!

This can work! I am confident it will work!

So instead of the world ending at some given date like 2012 or whenever people might think,,,,it could actually be perfect wayyyyyyy before that and never need to end!

Lets give it a try! I have been praying for this for about the last month. Join me!

Let's help repair our Creators Family! I sincerely doubt you have heard this concept much before today.

With much excitement in me, I thank you!

Lance Greene :-))!
Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life

One Day My Soul Just Opened Up,,,Poem by Gemmia L. Vanzant

2009-08-01T22:49:00.004-04:00

One day my soul just opened up and things started happenin'
things I can't quite explain
I mean I cried and cried like never before
I cried tears of ten thousand mothers
I couldn't even feel anything because
I cried 'til I was numb.

One day my soul just opened up
I felt this overwhelming pride
what I was proud of only God knows!
Like the pride of a hundred thousand fathers
basking in the glory of their newborn sons
I was grinnin' from ear to ear!

One day my soul just opened up
I started laughing
and I laughed for what seemed like forever
wasn't nothin' particularily funny goin' on
but I laughed anyhow
I laughed the joy of a million children playin' in the mud
I laughed 'til my sides ached
Oh God! It felt so good!

One day my soul just opened up
There were revelations, annihilations, and resolutions
feelings of doubt and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness
memories of things I'd seen and done before
of places I'd been, although I didn't know when
there were lives I'd lived
people I'd loved
battles I'd fought
victories I'd won
and wars I'd lost.

One day my soul just opened up
and out poured all the things
I'd been hiding and denying
and living through
that had just happened moments before.

One day my soul just opened up
and I decided
I was good and ready!
I was good and ready
to surrender
my life
to God.

So, with my soul wide open,
I sat down
wrote Her a note
and told her so.

Gemmia L. Vanzant
From the book "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, by: Iyanla Vanzant

It has been My Calling. My Goal. My Life.

2009-07-29T00:33:00.001-04:00

I am not from Knoxville. But, I have fallen in love with Knoxville and care very deeply about her homeless problem.
I am from Minnesota. That is where I started all this craziness I call Straight Ahead Outreach. In 1985, I started going under the bridges with lunchmeat scraps from all the local convenience stores/delis, some bread, blankets and coffee. It progressed from helping the homeless to helping suicidals and the homeless.
We are at the point right now, where we are unable to go any further in doing the work we do, due to lack of funds. Everything we have done for the homeless has come out of our wages, now we are now tapped out.
In the last 23 years of doing this work we have received $1,820.00, all of it between 2008 and this year 2009 including $1,200.00 from one specific donor. We never sought donations before this, it was all very private work we did. Now with as public as I have made it, obviously it has become a much different story.
In order to continue this work, we need to raise basic funds at the very least. We are needing to take the work to a more advanced level in order to properly assist our homeless “friends.”
We are wondering if you could help us raise the funds needed for this plan.
We want you to know, we are fully committed. We can help people just so far and then we need the money, resources and facilities to back up what we get them to commit to.
Anything you can give will help. Please help with as much as you can without hurting you, your family or business.
We envision eventually, 10 facilities like the one we describe on our website. The more we do this work the more people we attract to help with the work. Also, we know Jesus will bring them to us. He will bring the exact fit we need. We will seek out others and he will help us do so. I know, I know, sounds weird - but really isn’t.
We can help the people. We will do the work.
To make a long story very short, there are a large number of people out there in situations which are dire due to violence, medical or mental issues. In some ways I consider them all to be laying prostrate. It is just some are worse than others.
Straight Ahead Outreach will make it a point to ask each and every individual we interview if they have seen anyone, anywhere in the condition they consider as “laying prostrate.” If we get information on a condition such as this, I personally will go anytime, anywhere and assist local authorities in locating and assisting the individual. This means even after they are hospitalized or what have you, we will assist the local authorities with research of family members, records etc. and/or locating facilities to handle them on a long term basis. We will perform the footwork required to obtain the services and support they may need.

The First, NOT for Profit – NON-Non-Profit
We are in need of those of you who want to use your means to give unconditionally.
Far too many give in order to elevate their position, to increase sales, or ‘for a return on investment’
Giving should be about the beneficiary. In this case the beneficiaries are the Homeless.
We continue to do this work while awaiting our 501c3 status because this work is needed NOW, not a year from now.
Straight Ahead Outreach will be based in Knoxville, TN and has been designed for individuals and/or companies who want to invest in something you believe in with the understanding that you will not make a profit or achieve a monetary gain from your investment, but rather you will have the assurance and proof that you are helping someone “Take Back Their Life.”
You will be supporting an organization performing the vital work you believe in although the business is not a 501c 3 Non Profit although we are working on this currently.
Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life, will be designed to not make a profit through its charitable services assisting Homeless Communities and operating similar to a non-profit . Sort of a “Pay it Forward” if you will.
“Gifts” will be accepted. Taxes and tax documents will be filed as normal. Write-offs, deductibility as normal business will allow. We will also conduct “self audits” and converse with the IRS to determine additional deductibility for businesses to make it more cost effective and appealing to you, the potential Gifter.

What We Are Not,,,,

2009-07-29T00:30:00.005-04:00

We are not primarily an organization that brings food, clothing etc. to a mass of people.
We are not primarily a transportation service.
We are not primarily an organization who provides “things” to anyone we come in contact with.
We are not just a source to locate jobs.
We are not just a source to locate housing.
We are not just a Homeless assistance program.
We are not a 501c3 non-profit. In 24 years of doing this work, we have recieved only $2900.00 in donations and it was all with in the last 2 years. Otherwise, we fund everything from our own employment wages.

Our goal is to change the individuals mindset first so we can get them to a point where they are able to properly understand and assist in the process of locating them housing, jobs, appointments and the like.

We do not currently have a building of which to work out of, so everything is done out of our home and or our van.

We will help anyone who is down and wants to Take Back Their Life. Not just the homeless.

Again, everything we do comes out of our own pockets. Donations to our work are greatly appreciated and needed.

No, at this time we are not 501(c)3 however, as of 3/22/2010 the IRS has signed for and received our application for a 501c3 nonprofit.

Our goal is to be primarily supported by private people & organizations who just simply care and want to help from their hearts.

What We Do,,,,,

2009-07-29T00:21:00.006-04:00

We are a Mobile Crisis/Intervention Unit rooted in a belief in Jesus Christ.

Lance Greene has 23 years experience in Suicide Prevention.

Our objective is to show our homeless friends how to "Take Back Their Life" and lift themselves out of the clutches of the Homeless Assistance World and into the community as a positve contributing force.

We are painfully aware and we want you to be also, that we understand we are unable to help everyone.

Donations to this important work are greatly appreciated and needed.
We are based in the knowledge that nothing we do would take place if not for the direction of Jesus.
We do this through intense listening, coaching, support and direction.
Again, this all comes through Jesus’ direction.

We go to meet THEM.
We do not expect them to get to us – We have found that eventually they are more than willing to find a way to make contact with us and to keep in touch, usually on a daily basis. This is encouraged for as long as necessary, in order for them to keep the momentum of change going.

At our initial meeting, we ask and help uncover what the individual is “searching” for.
We set a date and time to meet with them formally at which time we evaluate the person’s issues and needs, determine if we can be of assistance to them and, establish a plan of action if appropriate. We do not want to set them up to fail or give them false hopes.

If it is determined we can be of assistance to the individual or if we just simply deem it necessary:
We will provide them a meal if needed.
We will clean their clothes if needed.
We will get them a haircut if needed.
We will get them clothes if needed.
We will provide transport if needed.
We will take them for a shower if needed.
We will do their laundry if needed.
We will assist them in obtaining shelter for the evening if needed or desired.
No cash is given initially.

We will go to them at night or weekends.
We will spend time speaking with them about the issues which are depressing them, keeping them “using” and or keeping them homeless.
What ever it takes.

Does the individual “have to” believe in Jesus? No
Does the individual “have to” join a Religious Program? No
Does the individual “have to” know Bible verses in order to get assistance from us? No
Will they be encouraged to know Jesus? Yes
Will we assist them in finding a church if they would like? Yes

The Individual DOES “HAVE TO” be ready.
The Individual DOES “HAVE TO” be willing to change. Big Time!
The Individual DOES “HAVE TO” agree to address the issues, good & bad, which hold them back from experiencing “a meaningful, positive life”.
This process can be “very ugly” at times. Trust me!
Therefore, the person must know, understand and accept that this process is not always “pretty” or “nice”.
They will get frustrated. They will get mad. That is ok. It is all part of the process.

But this process is precisely what makes it work. Our technique concentrates on the “Root Causes” of the situation. We ask the tough questions others might be reluctant to ask or approach.
With Jesus’ guidance we help the individual see and acknowledge the strengths they have (which they have ALWAYS possessed), but temporarily lost due to the various situations and obstacles they’ve encountered, and the decisions they have made. The process encourages the individual to “be aware” of their feelings, attitudes and the impact of those feelings and attitudes in their ‘personal environment’.

Housing is a priority. We strive to move the individual along to that point quickly.
But this move is always done at a pace they can handle.
We search for housing based on individuals’ needs and personal make-up to ensure that it is a ‘fit’.
Sometimes housing choices and timeliness are hindered by financial issues that need to be resolved before the individual is able to move on.

A large number of the homeless population are entitled to and/or are receiving SSI/SSDI benefits, so job placement is addressed based on the person’s need for supplemental income and ability to gain and retain employment. Sadly, a number of these individuals have not graduated high school and are poorly educated, so the options for employment are severely limited. We do encourage those that are able to, obtain their GED and we assist them in acquiring the study materials and providing coaching with this as needed.

My goal and dream is to have a number of facilities throughout the city in Knoxville and someday across the country like the one I will be showing and describing to you in the following pages. I am not looking at having a facility which houses 50 or more people at a time as I believe that loses the family type feel people need. More importantly, it also loses the permanency and quality of the results we are after. Our maximum housing capacity at any facility for housing would be 25 and the minimum 11.

Part of our plan is to build a facility in the St. Petersburg FL area where we will transport individuals who have displayed a specific need to Take Back Their Lives in an environment such as the warmth and comfort of the sun and water.

Just a brief Note,,,,

2009-07-28T23:41:00.002-04:00

We are a Not For Profit, Charitable Homeless Assistance Group, NOT Your Normal Assistance Group by Any Means. We are not a 501c3 group and I do not believe we ever will be as I believe it puts constraints on and stifles the work and assistance we strive to provide.

You will Not see photos here of Homeless people, laying around looking helpless or in squalor in order to exploit them and gain your sympathy. Why? because STA strives to lift them out of the Homeless Assistance World and become reliant on themsleves. Because, this is not who they really are.

The photos you see will be of our Homeless friends, after STA has spent countless hours with them and they are moving Straight Ahead towards Taking Back Their Life. They will be clean, showered, hair cut, etc. This will be to gain your trust and belief in them. This will be to show you who they really are.
We hope you enjoy our site and please know we need your monetary help towards this important life changing work and anything you can give is appreciated. Keep in mind who it is for and why. Please give because you can, for the sake of giving. Not because you are needing a tax shelter.

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide a relaxing atmosphere which promotes and allows room for change.
We will strive to provide relief to the poor, distressed, underprivileged and depressed.
To ease neighborhood tensions along with combating community deterioration and the over all community delinquency.
To remove our “friends in need” from the community as a tension force and
"set them free" as a viable, positive contributing force to the community as a changed, New Person via their own strengths, their peers’ assistance and our assistance.

To be creative in our approach to the issues.

Having the goal of getting our "friends in need" out of the homeless assistance system, and self reliant.

STA MOTTO is:
“RID”,,,,,RID our homeless “friends” of the Streets.
“RID”=(Respect, Integrity, Determination)

The Reality of it All,,,,,

2009-07-19T19:42:00.007-04:00

Well my friends the time is getting very near. By the end of August of this year, yep about a month away, if we have not raised a minimum of $50,000.00 I will be forced to cease all Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life activities. This is one of the reasons you have not seen me on Twitter or FB alot lately as I have been scrambling trying to put some things together.

We have done some really great work in Knoxville TN for the homeless including taking one off the street who is wheelchair bound with a brain injury and caring for her for 6 months total, 4 months in our personal home. Yes. A lot of really important, great work. Over the years, almost 24, I have helped the homeless and people who are suicidal and their families manage their root causes, acknowledge them and grow from them. I have done the work and funded it entirely from and while working at a full-time job with no funding from anyone else. In the last two years, from April 2007 - January 2009 when we moved to Knoxville from Florida and then back again we did the same,,funding from our full-time jobs wages and also did receive approx $1820.00 in assistance from others. We lived in Knoxville and provided our homeless assistance services from April 2007 to December 2008 and then continued after we moved back to St. Petersburg FL by driving back and forth to Knoxville and via phone/computer contact.

In December it became apparent our regular jobs, which funded everything we did for the homeless, would be coming to an end. My fiance Pat's place of employment(IMAGEPOINT) shuttered their doors on Jan 9th, 2009 and her job was done. My full-time job had already lost many sales due to the economy and my wages went from $600/week down to $370/week and then in Jan of this year down to part-time at $128/week. Not enough for us to survive on ourselves. We were poised to lose our home we were renting etc. My fiance Pat received an offer to come back to St. Petersburg FL and return to work at her old employer here. So, our family borrowed us the money for the move and we moved back to St. Petersburg FL where at least one of us had a full-time job. I continued to work for my Knoxville employer part-time doing phone work. I continued to drive back and forth to Knoxville to assist a few of our homeless "friends". Then, in March of this year my part-time job ended.

I have been trying very hard to extend our information out to people who have expressed interest in helping us. I have created and re-vamped a 35 page proposal into a 50 page proposal for our Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life program and will be presenting it August 4th to prospective interested parties.

I could no longer make the trips back to Knoxville. Could no longer do much of anything but keep in phone contact or computer contact with a few of our homeless "friends" who were fortunate to have that capability.

So, here we are. Dead in the water. Yes, I feel it is a direct hit from Satan, as everytime I get close to doing a great deal of good for others in the name of Jesus, Satan makes another attack on me and those around me. It is very frustrating and each time I have been able to fight him with Jesus's help and prevail. So, we shall see this time. I will keep fighting him always, but this time he might win in the fight against me helping the homeless.

So, The Reality of this is, we are needing to raise a minimum of $50,000.00 by the end of this August 2009 so we can get back on our feet, return to Knoxville TN from St. Petersburg FL and continue our work helping the homeless.

If we do not raise these funds. It breaks me to my core, but I will be forced to cease all Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your LIfe activities. Completely.

If you can or want to help us you can reach me by my cell phone at 865-964-1461. Our Home address is below if you are able to help us. We are not 501c3 non-profit certified yet but we have given the paperwork to our attorney for the 501c process. So any "gift" at this current time would need to be just because you want to, not because you need a tax deduction.

Well, there you have it. The exposed, cold, hard reality.

Please, if you can help, we need it before the end of August of this year, yep one month from now.

Yes, I can provide you with references if you need so you can verify we say who we say we are and do what we say we do.

Thank you in advance,

Lance Greene-Founder-Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life

ADDRESS to send donation "gifts"-Please make checks out to Lance Greene/Straight Ahead Outreach and send to:

Lance Greene

7419 10th Ave N

St. Petersburg FL 33710

Cell: 865-964-1461

Home: 727-329-8187

More of the Story,,,,,,,

2009-07-14T08:56:00.019-04:00

We are in desperate need of funds and more. To further our continued work we are trying to raise funds to purchase a new Mobile Crisis Unit and build a facility in Knoxville TN to house apartments for our homeless "friends" at none or little cost, a thrift store, coffee house/deli and an activiuty center/offices where we will assist our "friends" in applying for Social Security benefits, their SS ID cards, applying for jobs, working on GED's and more.

The following is a photo of the van we currently use as our Mobile Crisis Unit. It has over 200,000 miles on it and is in need of repairs. It needs to be replaced actually, But we would still retain it for helping our "friends" move etc.

We need to obtain the following type unit. The photo shows what the graphics would look like which are being designed by Creative Edge Graphics of Knoxville, TN. This would be a "Closed Door Unit." Available to those truely showing they want help and to "Take Back Their Life." This unit would be outfitted with 3 showers, 3 toilets, 2 stackable washer/dryers, handicapped lift, handicapped accessible shower and office capabilities and 3 beds. This would enable "STA" to have a Mobile Crisis Unit/Office where we can interview our homeless "friends", allow them to take a shower, launder their clothes and give them a meal all at one time at any hour of the day or night. The perfect fit. We need to raise $285,000 for this unit, designed and built by Concept Haulers of Shorewood, Illinois. 877-941-9681 Mr. Jim Randa Should you need a unit or want to help us obtain this one.

This is the building we want to obtain and remodel to include eleven, 300 sq ft efficiency/1 bdrm style apartments including 3 handicapped accessible apartments, a coffee house/deli, thrift store and activity center/main offices and laundry facility.

All this information can also be found on our webite at: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home/what-is-needed me/what-is-needed

Thank you, please DONATE today.

Please go to: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home/immediate-needs---please-help/some-of-our-friends/can-you-help

You will find the address for mailing your donations at the above website link. Please remember, we are not 501c3 rated yet but we are working on this. So please, give from your heart and because you can. Your donations may or may not be tax deductible. We will be glad to meet with the IRS on your behalf to provide any documentation they need to prove the donation and its purposes. At this time please give knowing it may or may not be tax deductible, but rather just because you want to make a big difference in bettering the homeless communities.

Thank you, Lance Greene/Founder- Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life( "STA")

Telling the story cont'd,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

2009-07-14T08:21:00.017-04:00

A continuation of me trying to tell the story. I do not feel I am very good at telling the story. My talents are in helping people. But none the less, here you are. My goal in this is to try and raise desperately needed funds to continue our important work. Please donate if you can.

1) One of our “friends of STA” Kendal, is seen here sitting with my fiancé Patricia, Kendal will be on the left. One of our donors helped “STA” pay her rent back in 2008 for one month. At that precise time, I believe that donor, although they do not fully realize it, helped save her life. Literally. It gave her one more reason to keep going. Trust me. To this day I believe it was well spent. She just recently (Tuesday) received her Section 8 housing voucher. She was very happy. She is still at her job at a hotel in Knoxville where she is in house keeping. I am very proud of her for staying there. She has been there probably for close to one year now. She has troubles but deep down, she is a good lady with a huge heart. She is one of the people “STA” wants to include in an intense program once we obtain our 501c3 status. She needs a good deal of time and work still but she is very worth it, like many others and I believe she will be a great benefit to the community. But it will take time and money to provide ongoing support to her.

2) In another photo you will see Kendal sitting next to me and behind me is one of our other "STA friends", Dusty. She is an awesome story. Kendal referred us to her back when we first met Kendal. Dusty was living under the bridge on the Salvation Army side of Broadway in Knoxville TN where all the drug dealers are. “Croc” we will call him, a big drug dealer there, was "her man", or more like it, she was "his girl". Kendal asked us to please help Dusty. Dusty was a crack addict. Key word,,,,,was.

Dusty standing behind Kendal and I.

With Kendal cowering in our van scared to death, my fiancé Pat, Kendal and I went under the bridge in the late night of July 1st, 2008. There were drug dealers and users every where and “Croc” was right there next to Dusty. I pulled my van up onto the sidewalk and left it running locking Pat and Kendal inside. “Croc” has beaten, abused and been known in that world to kill others in the homeless world and he still roams the streets. Not for long if I have anything to do with it as my goal is to see him sit in prison or turn him around, one or the other. He can be selling drugs in daylight right there under the bridge, and a Sherriff sits 15 feet away in his car guarding the construction workers. It goes on all day long. I have sat in KARMS parking lot watching drug dealers make deals in the Salvation Army lot. With the support of Jesus standing beside me I got out of the van and in my normal fashion walked right into the den of wolves up to Dusty. I asked if it was her. “Croc” stepped into my face and asked what I wanted. I stated I was not there to speak to him or anyone else for that matter other then Dusty. They all dispersed. Everyone. Dusty and I were left alone to talk. She cried. She agreed to allow us to help her. It was her time. I listened and did "my thing" with Jesus by my side. It was what I talk about in my printed material and on my website. It was Jesus at work using me as a tool. Period. It doesn’t get any easier then that. Nor any more complicated.

After that night, we requested Pastor Mike to allow Dusty into the Volunteer program at KARM even though they were full and he agreed. Because of his assistance, “STA” and I will always do whatever we can for him and KARM.

To this day, we still stay involved with Dusty also. She now has her own apartment which she has had for almost one year now as we worked hard to get her in there, meeting with the landlord on her behalf so she could make room for someone else at KARM. Dusty worked extremely hard also to get in to her new apartment as she had to prove she had been clean for 6 weeks. I continue to encourage her to stay there rather then move into a bigger apartment in order for her to continue to grow and stay strong. Dusty has been clean now ever since that July 1st 2008 night. Over one year now! AWESOME DUSTY!! She works at Market Square Kitchen in Knoxville TN, owned by Mr. Hossein Ghodrat and has been there for over a year at least. Hossein and his wife are very good to her and other homeless. Hossein and his wife employ a number of homeless people and are a huge help to the homeless community. He and his wife have also contributed to Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life. Any patronage you and anyone you know can give to his restaurant would be well spent. The photos with Kendal and Dusty were taken there this January 2009. Dusty has told us numerous times, if we,"STA" would not have stopped to see her on that night in July she does not believe she would be alive today.

3)You will see a photo of Donna(on Walmart scooter) and my fiance Pat shopping at Walmart in Knoxville TN. She was sleeping on Market Square in Knoxville TN in her electric wheelchair. She is the one we took into our personal home for 4 months and finally found her housing in Oak Ridge, TN. My goal is 90 days. She was a very tough case and it took me an extra month. We provided round the clock support for Donna. “STA” provided transportation to and from Doctors, therapy, and shopping. STA did Donnas’ laundry, cooked her meals, and provided intensive round the clock one on one coaching on life, social, economic and employment areas of life. It was a very difficult situation, but I do not regret bringing her into our personal home. I would not do it again, but I do not regret it as we made such a huge difference in Donna and that is bottomline.

We would house Donna once our facility is built. She has a brain injury but is very bright and surprisingly mobile although confined to a wheelchair.

You will see a photo of a group of motorcycles, motorcycles of the Amvets Riders Road Warriors. Without one of the members of the Amvets Riders Wifes’ assistance, we would have never gotten Donna her new apartment. The photo is actually at that apartment where we placed Donna. The Amvets Riders wife is the community manager.

4) You will see a photo of James. A severely homeless Vet. He is an extremely tough case but a brilliant man. He will take a great deal of work, but again, he is worth it. I have been through a great deal with James. Even hired him at the carpet cleaning company I managed. Had to let him go from there but he still is on my radar. He needs our help badly. He sleeps in a tent I gave him under a semi trailer. James has reasons to take his life and I know he is capable. His story is just to long for here. I will share a little bit of it and maybe more another day. We continue to be in contact with James.

James- Just the profile.
James had a tent mate. Wayne. One morning in 2008, Wayne got into James meds which the VET Hospital mailed to him via the Weisgarber Post Office and another HAO on other occasions. It was alot of meds. The wrong kind to get into. It was enough to scare James. It was just fortunate James came back to the tent one morning to find Wayne writhing in the tent with the tent collapsed around him. Wayne went to the hospital, James and I spent many hours there. I was the only one Wayne could communicate with by grunts and nods. Wayne still is unable to talk to this day and he never came out of his vegetative state. Medications should not be prescribed, given, mailed or whatever to people such as this whom the prescribing Doctor or facility knows nothing about the patient other then they are ill in some way. The VETS Hospital did not "know" James. They did not know he was sleeping in a tent until I had a very direct talk with them advising them to re-evaluate how they treat James. If James was not there and did not know me and Straight Ahead Outreach, Wayne would have lay prostrate and died right there in that tent. It will be one of Straight Ahead Outreach’s' directives to seek out those who are lying prostrate and or being ignored or missed by the system. We will do it by both on the street monitoring and by referrals from other homeless individuals. Yes, it all will be a painstaking process. That is just the way it is. THAT is what we, “STA” does.

5) You will see a photo of John and I on the porch of our house in Knoxville. John is dear to my heart and still has a long road to go. His is a very very long sad story. Too long and private to share here. But, please know this. We have spent countless hours providing emotional, physical and financial help to John at any and all hours of the night.

John and I

6) And of course Miss Edna

This letter just would not be complete without Miss Edna.
We know her story. It is on the previous blog. I think about her daily.

7) You will see a photo of Dustin. Dustin hits very close to home. Kind of a long story. One that I have been involved with for almost 6 years now and I am in the very middle of a long distance intervention with him as I type this. I have finally gotten Dustin to agree to go to Delancey Street Foundation to be interviewed as a possible candidate to become a member. This is an organization I have picked. When you become a member of Delancey Street you live there, work there, do everything there in order to turn your life around. I need to get Dustin from Maryland to Florida and then Florida to Greensboro North Carolina to The Delancey Street Foundation. Delancey is what I am looking at fashioning Straight Ahead Outreach's program after to a point. Not everything, but the basic philosophy is great of "each-one-teach-one." http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/wwa.php in case you would like to read about them.

The problem is, we need your help desperately to get Dustin to North Carolina and possibly back if he does not get accepted. The problem is, I honestly think this is Dustin’s last hope. To go to Delancey and turn his life around from drugs, alcohol, and himself. He is an 11 year old in a 32 year olds body. He needs severe structure like Delancey has. He has been chronically homeless for the last 8 years. Because of specifics which took place in his life as a child he just cannot handle every day life skills. I am not stating this for effect, but rather just fact. If I do not get him to Delancey he loses. If they do not accept him, I lose. I have never lost someone in the work that I do in the last 23 years. But I honestly feel for the first time that I could lose on this one. If I "lose", more importantly that means the person loses; it means they take their life.

In order to escort Dustin to Florida then North Carolina, airfare, motel, taxi meals and me back to Fl etc, “STA” is in need of $950. We just have to get this done for his health, safety, and for him to be able to “Take Back His Life”.

Actually I need funds for all of them and more obviously. It is killing me, breaking me to my very core, as they are stuck in the homeless system which is not working for them and I cannot properly help them out of it. What they need takes a facility with a program in place where they can live and get back on track like the one I want to build. If I just keep throwing temporary funds at them to give them clothes or food or whatever it still keeps them where they are. I have done it that way for too long with the people listed here and longer for some of them and others. So, until we can move forward with a facility as a 501c, we will just continue to do what we can. BUT, we STILL need you HELP. PLEASE DONATE. Please donate from your heart and because you can. Please be aware it might not be able to be tax deductible as we are not 501c3 as of yet but we are working on it.

The above people are very tough cases. Some, suicidal, some not. That is why they are close to me in my heart and mind and I will continue to fight for them and many many more. We have many more then this obviously.

I continue to update the website, so check it out when you can and please provide any criticism or advice on it.

Take care and I hope to see you and maybe meet some of you soon. Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Thank you,Lance GreeneStraight Ahead Outreach

(Taking Back Your Life)

Cell: 865-964-1461

Email: straightaheadlwg@gmail.com

Web: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home
Blog: http://homelesscrisis.blogspot.com/
My hopes for you today: That you take time to laugh. That business or work has been good for you today. That someone has made your day enjoyable.

I look forward to seeing or talking to you again soon. :-))!

Advised to tell the story,,,,,,,,,,

2009-07-13T09:59:00.006-04:00

A kind Soul, a Twitter friend of mine @_stoicone_ stated I MUST tell my story if I want people to donate. So here are a few of my attempts at telling my story.

I could go on for hours on this subject, but I will try and save you from my "ranting".....:-))! I will rant a little bit however.

Warning: This might show a little of my disappointment in the way the system is handling the homeless situation. Not just Knoxville,,,,,,anywhere,,,,,,,,,everywhere is just the same. I believe it is time for a wake up call. My goal for Straight Ahead Outreach is to remove the homeless from the "Homeless Mentality" and from the Homeless Assistance World as a whole, relying on themselves. I have specific very private thoughts on what I will do to accomplish that. I will try to keep each point below as brief as possible as I could go on and on.

Here we go: The "gaps" 'STA" will fill in the community.

First, the current system provides for example section 8 vouchers to many individuals with many different backgrounds, records etc. "We"(Homeless Assistance programs, "HAO's") place them in too many clumps together. What we end up doing is taking 10 severe drug users, placing them in housing with 30 other drug users and hope that the rehabs they are being sent to whether court ordered or what have you work and they go on happy. It does not work. All it creates is transference. We move them from one bad area and create another.

Some examples of a few of our "STA" "friends" and a brief story.

1) John: John has lived on the streets for the last approx 18 years. When I became involved with him at the request of the organization trying to assist him he was living in a section of woods in the downtown Knoxville area. He had been there for quite some time. Yes, he has a history. I never in my life thought I would be assisting one like John, Jesus teaches me little lessons ALLLLL the time like John. There is a great deal to this story, but I will condense it here. His parole officer placed John in housing, in a small apartment complex one mile from my home in Knoxville. In that building were 5 other tenants under the watch of that same parole officer. The organization case managing him applied and secured his SSI benefits. John had a place to live out of the woods an SSI check PLUS $2500 approx in back pay!!! John thought he was RICH! Of COURSE he would! John was freaked. I went though MANY long nights, days, weeks of John calling me in the late night from the streets, jail etc due to this living arrangement. It does not work properly. This is a story which incenses, yet drives me harder and harder to do what I do. "We" need to be creative in finding housing etc. I would LOVE to talk to you more on John as it is a very disturbing story,,,,,not only emotionally, but,,,,,legally. John continues to struggle to this day. I am not his case manager but have always been involved heavily with John and provided extensive support, monetarily(before he got SSI), emotionally and physically. Straight Ahead will work to fill this type of gap with our creativity and persistence.

2) Teresa: Teresa, has stood on the corner outside of the mission in Knoxville for at least the last 3 years. She has only ever been an overnight guest not ever a resident or in any of the programs from what I understand from the mission. I have spoke to her a few times, done her laundry, purchased jackets etc for her. Yes she has some issues mentally, but workable I believe. Not easily however because she is pretty tough, creating a wall to everyone and can be very uncooperative. To make a very long story as short as possible. I mean no disrespect. This is unacceptable. "We" as homeless assistance organizations have a responsibility to handle, to facilitate the improvement of the quality of life of the individuals we allow to come into our facilities to get help or that we say we will provide help to. To facilitate, meaning sometimes to push. If the person is fed up with us, doesn't like what we do etc and leaves,,,,ok,,,then they decided to leave. BUT, if they stand in the same location, in the rain,,,in the cold,,in the heat,,,and continue to enter into our realm of assistance, we have the obligation to "push" that individual. As I mentioned. Teresa needs much more help then she has been receiving. It takes many hours, lots of patience and yes, alot of money. Please donate so we may help Teresa and others like her.

3) Donna - We took her off the street in Late June of 2008 and moved her into our home. It was ugly,,,verrrrry ugly. It was a 24 hour situation. She has a brain injury but is extremely smart. We succeeded in turning her around and she now has housing as of 10/10/08. She lived with us until we found her housing and we supported her thru 12/15/08. But, we HAD to be creative. She was sleeping in her electric wheelchair on Market Square in Knoxville TN near Tomato Head every night. All of the organizations responsible for case managing her stated they "lost sight" of her. I am not naming them intentionally. Because of her history with KCDC housing, we could get absolutely no assistance from Knoxville. So, we had to go to Oak Ridge to get her housing. 10/10/08 we acquired and purchased furniture for her and moved her into the Manhattan Apts in Oak Ridge. We took care of her until 12/15/08 until she obtained her food stamps and her family took over responsibility for her. She paid for her own housing out of her SSI,,,angry as heck but she did it. We set her up with a payee, food stamps etc and got her out of the homeless assistance world. The most important success I believe we, "STA" had was the repair of Donna and her families relationship. They had not seen each other for over 3 years and were not assisted or contacted by anyone else to assist them in reaching Donna. Now, Donnas Son and her Father visit her often at her new apartment and they also take Donna to stay with them for holidays and weekends. SO AWESOME!

4) Ms Edna:
This one also incenses me, yet drives me harder to do this work. Please forgive me on this one. You will see my anger on this one. Long story, difficult to condense.
Ms Edna is a 70ish year old female evicted from her residence in KNoxville. Ms. Edna is a very difficult case. HOWEVER, she is precisely who, the assistance organizations get funds to assist. I, we, Straight Ahead Outreach("STA"), went to her residence to retrieve her belongings and store them for her as they were holding it until she returned her apt key. We returned the key and stored the luggage until I received a call from an individual looking for the luggage on behalf of Ms. Edna. This individual had been putting her up in a Motel so she would not be sleeping in the streets as usual. Ms. Edna always hauls a good deal of belongings with her wherever she goes. I have hauled it a few times, others have hauled it more. Here is the big "gap." Miss Edna has been refused assistance on and off and a place to sleep, by the local HAP's and others due mainly to her amount of belongings. She is approx 70 years old, and yes a street professional, but not in good health. So, she was forced back into the streets, many times.

Because of all Ms. Edna's belongings which could add up to 13 bags at times, which included her luggage, most of the bags being plastic grocery bags which held her Milk etc. she was refused and forced out into the streets. Where do you keep your food? I get to keep mine in the fridge just like you do. Ms. Edna does not, because she needs our creative assistance.

During one of our meetings of the "Critical Cases Management" with all the other organizations, it was discussed to send out to all the churches, and other organizations to cease assisting Ms. Edna if she came with her belongings in tow. The City buses were advised not to allow her to ride. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! I was so incensed that after a few more meetings I never participated again.

I want you to know what happened because of this. I will state it here as I learned it from the person who had given her motel stays in the past. When he told me, I was in his office and could barely contain myself. I was so angry, so devastated, I wanted to go take so many people to task. I have already been told they do not want someone to rock the boat. I decided I would put my energy in concentrating on what I can do to change the face of homeless everywhere. And yes, the boat will get rocked, but I will do it in a positive way concentrating ONLY on the individuals in need of the help.

Miss Edna was sleeping in a bus stop. A drunk driver slammed into the bus stop giving Ms Edna major injuries. She spent a good length of time in the hospital and then was sent to a nursing home. Yes, she belongs in one. BUT not that way for crying out loud! That is completely unacceptable.

So, here you go,,,,,,any organization anywhere, (including Straight Ahead Outreach someday hopefully) which has upwards of a $10 million dollar budget, if they can NOT figure a creative way to store someones belongings, which are the ONLY belongings they have in the stinkin world, then they need to find a different business to be in or re-evaluate the business they are in. I understand "we" cannot help everyone, I understand that. But this is a different story. This is one where the organizations let their attitudes and egos get in the way and it was in a planned, and constructed manner.

These are examples of the gaps Straight Ahead HAS filled and will continue to do so if given the tools. I will work day and night, and will attract those to me who will help me do the same.

Thank you for reading and listening to my rant,,,,,,, Isn't this fun!!

It is Jesus's work. It has to be done right.

Sorry to use a cliche,,,but in each one of the above,,,,,,,What Would Jesus Have Done?

Abandoned Babies,,,,,,,,,,,,(sigh)

2009-06-25T11:45:00.000-04:00

We are considering the addition of an additional responsibility to Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back your life activities, as it has been placed in me to do so.

We would love to hear your feedback on this, so please feel free to leave a comment or email me at straightaheadlwg@gmail.com

In light of the newborn baby who was recently abandoned 6/16/2009 and left for dead near Middlebrook Pike & Glenn Ave, we are considering adding the responsibility of a new program to "STA" activities which will assist the Mothers of these newborns in giving up their newborn child as a last resort under the Tennessee Safe Haven Law passed 7/1/2001 under Tennessee Code/TITLE 68 http://www.shelbysafehaven.com/tca.asp instead of abandoning them.

What happens here is most definitely related to "STA" and how we do what we do.

A young Mother abandons her baby within 72 hours of being born.
The newborn is now "homeless"
The newborn becomes "prostrate" without shelter, medical, physical or nutritional necessities
The newborn dies
The Mother is now a criminal

What STA's position would be would be to assist the community, to prevent this ugliness from even happening.

To prevent an extremely unnecessary death
To prevent another homeless account
To prevent another young Mother from being a criminal And to possibly prevent the Mother from giving up the newborn at all. To help her open her eyes.
To give the young Mother direction and hope.
To facilitate the Mother and newborn to a medical facility, ambulance or police personnel so she may give the baby within the legal structure if she so decides to do so within this 72 hour period.
The goal however will be to get her to "Take Back Her Life" and the babies life and keep the newborn if at all possible and feasible.

Many times, as we are sure you can imagine, these young Mothers across the country are abandoning their newborns because they are afraid. Can you not picture a young Mother being afraid of the following:

Hospitals: Intimidated, embarrassed, afraid, they feel they will be made to feel horrible. Hospitals: We have a tough enough telling our doctors the easy stuff about us, how can we expect these young Mothers will tell a medical professional "I want to abandon my baby?"
Police: Very Intimidated,,,self explanatory.
Fire House: A group of 5-10 men, even in a firehouse can be very intimidating to a young mother who is scared no matter how nice the men might be.

We will work tirelessly to alleviate this transition and calm the Mother so she can face these entities and her situation. We will succeed. I feel it. Eventually I see "STA" being country wide and even assisting other organizations globally. I have already began making global contacts with other organizations about "STA".

Thank you very much to all of you. I hope you have a great day. :-))!

Lance Greene- "STA" - Straight Ahead Outreach(Taking Back Your Life)
Cell: 865-964-1461
Email: straightaheadlwg@gmail.com
Web: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home
Blog: http://homelesscrisis.blogspot.com/

My hopes for you today: That you take time to laugh. That business or work has been good for you today. That someone has made your day enjoyable.

Farrah Fawcett,,,,,a Beautiful Soul,,,,,,,(REPOSTED from 5/12/09)

2009-06-25T04:44:00.002-04:00

Rest In Peace Mrs Fawcett-O'neal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I feel an emptiness coming on,,,,a beautiful soul getting ready to move on,,,,her energy will live forever,,,,,
This beautiful soul has given smiles to countless people from all over the globe and continues to do so and forever will.
In her life she was labeled a "Sex Symbol",,,,to me a label which is Satan's way of distracting you from how beautiful the person actually is inside, who they actually are.
Ohhhh, don't get me wrong,,,,I am 49 years old and a male. Back in the 70's I cannot think of anyone who did not think she was sexy and so very pretty, including myself. And thus exactly my point. We knew nothing more about her. What a shame.
The price of being a celebrity keeps us, her fans, admirers, and so very distant friends from really knowing her. Only until now, when she is getting ready to move on do we get to look inside this beautiful soul God has shared with us, though ever so briefly, yet priceless.
As Farrah says: It is certainly time for a miracle.
Farrah, a beautiful soul will indeed get her Miracle as she will be going home,,,she will be moving on. She will be one step closer to God.
She will pain no more. She will not suffer the leaks of her personal life no more. She will not have the camera hounds after her no more. Ms. Fawcett, this is your Miracle.
This beautiful soul will flourish more then she has ever known, Ryan, Redmond and others close to her can feel safe in this. Think of it all as temporary. It is.

So,,,as you all go through life, do not forget her,,,look for her,,,,she will be the one with that unforgettable head of hair !

To: Mr Ryan O'Neal, I cannot even imagine Sir, I cannot even imagine. My thoughts will be with you as I am sure countless others also will be.

To: Redmond, find strength in the beauty of your Mom's soul. Picture her strengths,,,she gives them to you. You have them. Look Up, keep your head up, see those strengths,,,and see them as you. Your Mom's strengths will save your life,,,,,,This dear Redmond is her Miracle,,,,you certainly are.

I am sorry I never really got to know Ms. Fawcett, but somehow I believe she is sharing, showing a little about who she is to all of us. I believe it is really who she is, always has been and always will be.

There will come a time, a place. Some time, some where. Where we might get to know this beautiful soul, that will be another priceless day.

So, take care on your journey Ms. Fawcett!! See lots and experience much, so that when we all gather round to meet you, you can tell us all kinds of awesome stories of all your travels!!

Beautiful Soul, thank you, thank you for sharing with us all.

The Topic of IRAN,,,,,

2009-06-24T10:56:00.014-04:00

Let me just say we mean no disrespect to anyone, in Iran, their friends, their families or their supporters. We feel badly for and are appalled ourselves over the murder of Neda and many others just like her. We are also disgusted with the way the people of Iran are treated in general and how the government controls what they can see and communicate and the fact that the country, as whole, is in the dark.

However,,,yep there it is,,,the dreaded "However." We, Pat & I, do not believe we are going to win any brownie points here, but here goes.

Twitter, is jammed full of millions of outraged tweets about what we consider to be horrific happennings in Iran. While they are indeed horrific, I, we have some thoughts.

What about our own ‘killing fields’? Yes, Right here in the US of A.
What about what we have going on right here in the USA?

4 year olds shot & killed in drive by shootings. Where is the massive outrage?
Newborns being left for dead by their Mothers. Where is the massive outrage?
Men killing their entire families, including children. Where is the massive outrage?
Men throwing infants out of car windows to their deaths. Where is the massive outrage?
Healthcare. Where is the massive outrage?
Children without any food for an entire weekend or more. Where is the massive outrage?
Homeless people who want help, being left out, left behind. Where is the massive outrage?
Homeless women being used as drug dealers prostitutes? Where is the mazzive outrage?
Homeless elderly, Men, Women & Vets. Where is the massive outrage?
Homeless children. WHERE is the massive outrage?
Our economy destroying businesses and lives due to greed. Where is the massive outrage?
Homeless being murdered in cold blood, men AND women. Where is the massive outrage?
How about the football coach murdered in his gym locker room this Wednesday 6/24/09 morning? Where is the massive outrage?
Child abuse, prostitution, trafficing. Where is the massive,,key word,,massive outrage?
How about when my friend Candy was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, shot 5 times in the face at point blank range and left in a street gutter in Minneapolis MN. Where was the massive outrage? There was absolutely zero, except for my massive outburst against her husband at the funeral parlor in a back room.

Ok, yes, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Orrrrr, if you want to add more to this list, just pull up any news page. and look for horrofic things going on in our country. You will be overwhelmed,,,HOWEVER, YOU will NOT have the massive outrage like there is over the IRAN issues or anywhere else around the globe for that matter.

No, I do not believe in divisions of area, and yes i believe everyone needs help. But, what i do not understand is how we can turn our heads to the horrors which are going on in our own Country daily, every second of every day.

In fact, ok,,,,,lets just stop for a minute,,,,,,,,,,I hate to even think of the reality of in our USA, in the time it has taken for me to write this blog, post it and for you to read it and get upset about it,,,,,just how many children and women were just abused sexually, physically or verbally,,how many children just went hungry,,,how many murders were there, how many homeless wanting help were ignored, how many families refused healthcare, how many homeless men, women & children were abused,

The saddest thing? Many people think there are enough, plenty of Assistance Organizations in the USA.

The problem is, ALL the Assistance Organizations combined in the USA cannot handle all of the horrific things which take place. We do not have the proper funds, or the amount of people needed to do the work.

Do not get me wrong. There is enough money out there. There is enough talented people to do the work.

Neither,,,,, is properly applied in the USA.

Sad. How sad.

An additional word from my fiance' Pat:

We are so quick to go to the aid of foreign countries when our own country is rotting from within. We should be outraged, and ashamed. You want to be angry, you want to help someone? The first move is the action of taking care of YOUR OWN. We (families) are not strong at the roots any longer – we need to fertilize the ‘field of dreams’ this country once was. That is done by providing time, energy (money, if you have it) to our primary responsibility – our own families. You say you don’t have any children, how about your brother or sister’s children? How are your parents doing? How is your best friend “REALLY” doing? Do you know or are you allowing yourself to be distracted by the propaganda the media is feeding us that takes us away from what we SHOULD BE DOING. Yes, we are our brother’s keeper – and our brothers/sisters are right here. We, STA, work at the root causes of the homeless and suicidals demise because it is their families, their friends, their country who have murdered them in a much subtler way than shooting. They are the living dead and there is no doubt one of them BELONGS to you. It is only when our foundation is strong, that it can withstand the burden of addressing other countries needs. Start from within – then when the crop is good – share it.

Please,,,We need your Help !

2009-06-22T22:30:00.012-04:00

I will be honest. We are desperate for your help. Literally. If we do not raise immediate funds, Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life will be forced to cease all activities in assisting our homeless "friends" in Knoxville TN.

Sorry to be so serious, as I usually like to laugh and have fun, but I am serious.

There is a great deal of time, energy and expense invested into sustaining our activities. I am committed wholeheartedly to this work.

The work we do not only supports our "friends" in need, the homeless and the suicidal. It also opens others to new ideas and enables us to touch others from around the world. Our website allows us that privilege. http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home

The work we do is important, life saving, smile creating, and produces feelings of good. It creates room and possibilities for change.

Any donation to support Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life will allow us to continue on the path to helping people "Take Back Their Lives."

We need your help desperately at this time.

The work we do means a great deal to the communities we serve as we work to build the community and make it stronger, friendlier, more productive and sustainable by bringing our homeless "friends" up and out of the Homeless Cycle and into the communities as a positive contributing force.

Your donation will help us to continue this valuable work.

We need to raise $324,900.00 to continue this important work and a very basic tight minimum of $100,000.00 to just keep Straight Ahead Outreach alive, get by for the next year and keep moving forward.....

We will keep each one of you informed as to how the goal is progressing and where and how the monies are being spent. You will be our "virtual" board of directors so to speak.

The monies will be initially spent to update our van we currently use as it is in need of repair, tires etc, (which is our Mobile Crisis Unit vehicle) and other Straight Ahead Outreach needs and expenses as stated on our website. http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home

Please make your "gift" Checks payable to Straight Ahead Outreach. In the memo area please put: "For Straight Ahead Outreach Activities."
Please mail your "gift" checks to our temporary address: Lance Greene/Straight Ahead Outreach 7419 10th Ave N St. Petersburg FL. 33710
If you would like your name put on the "You Are Helping!" page on our website please let me know. We will not be listing the dollar amounts, only the names of those who give us permission. We will list the first and last name, and the City & State.

Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life, does not now and never will sell any names or lists to anyone.

References can be provided upon request.

Please tell 5 others. I thank you very much for your gift and for your time.

Thank you in advance!

Lance Greene

Temporary mailing address for any correspondence or Donations:
Lance Greene
7419 10th Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL. 37710

I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU GIVE US AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE

Please visit our Website: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home

Donations to our work are greatly appreciated and needed.

**Please Note: We are not a 501C3 non-profit but 100% of the products and services we provide to those we help are provided Free of Charge in a charitable manner.

We thank you in advance

Lance Greene :-))!

Something to celebrate! :-))!

2009-06-15T12:06:00.007-04:00

On July 1st,2009 there comes a very awesome, inspiring anniversary for one of our "friends." Her name is Dusty. This July 1st will be her ONE YEAR Anniversary of being completely "clean". You can read a little bit about her story on our website at: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home/some-stories

There is also a photo of her there. She is standing behind me and one of our other "friends."

We continue to be in contact with Dusty and she is doing wonderful. We love her and pray for her continued success.

I would like to ask a favor of those of you located in Knoxville TN. Dusty works as a waitress where they all love her also at the MARKET SQUARE KITCHEN at 1 Market Square in downtown Knoxville. She is off on Wed & Fri. Would you please stop in,,,ask to sit in Dusty's section, tell her I sent you so she understands why you are there and wish her a Happy Anniversary for staying clean. PLEASE. It would mean the world to her. She is an awesome lady.
Dusty has worked extremely hard to get to this milestone and we are so proud of her.

Dusty is an awesome lady with a huge heart who cares about others.

I pray you stop in and say hi to her.

Thank you so much and please let me know if you stop by.

As a side note,,,the Market Square Kitchen has great casual food, our favorite is the breakfasts. The owners Mr & Mrs Ghodrat are also supporters of Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life and they personally do a great service to the Homeless in Knoxville. Please patronize the Market Square Kitchen.

Thank you so much.

Lance Greene :-))!

Reporting on the Homeless,,,,,,,

2009-06-13T01:04:00.022-04:00

OK,,,I know I am going to get slammed on this one, but oh well, so be it.

This is in regards to people whether they be Students from some college or just someone on the street wanting to better their media business and get their name plastered all over the internet, Twitter and wherever.

But, of course I do realize there are a number of good people out there who feel they are reporting therefore creating awareness.

Ok, I will say it. As an HAO(Homeless Assistance Organization), I do not like it. Do not appreciate it.

Please do not ever forget,,,You or I could be homeless at any moment,,no matter what our wealth is,,,,how would YOU want to be treated?

I feel there are things that should be reported on and awareness created in reference to them etc. Things like starving children, pedophiles, drug dealers, murderers and on and on. I need not list all of them here as you get my point I am sure.

I am not saying you shouldn't report on Homelessness at all. I am saying be smart about it. Think about them. Report on their needs,,,their plight,,,,their desires,,,,personalities,,,strengths,,,,friends,,,,sorrows,,,,BUT,,,BUT do not report on their whereabouts,,,their locations.

Leave that up to us as the HAO's. We know where they are. We know who they are. We know what they are doing and in some shape or form we are most likely working to assist those folks. No, I do not think all HAO's are great and wonderful. BUT, we all work closely with the local authorities. Leave the locations of the Homeless up to the HAO's please.

Do we really need someone to tell us there are starving children in our cities? Do we really need someone to tell us there are homeless people wandering our streets? If we do then I suggest we re-evaluate ourselves. Take a closer look around. In this economy especially, but even in great times we have homelessness and starving children etc everywhere.

I am not talking about the kids in Ethiopia, Darfur etc,,,,this is NOT the type of reporting or documenting I am in reference to here.

Specifically, to site an example so as to set the tone here: In May of this year 2009 a USC Student researching homelessness spotted the opening to a homeless camp under the HWY 10 freeway in LA near the San Gabriel River.

The result of this was the expulsion of those homeless to the streets. Ohhhhh sure,,,the articles stated how it is better because the City will find them a new place to live. No, no they will not. It is not that simple. Not the folks that were living in this specific area or any area like it anywhere in this country or world for that matter. These people are seasoned and take much creative effort to get off the streets. More then just taking them out and placing them in a shelter or a down trodden apartment some place where they will be back out on the street in a week or less.

One of the people who lived under that freeway stated he lived there because he did not want people to feel uneasy because he was around,,,,so he chooses to stay out of public view.

What if your sister or brother felt that way,,or your Mother or Father? Or son or daughter? What would you say? How would you feel?

Please do not ever forget,,,You or I could be homeless at any moment,,no matter what our wealth is,,,,how would YOU want to be treated?

So, what happened in this LA HWY 10 Homeless Camp case? A student, wanting to do good in their class did a story and exposed a number of homeless people which in turn got those people dumped out of their,,,,,what they considered their secure living space and into the streets again.

IF,,,,IF there was anyone working with them to get them off the streets,,,permanently,,,permanently,,,,,,,well they were just set back massively. Lots of damage done. Lots of work just tossed out the window because someone wanted a story.

Here is the thing. Homeless people need a "safe" or what they consider a "safe" place to lay their head at night. If they can find a place to lay it and not be hurting anyone,,,,what is wrong with that? Are they doing illegal things down there? OF COURSE? So, are you going to try and tell me now that right now,,right this very second,,in fact every second of every day there isn't intensely illegal things going on in Hotels, Five Star Hotels, peoples homes, cars, offices, churches, etc etc? OF COURSE there is, so please do not make it as any different just because a homeless person is doing it under a bridge. There are many many homeless people NOT doing illegal things and we do not know to what exact extent if any was happening under this LA freeway. Do not worry, we as HAO's do extensive work on helping keep your Cities safe from illegal activities. So much more then anyone realizes. How about someone reports on that?

Or, why do you not go and film that drug dealer who is in the lot 30 feet from you selling the drugs to and or abusing the homeless men women and children you are reporting on? Why? Because you know he will Kill you. At the very least have you beaten. Or maybe because you do not see it?

My point is this,,,,We will go out and when we see the illegal activity we work with those people to try and turn them around, help them Take Back Their Life. Help them move forward to get off the streets. You are always always going to have people who want to stay on the streets and never leave. That is just a fact.

However, if you are going to report on them and watch them get put out in the street,,,,are you going to be there to assist them? Assist them in getting food? Assist them in getting housing? Counseling? Medical care? Showers ? Haircuts? Clothing? Transportation? Laundering? Work? Education? ID's? Paperwork? All in the same day/week?

No, not usually. You are going to go back to your college and get your A on your paper. Or you are going to go to your next City and do your next story on your next tent city or what ever it is you choose. It is left up to the HAO's to pick up your slack, the mess you just created or the damage you just did to what ever progress the case managers might have been having with those homeless people you just uprooted.

Bottomline, I know you are not doing it on purpose, or I should hope you are not. But unless you are in the position of assisting the homeless as an HAO or at the very least committed to the work, then you will not most likely agree with me. But the thing is, unless you are doing the work out there, you do not realize the damage which is done when something like this happens. When homeless are all of a sudden uprooted from their place of "security" or what they believe to be "secure."

Before you report and throw photos etc all over the place, think of the consequences first. Think of the homeless FIRST. Then think of the HAO's that might have been working with them and what consequences they might incur. Want to research? Then talk to the homeless there,,,,,ask them if they are working with anyone anywhere,,,,,they will tell you even if it was a long time ago,,,then go to that HAO and ask them about the person and advise them what you are planning to expose. At least this way they can try to reduce the damage you will do to people.

Remember, these are people,,,not products!

Please do not ever forget,,,You or I could be homeless at any moment,,no matter what our wealth is,,,,how would YOU want to be treated?

Remember,,,,, "RID" (Respect, Integrity, Determination)

“RID”(Respect, Integrity, Determination)

2009-06-09T20:08:00.016-04:00

It is the common mentalities of some HAO's, if while another HAO in the course of trying to help the homeless,,,and I mean help, I do not mean just band-aid them, that if you provide food, clothing, tents, bikes etc to those on the streets you are helping them to want to stay on the streets. While I understand in some cases this might be possible, there are many more instances where it is not but, rather absolutely needed. You need to be aware of who you are giving things to and what your purpose is. This is very crucial. Also, if you are giving to them realize you are or should be becoming a part of them. Be there as a back up or a support system when they fall. Do not set them up to fail.

Some of the HAO's would rather see you not give to anyone on the streets so it forces them into their organizations for supposed assistance. Thus, they keep their numbers up for funding purposes. Sorry, I do not agree with this belief.

For instance, if you give a pair of shoes to someone on the street, literally on the street I mean. Not someone who came into an organizations building looking for something. Rather someone you have encountered on the street. You have given that person some important comfort to get them through that day.

You might have just given that person a reason to want to live another day.

And if you did, then that means you have just been given another day to try and help them further along to getting off the streets. You just performed,,, what I call....well, you provided,,,,"RID"

"RID" (Respect, Integrity, Determination)

Giving something to someone on the streets in my opinion and experience allows the person we are trying to help to just be a tiny bit more comfortable for a brief period. It might make it just a little easier to brush their teeth the next morning,,,or might keep them dry at night so that when they wake up the next morning they actually can maybe feel a tiny bit more like a person. It just gives them a little break. So, makes them comfortable on the streets? Tell me,,,just how comfortable do you think it can get sleeping under a bridge, or in a cemetery, or in the woods,,,,,with no money. So yes, I am willing to make them a little more comfortable on the streets because I know I am going to do everything I can to get them off the streets in the long run.

Here is the scenerio, one of many ways to look at it. Say you are an individual just wanting to do good. And you go and bring a bunch of pizza's to homeless people on the street because you heard they were hungry. Welllll, thats a very nice thing to do and I am glad you have done it. However, you need to be aware of the whole picture. Earlier in the day the same people you just gave those pizza's to,,,(we do it also),,,,they worked for someone and made $30 or they panhandled and made alot more then that. They immediately spent it on drugs and alcohol within 15 minutes to an hour of earning that money. THAT is why they were hungry. Because they spent all the money they made on the drugs and alcohol. So, what has just happened is you have fed them and went back to your home where you will go to sleep in your comfortable bed and get up and take a nice shower and put on your clean clothes. You get my point. You do not see what happens at night or all day. You need to. My point here is, if you are going to be giving things, no matter what it is,,,,,be aware of the situations,,,,make a commitment to try and move the people you gave to, forward. The best way is to maybe volunteer with a group or an HAO organization so you know what you are working with. The problem or issue is, if you give just to give you might actually end up doing damage. They get a "false" comfort. You make it easier for the person to say to themselves,,,,"I can buy these drugs/alcohol because I know I will get some food tonight from so and so",,,,,,,,follow my point?

Then, when that person falls and has major problems with the law, medical etc,,,HAO's like us are left to pick up the pieces at 2:00am etc. Yes, we will feed, clothe, launder and provide shelter, showers etc etc,,,,but we know who we are dealing with, what they do, and we know where we are going with it.

Soooo, all I am saying is thank you for giving,,,,thank you for caring.

When you give,,,,keep your eyes wide open,,,keep aware,,,,,educate yourself before hand and be there to really make a difference in the persons life,,,,give to move them forward. To "RID" them of the streets.

Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life, goes by what I call,,,,, “RID”,,,,,

RID our homeless “friends” of the Streets.

“RID”(Respect, Integrity, Determination)

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW,,,,,,,,,,,

2009-05-07T15:01:00.002-04:00

I am not on here to just rant. It may come across that way, but everything I will write about will be from what I have experienced in my last 23 years of this Homeless/Suicidal assistance work I do or from present experiences on the streets doing the actual work.

I will try to keep most of it from present experiences and so far that is what you are reading.

Also, I am not here to just complain. I go into the streets and do my work. I get down and dirty in the ugliness of it all. It is not usually pretty and can get violent, depressing, uplifting, scarey and many times fun. I will also try to share some of the fun with you. Looking back I can see so far it is all too serious and all about the ugly stuff so far.

I apologize. I will work on that and try to write something uplifting on my next blog.

Just So You Know,,,,,I also have a plan to be one of the "Solutions" to the problems and frustrations I write about. It is a 34 page plan and if you would like to see it just email me and I will be glad to share it with you.

straightaheadlwg@gmail.com or you may call me @ 865-964-1461 on my cell. I am in the Eastern Zone USA.

Take Care and thank you all for reading.

Lance :-))!

The prescibing of medications(anti-depressants) to the Homeless

2009-05-07T13:20:00.002-04:00

Well, here we go,,
The prescribing of medications(anti-depressants) to the Homeless is a very sensitive subject. One of which I am sure I will get criticized for my opinion of.

FIRST, to all of you who will jump to try and prove me wrong. I am fully aware there are individuals who need to be on medications. Who even need to be on them whether they want to be or not. For their safety and for the safety of others. As long as those meds are taken in a safe, responsible situation. You are right. THAT is not always possible. Thus, my frustrations with the medical communities.

First, a story if you will. A very true story.
A homeless "friend" of mine, had a tent mate. Wayne. Wayne is one of many homeless VETS, just like many others out there. Wayne got into some harsh meds. It was just fortunate my homeless "friend" came back to their "camp" tent one morning to find Wayne writhing in the tent with the tent collapsed around him. Wayne went to the hospital, James and I spent many hours there. I was the only one Wayne could communicate with by grunts and nods. Wayne still is unable to talk to this day and he never came out of his vegetative state. Wayne went from the hospital in Knoxville TN straight to a nursing home. James, saved his friends life that day.

Medications should not be prescribed, given, or mailed to people whom the prescribing Doctor or facility knows nothing about the patient other then they are ill in some way, mentally or physically. The Hospital who prescribed the meds to the homeless "friend" of mine did not "know" the living conditions or status of the individual. They did not know he was "homeless"sleeping in a tent until I had a very direct talk with them advising them of their need to re-evaluate their handling of the individual and the anti-depressant medications they had prescribed to and mailed to him so many times at an address which of course had nothing to do with him.
I am sorry. If you do not use your knowledge to get to know your patient, then DO NOT prescribe something just to make a profit. IT CAN KILL. And HAO's like myself end up having to scramble and pick up the pieces from the effects of your " Care Less" or "Hardened" attitudes. These things affect numerous people when they happen in the homeless world. The sad thing is, these cases where people lose their lives over prescribed medications which the homeless community are prescribed and obtain legally, many times just disappear because of who the people are. Unacceptable. Period.
Do not tell me there is no other way. Please. Do not. Do not even bother going there. Do not give me your medical excuses. It takes time with the patient. THAT is the problem.
It takes coordinating with organizations such as ours and finding out more about that person. It takes a direct question to see if they are homeless. We can help you with it. We can help you prevent many of these situations.
If my homeless "friend" was not there and did not know Straight Ahead Outreach, Wayne would have lay prostrate and died right there in that tent. It will be one of Straight Ahead Outreach’s' directives to seek out those who are lying prostrate and or being ignored or missed by the system. We will do it by both on the street monitoring and by referrals from other homeless individuals. Yes, it all will be a painstaking process. That is just the way it is.

In another case, this one just as disturbing but in a different way. Another one of our homeless "friends" goes to the local Health system in Knoxville TN.
She is a female and is very fragile mentally in many different ways. She just recently got into a new apartment. There are numerous issues that surround her life, which could knock her down at any moment and cause her to go into an all out spiral. Because of these issues, she sees a therapist at the local Health system. She called me one day here this March 2009 and was very distraught. When she told me what was wrong, I was stunned, speechless and very upset.
She began to tell me she did not think she wanted to go to her therapist anymore because of how traumatic her visit was when she last went. She told me they placed her in a small room. Then her "therapist" came to visit her,,,,,,,,,,,ON A VIDEO MONITOR,,,,,like in a jail! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
So, they interview and prescribe my homeless "friend" and many others from a video monitor? SERIOUSLY! Are you kidding me? How do you feel them? How do you get to know them? How? Tell me?
I will do everything in my power to keep the homeless "friends" and anyone else I encounter away from this particular facility and from now on I will inquire of each Mental Health facilities of their practices.
This is not a death row, solitary confinement type situation people! You are not located in a prison. What are you doing? I want an answer. What are you doing? Your insensitivity and lack of willingness to get to know your patients will KILL people. I guarantee you.

Mental Health Systems: Please listen. I guarantee you, YOU will be responsible for pushing people to take their lives by this irresponsible act. You may never know it, because they will be the invisible ones, the homeless ones. But trust me, I will let you know who they are.

You should be ashamed.

We are in Desperate Need,,,,,Can You Help?

2009-05-02T23:22:00.007-04:00

Boy,,,,,I am very good at helping others, but I stink at asking for money. The reality of all this is, that if I do not learn to ask more we will not be able to continue the work we do in helping those we help.
I have done this work since 1985, and everything I do I have done out of my own pocket up until last year 2008 when we received $600.00 to help a few specific homeless. This year so far we have received $1220.00 so far to date.

While it is greatly appreciated and I feel the obligation to fullfill the work in order to properly thank those who "gifted" what they did, it just is not enough to allow us to continue our work helping the homeless and depressed. We help anyone who is down and wants to "Take Back Their Life". Not just the homeless.

We are desperate. There, I said it. My pride usually will not let me do that. But facts are facts.
We are not yet 501c3 Non Profit, but as of 3/15/09 we have submitted the paperwork to our attorney for the two year journey towards it. BUT, BELIEVE ME,,,,we ARE most definitely NOT making any profits and never intend to.

Bottomline, we have gotten to the point where we can no longer fund this on our own. I have always done this work myself, (Lance Greene) out of the wages I earned at my regular jobs. The problem is I am no longer employed. I am only able to do the work mainly now via phone.
In order to continue the work and to further expand the work we need your HELP. BIG TIME!

Please, if you can help,,,at all. Please go to our website,,,read about us a little at: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home

We do great work. We are committed to helping the Homeless or anyone depressed and in need.
If you want to ask me questions before you give, call me on my cell: 865-964-1461 and I will answer anything you ask.
We base our Straight Ahead Outreach out of Knoxville TN. That is where the bulk of our work is done.
If you want to help us, please go to our website and you will find our contact and address info for mailing your check. Our website is a free site form Google so I am unable to put a donation button on for PayPaL. It is a big pain as Google doesn't make provisions for the button to be easily added.

We are real, we can be verified.
So please, anything you can do, any amount will help and is appreciated.

Thank you,

Lance Greene - Founder
Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life
865-964-1461

The bringing of a Homeless individual from the Street and into housing,,,,

2009-04-28T22:55:00.011-04:00

Have you ever seen what happens when you take a homeless person from where they have been living on the streets or in camps for the last 5, 10, 20 years and drop them into housing?
I say "drop" into housing because that is what happens many times in the Homeless Assistance World, by HAO's.

The HAO will get the homeless person all geared up for their possible "new housing" in hopes of getting them off the street and to satisfy their "numbers" for the Homeless Management System databases. Numbers = funding. However, numbers+poorly fitted housing=higher homeless numbers. Many do not see this for some reason.

When a homeless person is brought from the street into housing it must be done with as much creative thinking, a working knowledge of the persons personality and planning as possible. It must be a good fit. Many times it will take a great deal of "creative work". If you are not able to be creative or willing to push hard with it, then there is a high chance the person you are assisting is going to again become a homeless statistic.
Once the person loses their housing, (which was supplied via an HAO by obtaining Section 8 vouchers etc and placing the person into the Homeless Assistance Worlds management database stating they are no longer homeless) the person in too many cases is no longer looked upon as a person with an urgent need. They are looked upon as getting housing, which the City promotes as an accomplishment.

Then the person becomes homeless very soon after getting their new home. They are once again, on the streets sleeping under a bridge or under a tree in a cemetarywithout so much as a blanket, scared, helpless, uninformed and once again relying on the very same people who set them up to fail in the first place.
The housing placement must be a proper fit for the persons personality. This is where creativity comes in. Creativity in thinking and working. It is more difficult but it works.

Numbers = funding. However, numbers+poorly fitted housing=higher homeless numbers.

Mission Statement of Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking back Your Life

2009-04-24T17:31:00.004-04:00

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide a relaxing atmosphere which promotes and allows room for change.

We will strive to provide relief to the poor, distressed, underprivileged and depressed.

To ease neighborhood tensions along with combating community deterioration and the over all community delinquency.

To remove our “friends in need” from the community as a tension force and "set them free" as a viable, positive contributing force to the community as a changed, New Person via their own strengths, their peers’ assistance and our assistance.

To be creative in our approach to the issues.

Having the goal of getting our "friends in need" out of the homeless assistance system and self reliant.

Some things That Upset Me in the Homeless Assistance World,,,,,

2009-04-24T15:25:00.009-04:00

Homeless People having to stand outside an HAO for more then 3 months,,,,over three years even,,,,lost,,broken,,,with no creative assistance from the HAO's and the community, City governments etc.

People having to live, take up residence in their cars in this country for any length of time.

Children in this country going without any hope of food for the next however many hours,,,,,see http://www.ccmileecounty.com/childhoodhungerawarenesscampaign.html for their campaign against Child Hunger.

Ever seen what happens when a homeless drug user is taken from living in the woods for 18 yrs give them an SSI check & housing? And then the HAO walks away and basically says ,,,good luck! It is horribly devastating and the person will most usually end up homeless again in a short time. This is being set up to fail. NOT acceptable and that organization should lose its funding as far as I am concerned.

HAO's? What does it stand for??

2009-04-24T15:04:00.005-04:00

HAO's stands for my abbreviation of: Homeless Assistance Organizations - We Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life are one of them. HOWEVER, we are striving to be different,,,not of the norm. Our processes are different and our beliefs in how we handle the homeless community and their situations are different.

Personal Belongings of the Homeless VS the HAO's,,,

2009-04-24T14:59:00.020-04:00

Personal Belongings:
We have a problem, one that can be difficult yes. I know we as HAO's have to take control but we need to keep in mind as we do this, the control needs to be consistent, gentle, like a "Gentle Giant". The "friends" we assist look up to us in many cases and we have a "responsibility" to be that "Gentle Giant". Oh, I know we also must be tough many times,,,,but tough can be done in a way so people know you actually care.

In the following situations I am about to discuss it may look and sound as though I am placing ALL the blame on the HAO's. It is not about "blame." It is about "Responsibility."

The Situation:
My organization Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life was involved in assisting with an elderly female in Knoxville, TN who is very difficult. She is a professional chronically homeless person who can be very uncooperative, but not impossible. I do not intend to compromise anyone so forgive me for being fairly general in form here. We, Straight Ahead Outreach have been part of the Critical Case Management team for Homelessness in Knoxville, TN. We stopped going to the meetings after this situation arose.

This elderly woman would go to the shelters, take buses & taxi's everywhere with all her personal belongings in tow. Up to 13 bags including a couple of large suitcases. She had been evicted from her most recent residence. I, Lance Greene of Straight Ahead Outreach facilitated the return of her apartment keys to the facility as they were holding her personal belongings until she returned the key. I convinced this elderly woman into letting me have the key to her apartment, by promising to go get her luggage, bring it to her and show her that I indeed did have it. I went to the facility, spoke with management, obtained her belongings and took them to her to show her that I had them. She then handed me the apartment keys which I returned them to the facility. I then convinced the elderly woman into letting us "store" her personal belongings at our house (we run everything out of our home - yes our personal home) She agreed and so we stored all 13 of her bags. It took up a 3x3x3 area in our shed. This way she did not have to tow them all over and they were safe. She does NOT like to be without her items, they are ALL she has in the world. Sure, some of it may be due to mental health issues, sorry,,,no excuse for not assisting.

Back to the Critical Case Management meetings. So, it came to be that someone had been putting this elderly woman up in motels to get her off the street. No one was quite sure who the person was assisting her and the "Powers That Be" wanted to get a message to this person to stop putting her up. The "Powers That Be" felt it was not helping her get off the street in the long run. I disagree 1000%. The "Powers That Be"were looking for a way to force her into complying to 'giving up her personal belongs' and actually hoped to get her off the street WITHOUT them. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!

At the Critical Case Managment meeting there was a discussion to send a directive out to all the churches in the area to NOT ASSIST this elderly woman if she came with her personal belongings in tow. She was no longer allowed to ride the City bus system, taxi companies were asked not to assist her and the emergency responders were told not to assist with her bags (some of the ambulances still did anyway). All assistance was shut down for her if she had her personal belongings with her. We, straight Ahead Outreach continued to try and assist her.
HMIS was directed to note in their system database not to assist if this woman had her bags in tow.

The the day came. She was sleeping in a bus stop on Chapman Hwy in Knoxville when a drunk driver smashed into the bus stop. She sustained major injuries and ended up in a nursing home.

WOW. I wish I could say I was speechless - but obviously I am not!!!

So, when the individual who had been trying to put her in motels told me this story of her being hit by a drunk driver as she slept, I was so angry I could barely speak with him. I was running all this crap through my head,,,,,What could I have done! What could I have done! I should have done more! DAMNIT! I should have spent more hours with her,,,I had spent many late hours already ,,,many. I should have fought the Powers to Be more! I should have taken them to task! I wanted to go straight to them and tell them to remove their Mission Statement plaques off their walls and take another look at why they are in this business!

Instead, it pushed me harder to want to "Change the Face of Homelessness". I decided to re-direct my anger into a more positive direction and re-positioned myself to do even more on behalf of the Homeless. One is by creating this blog. Another is by creating my new website: www.homelesscrisis.wordpress.com

I am committed, driven, creative and have the help of Jesus on my side,,,,literally.

Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking back Your Life is very small, but we do alot of great work. I feel as though we get lost in the shuffle a bit as we are not a 501c non-profit. Most of what we do comes out of our own pockets except for "gifts" from a handlful of very special people.

We have only collected a total of $1720.00 in the last 23 years I have been doing this.
ALL of it was in the last year. Crazy huh?

Point of the story:
We are very small. We run everything out of our home.
If we can store someones personal belongings for over a month, then the larger, high-budget HAO's have the same "Responsibility". Yes, "Responsibility".

We would have stored her belongings longer but she needed them back and was in a motel.
Do I expect HAO's to provide storage and a process to accomodate this need?
MOST DEFINITELY! You welcomed them through your doors.

It is NOT in your budget? Then one of the executive's should take a pay reduction for the next year or two or whatever it takes to put this in place.
You are in this for the Homeless,,,correct? Or am I missing something?
You are in this for the very same people
YOU, YOU invite through your doors and state in your Mission Statement on your brass plaques that you will help.

We need to be more creative, yes, forceful at times but very creative. If we set out a directive to not assist someone then we have separated ourselves, the HAO's from the one-on-one that person so desparately needs.

In defense of the HAO's who cut this elderly woman off, they did try for quite some time to help her with her bags and assist her. I just think they made a big mistake, they lost focus.

In another case:
One of our "friends" who was being assisted by another local HAO had her bag spray painted with flourescent orange spray paint by one of the "Day Room" workers. A big "X" on it. It was a nice bag given to her by a donor, a $70 bag. They ruined it. Ruined it. All because of a ego out of control. Sorry, there was a different more creative way to handle this. It is up to us HAO's to figure this out. It is our "Responsibility."

I have said it many times and I will say it again here.,, "We" in the "Assistance Organization World" (HAO's) most definitely have a major "RESPONSIBILITY" to assist those we welcome through our doors. Do not just make it part of your Mission Statement and put it on a plaque in your entry way in order to solicit funds,,,,MEAN IT.

If a person - remember they are people, is welcomed through our doors and they refuse our assistance and leave,,then that is on them. If they return to ask again and we push them away that is on US. If they do leave, it does not mean we do not have a responsibility to seek them out and try try again to pull them around.

Be the "Gentle Giant."

Thank you

Lance Greene-Founder- Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life

Please,,,,,,,It could happen to you or I,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

2009-04-24T14:59:00.019-04:00

Please do not ever forget,,,U or I could be homeless at any moment,,no matter what our wealth is,,,,how would YOU want to be treated?

Where to Start,,,,,,,,,,,,

2009-04-23T00:46:00.002-04:00

Man this just is not going to be pretty,,,,,Some may not be happy with, agree or like what I say,,,,but here we go,,,,

There are a few reasons in the last year that I have become so much more serious, intense and stubborn about my drive to "Change the Face of Homelessness" and also to change the attitiudes of many of the Homeless Assistance Organizations(HAO). I will attempt to describe the issues here as best I can. They are vast, sometimes complicated, gray-liners but I "Have To" address them.

I will begin with a few examples from the last year, which have really pushed me over the edge to step up my efforts in this work that I do. They will seem like generalizations, but trust me they are real and very specific.

When I say "we", I am typically meaning the HAO's(Homeless Assistance Organizations) or any type assistance organization for that matter,,,BUT NOT all of them.

1) I will touch on the handling of "personal belongings" issue.
2) The bringing of a Homeless individual from the woods/streets into housing and receiving disability checks.
3) The prescibing of medications(anti-depressants) to the Homeless.
4) The mentalities of HOA's and providing of food, clothing, tents, etc to those on the streets.

More tomorrow 4/23/09 as I need some sleep,,,thanks for stopping by!

Here We Go,,,,,,,

2009-04-22T23:56:00.007-04:00

First of all, I am NOT new to this thing we call Chronic Homelessness or Homelessness in general for that matter. I have been in it and Suicide Prevention for almost 24 years. I am tired of seeing complacency in the Homeless Assistance World and aim to change the attitudes of it.

We are: Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your LIfe

Our Website: http://sites.google.com/site/straightaheadoutreach/Home

Yes, I believe I get my talents from Jesus, all of them, however I am not the type to say "Have a Blessed Day". Forgive me if that makes you uneasy. I have a very close very intimate relationship with Jesus and he has helped or allowed me to help many people going on over 23 years since 1985. He uses me as a tool. Period. I am honored, sometimes frustrated, sometimes very upset, but nonetheless grateful for his trust.

The work I do with the Homeless and Suicidal is all directed by Jesus, that is why it works so well. It surely is not because of me. Period.

I have never "lost one" yet and I pray to Jesus I never do. If I "lose" that means the person I am helping loses,,,,,and we surely do not want that.

Through Jesus, I strive for permanent results, not temporary. I strive to get the homeless OUT of the homeless assistance cycle NOT keep them in it.

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide a relaxing atmosphere which promotes and allows room for change.
We will strive to provide relief to the poor, distressed, underprivileged and depressed.
To ease neighborhood tensions along with combating community deterioration and the over all community delinquency.
To remove our “friends in need” from the community as a tension force and
"set them free" as a viable, positive contributing force to the community as a changed, New Person via their own strengths, their peers’ assistance and our assistance.

To be creative in our approach to the issues.

Having the goal of getting our "friends in need" out of the homeless assistance system, self reliant and our friends for life.

I am a NEWBIE at Blogging!!! :-))!

2009-04-22T19:07:00.000-04:00

I am very much a newbie at this and just setting up my blog site ,,,so please bare with me while I build the page. Thanks!

Lance :-))!