Chilly + Be Kind

“My name is Chilly. I’ve been in the hospital for three months. I just got out and have been living on the streets since I don’t have enough money to get home to my wife.”

“I’ve had people say all kinds of mean things to me. Some people will just say they got nothing for me, but one guy pulled a pistol on me and told me to get away from his car. But it’s ok, cause there’s always some good people out there.”

“My wife is my everything. She’s what keeps me going out her. Herand God. She had a stroke so she depends on me to take care of her. I’m just trying to get back to her.”

We were able to get Chilly the funds to get home to his wife. But he reminded us how easy it is to end up on the streets because of a medical emergency. Be kind to people, because you never know when it could be you on the other end of your words.

LBW Team

Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness

This week, Love Beyond Walls got an amazing opportunity to support many students experiencing homelessness at Frank McClarin High School. We recently learned that many students in this school are fighting homelessness as they try to gain an education to better their lives.

The school is located less than a mile away from our Center in College Park.

With the support of many generous donors, we were able to provide resources to single teen mothers and the daycare housed at the school.

As days go on, we will continue working with this school and among its students. Why? Because we see education being a tool that can be used to overcome the plight of poverty.

Thank you for you continued support of our work!

LBW Team

Editor [Johnny Taylor] – Voiceless

After taking a journey through five states, we were able to learn more about how poverty affects people across the U.S.

In this short video, Johnny Taylor gives insight as to who this film is for and who will relate after watching the footage.

Johnny serves as one of the editors of the “Voiceless” film. To learn more, visit lovebeyondwalls.org/voicelessfilm

Editor [Johnny Taylor] – Voiceless from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

LBW Team

Housing & Employment

The single greatest gift we can give to another person is empowerment.

As we continue to move toward the warm weather season and begin enjoying all of the activities that are offered to us in our city, we need to remember that there are people and families still continuing to struggle to make it through each day.

Currently in Atlanta, there are an average of 4,000 beds available each night, for an average of 6,000 + people who need them. That means that there is a 2,000 + deficit in available beds.

Many people that are currently living within the homeless population underwent a major life crisis that led them there, and they are either unsure of how to get themselves out of the situation, or have lost the means to do so.

As our focus continues to be empowerment, we are beginning to explore more options that could be made available to the population, to help them find stability in employment and housing. This is very much so a “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” scenario. Getting a job will enable people to get housing. However, without housing, it’s difficult for people to present themselves well enough to get a job.

As we move forward, we continue to recognize the need for us to work together as a city wide collaboration effort to combat the homelessness epidemic here. Many people who read our blog and stay current with our organization, not only have many talents to contribute to the cause, ideas to share that could bring more insight, but also potentially the means to help empower a group of people who otherwise could be stuck in a cycle.

If you have any special skills, talents, or resources that you would like to contribute to our cause, please contact us. Thank you!

Jamie