Friday, May 24, 2013
Weather
Couple's National Crusade To Help Homeless Brings Duo To AnchorageYoung couple of Project 50/50 live on the streets to understand, help the homelessRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—A married couple is in Anchorage as part of a national crusade to tackle America’s homeless problem, state by state. It’s called Project 50/50. Shay Kelley and her husband Shane Patrick have hit 50 states in 50 weeks to learn more about homelessness. This is the couple’s second time in Anchorage.
Kelley and Patrick are not doing their work in rooms, conferences or even in an office. They are outside in parks and sidewalks across the nation in order to meet the needs of the homeless community head-on.
For Kelley, helping the homeless is pretty simple. As part of the nationwide Project 50/50, Kelley and her husband do street outreach in their own way, by going straight to people to find and bring them what they need to live another day.
“Food, clothing, hygiene products, just things like that people need to survive,” Kelley said.
And it’s not just talk. The couple goes from place to place, living a homeless lifestyle, including right here in Anchorage.
“Looks like we will be on the sidewalks, or in the parks, or wherever we can go,” Kelly said. “It’s definitely hand to mouth, day by day, week by week, but God provides.”
Kelley says their goal is to actually understand where people are coming from so they can help.
“When you can join in solidarity with a person who is in struggle, it makes a huge difference in both the way we are received,” Kelley said. “And we are received very well. That last friend or family member that would bail you out if it were life or death, imagine if you didn't even have that. That's a lot of the people out here.”
In Anchorage, shelters are crowded.
“We had 189 people stay here Tuesday night,” said Mary Beth Bragiel, the deputy director of Catholic Social Services of Alaska. “Monday, we had 226. Anchorage has a severe lack of affordable housing and until that is addressed efficiently the shelters are going to be full.”
“When someone has no other option but to sleep outdoors, criminalizing it definitely doesn’t do any good,” said Kelley, who says it’s up to the community to show the homeless population more love. “Sometimes it’s as simple as me being on the sidewalk and I meet someone who needs a new pair of shoes, post about it on Twitter or Facebook or whatever and some kind soul out there reaches out, gets that person a new pair of shoes.”
That unconditional kindness can easily be spread if people want to, she said.
Project 50/50's funding comes entirely from donations. Kelley and Patrick will be in Anchorage, going to the downtown soup kitchen, Bean’s Cafe and on the streets until Monday.
The couple will then head to Iowa to talk to homeless people there.
In comparing Anchorage to other cities, Shay said Anchorage is unique because top city officials are aiming to ban outdoor camping and sleeping on benches or sidewalks. If those proposed bans are made into law, Shay said, the city’s homeless population would only grow, because the city lacks affordable housing.
|
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
VETS FIRST said on Wednesday, Sep 7 at 4:40 PM
Any VET with any problem, homeless, mental,stress or other wise, should get 1st class treatment anytime any where. They defended us in the military wars,they deserve the utmost considerations,regardless.They are our heros, they are the reason we are still free. Remember, "FREEDOM ISEN'T FREE", they all paid a high price, some with their precious lives. GOD bless them all.
73515812Send the Homeless to ABT on Northerlights said on Wednesday, Sep 7 at 4:16 PM
With all the money the church is making by NOT paying their MOA taxes, like the rest of hard working tax payers and other churches,send the homeless to ABT.With all the money that millionaire has he can afford to put them up, for free bed and breakfast, don't ya think?
73515058CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME... said on Wednesday, Sep 7 at 12:32 PM
Send the homeless home, let them hitch hike down the Alcan, it will build character they don't have now. This bull about NOT haveing famlies is a lie. The famlies are probably sick of them leeching off them, and kicked them out. Everyone has relatives, aquatiances, friends, or family. That is a real crock.
73505468Bert Hoak said on Sunday, Jul 24 at 9:15 AM
If that "last friend or family member who would bail you out if it were life or death" isn't there, I suspect there is a very good reason. People must burn a lot of bridges if there is no one left to offer them a couch. I recognize that alcoholism is a disease...but the treatment is readily available. Feel free to build bridges for these people...and they will burn them as quick as you build them. Bert Hoak
71214431huh said on Friday, Jul 22 at 7:59 PM
they need 50 states to figure this out?
71160739sayerof truth said on Thursday, Jul 21 at 5:47 PM
If you don't mind a little devils advocate but the money that is spent on airfare for two would feed quite a few people.It's great that you want to mingle with "the people" but to me you really seem to be taking from the poor when you stay in a shelter just to mingle. I actually find it kind of pathetic to see you claiming to be doing a study while on a whirlwind cruise around the country.Speaking for my self and my disabled wife we feel insulted if you want to see what its like give up everything then forget help from family and friends see what its like to find pleasure in a cardboard box when the rain or snow comes. But any thing that can help people in need is good I just wish that people would look around more, the problem is worse than some believe once the weak and elderly start to die off and humanity for each other is gone.That is when the violence begins.Look at all once great civilizations the end comes with the turning of a head. And closing your mind to the truth.
71100886Bill said on Thursday, Jul 21 at 4:51 PM
Cheryl, just Google "Project 50/50", and you'll easily find the site. Plenty of good info there, and Shay gives advice on how you can help locally, in your area.
71098538Cheryl said on Thursday, Jul 21 at 3:40 PM
Great what you are doing for the homeless they so need a voice so many that are looked down on because they are homeless, I was there myself when I go here in 2009 and the shelter was not where I wanted to be because of the over crowding, They tag you as a drug, or alcoholic I felt I was so be little because of it and that is not always the case there are many without work no money to fall on no income, No family or friends to give them a place to sleep they are sometime left alone...I love what you are doing...If there is way to help please let me know..
71095679Add a comment
Most Popular