It’s time to help the homeless
For over 100 years, generations of men, women and children have received assistance, encouragement and loving support through programs that met both basic needs and provided the tools to build hope, overcome obstacles and achieve self-sufficiency.
As the temperatures continue to drop, the plight of African American homeless individuals escalate and while many might be in a festive holiday mood, they will continue to search for a meal and a place to sleep.
“It is time that we do something about the fate of Blacks who are homeless,” declared Rev. Dr. E.T. Caviness of Greater Abyssinia Church. “Our women and children are sleeping on the cold floors of homeless shelters throughout the city because there isn’t enough room for them. This is a most urgent crisis.”
For the past 56 years, Rev. Caviness has established himself as a civil rights leader and a community leader in Cleveland, but he has declared there is no greater sense of urgency than the homeless crisis.
Homelessness is more pervasive than ever, as proclaimed in several recent news interviews and articles regarding so many of our women and children sleeping on the floor of the gymnasium of the City of Mission of Cleveland, Ohio. What can we do in the Faith Community to help counteract this horrendous situation to assist families who are in dire straits?
In the New King James Version of Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus articulates: “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’… The righteous answer, “When did we see you in any of these situations?” (Paraphrased). Jesus replies: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Accordingly, under the vision and collaboration of the Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness, pastor of The Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church, as well as, president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Cleveland; the pastors, ministers and evangelists of the Cleveland Clergy Coalition consisting of various faith based organizations, will be spearheading a campaign to assist the “Least of these”, specifically, our homeless women and children of Greater Cleveland.
The winter season in Greater Cleveland can be brutal, subsequently, we want to assist the City Mission of Cleveland to ensure that our women and children are not having to sleep on floors and that they will not have to remain outside in the dreadful elements.
The local City Mission of Cleveland has been serving the community for more than 100 years, focused on sharing Help, Heart, and Home with their clients.
City Mission provide for the basic needs of individuals in crisis, then invite them to become free of the mental and spiritual weights they hold on to, and lastly, assist them in finding sustainable jobs and housing.
Generations of men, women and children have received assistance, encouragement and loving support through programs that met both basic needs and been provided the tools to build hope, overcome obstacles and achieve self-sufficiency at the mission.
However, they too have become overwhelmed with the increasing number of homeless, especially during the winter season.
While many organizations are offering meals during the Thanksgiving season, Caviness has emphasized that much more needs to be done.
He is willing to start by raising donation to assist during the crisis and has began a campaign ‘The Least of These’ that began in earnest this week. For more information on how you can donate to help Rev. Caviness support the homeless contact (216) 406-6908.
