Host the Homeless is a community program run by my church to help the homeless and needy in our community. We see that over the last decade, while homelessness has been reduced, the problems facing the homeless have become more life-threatening. Drugs such as Meth and Crack have decimated young lives without even giving them a chance at recovery. The homeless are also now more prone to being involved in prostitution which is spreading STDs like wildfire on the streets.  Teenagers are especially vulnerable to gang activity, and this means they find a permanent home in a penitentiary, becoming hardened criminals with a certain ticket to lifetime incarceration or certain death on the streets.

Host the Homeless has been in operation for the last five years, and we currently serve many communities in Berkeley and surrounding areas.  Our staff and resources are stretched to the extreme as this area includes many little neighborhoods that need penetration and hands-on attention.  We not only provide food and clothing, but also offer rehabilitation services for drug and alcohol abuse as well as special educational programs where teenagers can learn more about higher education, earn high school diplomas and earn financial aid for community college. The church parish has contributed immensely to the success of the program. Not only do some church members volunteer their valuable time, but some families have basically sponsored teenagers, giving them housing and the opportunity to learn some basic job skills.

One good example is the story of Karis, a teenager who came into the program when she was living on the streets. Today with the help and guidance of counselors and the love and support of her program sponsors, she is attending college on a full scholarship, and looking forward to graduating next year. She is full of hope. We now need your financial support to make more people like Karis have a decent shot at life. It doesn’t take much; just a small contribution can go a long way. Please help the homeless help themselves, and have a better life.