House our Disabled and Homeless Neighbors

Many of us remember what it was like when we got our very first paycheck. The sense of freedom and opportunity that came with having our own income was liberating and sometimes overwhelming. For some of us it meant we could see movies with friends, or begin to save up for a car. For many of us it meant we had to contribute to household expenses – but for all of us, we remember how empowering and independent we felt with our own income. For the first time, we could look towards the future and set realistic financial goals for ourselves.

For any of us, losing the ability to work would mean losing this independence and ability to plan for the future. But it would also mean a lot more: It means losing a sense of purpose that has been forged over decades of meaningful work. It means losing a sense of belonging amongst coworkers and friends, colleagues and a support system. And for someone experiencing homelessness, it means losing a way to access safe and stable housing. Many of our guests at Micah have experienced this devastating loss but there is still hope for guests in this situation.

Micah serves many guests with disabilities by helping them apply for benefits that allows them to regain income stability and the means to escape homelessness. In order for our guests to be approved for these much needed benefits, they need to see a specialist doctor who will assess their condition and provide evidence to determine their disability status. Without seeing a doctor, their chance of accessing stable income and having the means to end their homelessness is significantly impacted.

Recently, one of our guests started dancing when I told him he was approved for benefits. I started dancing too! He talked about how he could pay his rent, save up for a car, and finally pay back money he borrowed from family. For him, this money meant restoring his independence, freedom, and dignity. It meant he could keep his housing and no longer fear returning to homelessness.

This is just one of many reasons I hope you will consider taking Micah's Love Your Neighbor challenge with me this fall. The Love Your Neighbor challenge is Micah's annual effort to gather resources for cultivating community and caring for neighbors. To take the challenge, all you have to do is commit $2 a day for as many days as you can and start giving. You can give weekly ($14), monthly ($60), quarterly ($180), every six months ($360) or even make a one time gift of $730.

My goal is to raise enough money to move five more people from the street to permanent housing next year. Did you know that $730, or one complete year of giving $2, is a substantial contribution toward a rental deposit on a new apartment? I hope you will consider taking the love your neighbor challenge with me and start your own fundraiser for the cause.