Rev. Andy's Blog

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

What Real Love Means

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Deconstructing Skid Row

As I stood speaking next to an LAPD Patrol Officer, a gentleman lay still on the sidewalk, covered in a sheet. He had not awakened that morning due to what appeared to be an overdose of heroin. Other folks in the same dire straits walked past and made signs of the cross, respectfully prayed, or blessed the man now departed.

The officer asked, "What is it going to take to change this area?" I shared the usual answers: the difference and improvement the LAPD has made through the Safer Cities Initiative, the increased outreach, the building of permanent supportive housing and the plans to build more. But then I said what I believe needs to be said, "This plan to corral/contain homelessness in the 50 square block area known as Skid Row over the past several decades has created, what I describe as, the worst human made disaster in the United States. Dropping off, dumping, and gathering all of our County's most challenged, struggling, and, sometimes, desperate folks into one dense area has done the area and those individuals undue harm."

My friends who are homeless would be best served if they could regularly connect with other healthy people in a community surrounded and filled with Hope. This is the reason why Union Rescue Mission founded Hope Gardens Family Center, far from the mean streets of Skid Row. The transformational locale and community has done wonders for the spirit of our moms and children. We moved ahead with the plan for Hope Gardens because of our own convictions, but also do to a study by University of Southern California which stated that our friends who are homeless would best be served in their own regions, in smaller facilities, away from the mean streets of Skid Row.

As CEO of one of the largest Mission's of its kind west of the Mississippi river and as President of the Los Angeles Central Providers Collaborative on Skid Row, I now truly believe we need 100 facilities like Hope Gardens for each of our men, women, and children homeless in our communities. Skid Row, as we know it, and the policies of containment and corralling need to be deconstructed and disestablished for the good of our community and the good of the individuals we are trying to assist, encourage, and provide a hand up and out of homelessness.

Add your comments here

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Thankful Man

Add your comments here

This past Sunday was my birthday - my 50th birthday! I never thought I would make it to 40! In fact, I almost did not.

I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 36 years and had a heart attack at 37 and survived. Not only did I make it to 40, but now I am 50 and feeling pretty strong, walking and working out regularly, even with a permanently broken foot in 5 places. In a matter of 6 weeks, I became a Grandpa and turned 50. I feel a bit, actually, like I have finally arrived!

For my birthday, I went out to Union Rescue Mission’s Hope Gardens Family Center and climbed to the top of one of the surrounding hills to look at the 30,000 acres burned by a wildfire on Sunday, Oct. 12th. The area around Hope Gardens was completely burned and destroyed. Fire had burned to the western edge of Hope Gardens. Fire had burned the area to the eastern edge, even burned all around our water tank. Our southern most wooden bridge and our northern most bridge burnt up, but God’s hand, good planning, and the Herculean efforts of our area fire departments miraculously saved Hope Gardens. Our alert staff, security and the Sheriff evacuated everyone safely that Sunday and all were taken care of by our loving staff at Union Rescue Mission downtown.

While at Hope Gardens on Sunday, I visited our Senior Ladies living in permanent supportive housing at Sequoia Lodge. I thanked the Lord that their lives had been saved from the fire and they did not find themselves homeless once again. I discovered that the fire had burned right up to within 5 feet of the Sequoia Lodge building. Thank you, Lord!

I also said “Hi” to our moms and children living in transitional housing at Hope Gardens and watched the children play. Again, I was so thankful that these precious little ones did not have to face homelessness again- thanks to God’s goodness and grace and the community’s efforts to provide and protect. I heard last night that my little 5 year-old buddy, Guy, dreadlocks and all (I call him the honorary Mayor of Hope Gardens), was praying with the group who returned to Hope Gardens and said, “Thank you, God, for not burning the trees!” Then he and the group shouted, “Praise be to God!” I echo that sentiment.

We at URM are facing extremely difficult financial times. More folks, especially families, are coming to us in need at this time. We’ve even added another floor to house families devastated by the economic downturn, at a time when giving is way down, but the Lord has orchestrated the sale of one of our adjacent properties right on time. It will provide some much needed funds that will help carry URM and Hope Gardens for a time while, hopefully, the economy gets a chance to recover and we gear up to raise sufficient funds to operate both facilities. The timing could not have been better or closer!

Thank you, Lord. You are too good to me. You are too good to URM. I am an extremely thankful man. Blessings, Rev. Andy B.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season?

Add your comments here

Monday, October 13, 2008

How URM Responds to Depression/Recession

Add your comments here

Launched 117 years ago, Union Rescue Mission faced a challenge similar to what it appears we are facing right about 79 years ago, as the Great Depression hit the US and Los Angeles. During those tough years, URM actually expanded its services to meet the need - one point in time URM was feeding 50% of the hungry people in the City of Los Angeles. When we weren’t feeding people, our job training program was actively working to find employment for hundreds of desperate people hoping for work and a little money each day. This is what happens when the rest of the economic world seems to crumble around us. We can’t cut back on programs or services because the rest of the world and our fellow human beings need us more than ever.

I lied awake the entire night last Wednesday contemplating URM’s response to what appears to be coming our way. Calls to the Los Angeles County hotline from families losing their homes have doubled in recent months. The sheriff in Chicago, Illinois has put a moratorium on any further evictions after foreclosures or failure to pay rent because as he says, “there are just too many families on the streets already!”

After this sleepless night, I came in with the resolve that we will prepare for more families and not less. We have reorganized and opened up our 5th floor for families, in addition to the 4th floor of our building so that we can house double of the number of two parent families, single moms with children, and single dads with children who are coming our way in droves. We have prepared ourselves for the long haul by cutting costs where we can but increasing services and we realize that these desperate families will be staying with us for longer periods than they have in the past. We are at our normal capacity in our men’s and women’s guest areas, but we are creatively strategizing on ways that we can increase our capacity so that we don’t turn anyone in need away.

We want to live up to URM’s reputation and history of stepping up to the need during the most desperate of times. We can do this because our Hope is in the LORD and we know we can rely on our generous and faithful donors who give to others no matter how difficult things become in their own life.

Thanks to all who are helping us through this challenging time. Bless you! Andy B.

Add your comments here

A Precious Man Known Only as John

Add your comments here

The hearts of URM staff and guests are going out to a gentleman known as John, or Grimley, who was homeless and brutally doused with gasoline and lit on fire, causing his death this past Thursday evening in the Mid-Wilshire area of downtown. Our hearts also go out to the wonderful people who looked out for him each day, and to those who tried to save him from the fire.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Safer Cities Initiative - 2nd Year Anniversary

Add your comments here

As we sort through all of the commentary and controversy regarding the Safer City Initiative, the Los Angeles Central Providers Collaborative (LACPC) paused to reflect on the program with unique perspective. The LACPC is made up of many of the missions and homeless service providers in the Central City region of downtown – an area commonly referred to as “Skid Row”. We have long-standing relationships with both the housed and un-housed people most affected by Safer City Initiative efforts. We have partnered with LAPD, the Mayor’s office, City Council and the City Attorney’s office to make sure this effort fits the unique character of our community.

With the incredible growth that the downtown area has experienced, the problems and potential of the area have been magnified - the residential population has increased by 20% since 2005. Some estimates suggest that over 40,000 people will be living in this area by the end of 2008.

The good news is that in the past two years violent crime has decreased 33% and “sidewalk” deaths, which include those people who died sleeping on the sidewalks, under freeway off ramps, under bridges, and in the street generally from overdoses or neglect, is down a startling 41% as compared to 2005/2006.

The streets are cleaner, trees are trimmed, drug dealers no longer stake claim on our corners and the residents (housed and un-housed) feel safer. Today there are no drug-infested porta-potties being used for prostitution and it has been a long time since we pulled one of our neighbors out of the stench and filth only to find them dead from an overdose. There are fewer people dying from traffic deaths because jaywalking has been reduced.

Central Division is the only LAPD Division that has a pre-filing diversion program – called “Streets or Services” (SOS). This effort, initiated by social service providers, elected officials, the City Attorney, LAPD and others, recognizes that the problems that perpetuate homelessness and poverty are not addressed by incarceration. Instead, programs that encourage people to recognize and address underlying issues provide a higher level of benefit for both that individual and the community. Out of all of the narcotics arrests made in the City of Los Angeles, historically 20% have been made in the downtown area. Five LACPC partners are collaborating on a grant from the City of Los Angeles to provide beds and services for the SOS program in order to try to give some of our chronically homeless guests a way off of the streets for good.

Services are still insufficient for all who need them. We still experience more need than available resources. However, we envision a day where we have the increase in services, and specifically dollars, to support that need. The economy has hit all non-profits hard and while we are suffering to make ends meet – our clientele is growing. The City of Los Angeles needs to continue to invest in our community which is home to people who have some of the most severe mental health and addiction issues you will find anywhere.

A few years ago we all realized it was imperative that this community make changes in order to provide safety and an environment that promotes community pride and ownership.

The efforts of the entire community have resulted in an improvement in quality of life. Is it perfect? Not yet. But a clear line has been drawn in the sand. We are a community of people that deserve the opportunity to live, work, recover and play in a safe and clean environment. There is a new pride in the neighborhood. There is still more work to be done. More resources have to be committed, but clearly we have made significant strides in our quest to end lawlessness and foster an environment that encourages respect, responsibility and personal and community prosperity. We are an example of a community that believes change can happen and we are willing to invest ourselves to make it happen. I am going to see if I can organize my neighbors to take this kind of action in my own home community! - Andy B.

What can you do to create an environment that promotes community pride and ownership in your neighborhood?

Do you think this will make a difference?

Here is a list of Union Rescue Mission’s local officials, if you’d like to thank them for their support.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Councilwoman Jan Perry
County Supervisor Gloria Molina

Add your comments here

Friday, September 26, 2008

Faithful Friends Bringing Us Through

Add your comments here

I received a call from the Los Angeles Business Journal asking about the effect of the current financial turmoil and impending disaster is having on our fundraising and our Mission. I’d like to share my answers with you.

The need and demand for our services is up with more single people, more two parent families, single fathers with children, and, in a couple of cases, even former donors, coming to Union Rescue Mission and appearing at our doors in need of help. At the same time, giving to our Mission has dropped, about 17% so far this year compared to last year, and dropped off even more significantly in the last 10 days. More need with fewer resources is a very challenging combination. Each day we are meeting to strategize on cost cutting in order to make it through this difficult time while still stepping up to meet the extra need.

The reasons we have made it this far vary but we do believe there are two categories of faithful friends out there who sustain us during this tough time. We have a group of donors (1,450 in number) who give regularly each week or month, in gift amounts between $14.00 to $25.00, even $100 up to $500. I believe these people are not giving from their excess, but are faithfully giving despite the pain and challenge it brings to their own lifestyle. They believe so strongly in caring for the “least of these” that Jesus Christ spoke of and offering hope to people who have run out of hope that they are willing to sacrificially give despite the hardship it brings on them. It is hard for me to describe the appreciation that I feel for these 1,450 faithful friends of Union Rescue Mission.

The next group of donors helping us through this hard season is a constant surprise and gives us the opportunity to be astonished from time to time. These are precious folks from the “Greatest Generation”, who remembered our guests when they wrote out their wills and estates. This group usually comes out of the first group that I described above. They often faithfully gave a regular, though not an extraordinary total amount, throughout their lifetime, and yet, shortly after they have left this world, Union Rescue Mission is notified that they remembered us, and we are alerted to the fact that a large gift, possibly greater than $100,000, is on its way. When it arrives, as one did yesterday, we gather around as a team, ring a wonderful bell made for the Mission by a dear friend, and remember this generous, loving person, pray as a group and thank our Lord for the provision that allows us to carry on with this needed work and ministry. Yesterday, we received two of these gifts. These gifts are literally carrying us through difficult times when we seriously are wondering if we will make it through. These friends planned ahead and now are unaffected by these tough financial times, but they are making a huge difference in our lives and more importantly in the lives of our guests.

I plan on joining this group of difference makers. I have placed URM in my estate plans. If you would like to be this kind of difference maker please contact dhutson@urm.org. Keep us in your prayers! Andy B.

Add your comments here