News At Davidson Street...

I received a startling text message this morning from my friend Kim telling me that she had just received a starling e-mail saying there were emergency vehicles at Davidson Street -- one of the bigger homeless camps in our city. We have a number of friends living under that bridge, so we were obviously concerned. I went out and drove under the bridge to find...NOTHING! Everything was gone, it was bare...I'd never seen it so empty! Where was everyone? What happened!

I saw my friend Darvin moving his stuff back to his spot and asked him what was going on? Apparently a tent had somehow caught on fire and the city felt the need to extinguish more than the burning tent. The whole bridge...cleared out...the entire thing! Really! You're going to take people's tents, blankets, clothes, water...EVERYTHING! And do it when it's below freezing outside...

If you watch the clip from 6News & TheIndyChannel.com you can see them carrying it all off. My favorite part is the man on probation, doing this community service and trowing away everything these people have, "I gotta ask forgiveness for doin this. This ain't right..." Oh, wait, no...an even better part is Mayor Ballard's feelings of frustration "with groups who make life on the streets possible". Hmm. Guilty. I mean, I'd rather make LIFE on the streets possible, instead of making DEATH on the streets a reality.

But there is really no point in bashing the government or our politicians, it is what it is. And I will continue to do what I feel is right and I will continue to go where the Lord leads. I'm sorry, but I won't quit loving people because someone else doesn't think I'm going about it in the right way. That's just not going to happen. If someone is hungry or thirsty or cold or sad or mad or whatever...I am going to give them food or water or a blanket or shoulder on which to cry. It's that simple. When God breaks your heart for something or someone, there is just no escaping it.

Tonight Curly, Birdman, and myself went out with One Body Ministries to check up on some of our friends...especially those at Davidson Street. It was pretty bare at the bridge. We gave out some blankets and bottled water to a few guys. Mike and Carlton were awake, so I was able to chat with them for a little while. A couple other outreach teams had already been out and brought big pieces of cardboard and Visqueen to help block the wind and elements. I'm not sure where everyone took off to, but I hope we can find most of them tomorrow night.

I also got word that Micky was taken to the hospital on Sunday. I am going to do some checking around tomorrow and see what I can't find out. Please keep Micky in your prayers. His health seems to be going downhill and I just don't know that his body can take an entire winter on the streets. As far as I know, he has no intention of going in off the streets this winter.

I don't know what is going to happen at Davidson Street this winter, but I know I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure the next time the news crews make a visit down there it isn't to report a story about one of MY FRIENDS who has frozen to death!

TDWM On Channel 8 (WISH-TV)...

Youth Homelessness Up, Advocates Say...

Child advocates say the number of homeless children in Indiana is at a staggering level and is increasing by the year.

The Indiana Youth Institute said that because the economy is still sluggish, the number of children sleeping in cars, bouncing between the homes of friends and family members and shelters grows each year.

"The No. 1 thing we need to do is create public awareness. We all need to be talking about this and be aware of this so that these homeless children don't become invisible," said Bill Stanczykiewicz of IYI.

Indiana public schools reported a 12 percent increase in the number of homeless students. The figures are based on the amount of children who are helped by federal services.

Statistics showed there were more than 8,400 homeless students during 2007-2008 school year, up from a little more than 7,500 in the 2005-2006 school year.

IYI officials said the federal tracking system did not include the estimated 5,400 kids under the age of 6 who aren’t served by public schools.
Outreach Inc., on Indianapolis' east side, is a drop in center that helps homeless teens "that functions as a one-stop shop so they can come in and get food, clothing, basic first aid, take a shower, do their laundry, talk to a case manager,” said Eric Howard, executive director of Outreach Inc.

Howard said the organization saw a jump in the number of children who rely on "survival sex."

“A significant majority of our youth admitted to being involved in survival sex, which is an exchange of a sexual act, not necessarily for money, although it could be for money, but for a place to stay, for food for shelter, just some place in which they can get off the street,” Howard said.

Organizations that help homeless children say it’s important to get children in school and in federally programs that can help them.

“The entire community can play a role through our volunteer efforts, through our charitable giving. We can all make a difference to help these folks,” said Stanczykiewicz.

© TheIndyChannel.com (http://www.theindychannel.com/news/21785932/detail.html)

Welcome Air 1...

So, I'm pretty stoked that Air 1 Radio is coming to Indy! :)
I love all the stations that I get to listen to at home on iTunes like:

XMusicOnline
TheBlast.FM
Solid Rock Radio
The Rock HD & YHot HD
Reign Radio
Lead Me To The Rock Radio
The Crossing

But, when it comes to being stuck in the car...that's a different story! And, I love all kinds of music -- seriously, down-home, back-woods country to super hard make-you-want-to-mosh metalcore...but it doesn't take too long to get a little annoyed at all the negative, vulgar, and honestly disgusting lyrics. So, it was great to hear that if I'm without my iPod or CDs, I atleast have one more option that isn't, well...lame! :)
So, if you are in Indy...Air 1 will be on 90.5 and K-Love has moved to 101.9!

\m/ Rock on, friends! \m/

Indy Soliciting Ordinance Approved...

A controversial panhandling ordinance outlawing soliciting near intersections was approved by the City-County Council Monday night after weeks of debate.

The amendment was passed by a vote of 15-13, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported.

The new ordinance makes it illegal for anyone, from beggars to charity groups, to solicit within 50 feet of a traffic light or stop sign.

The current ordinance was passed in 2005, and state law prohibits "aggressive panhandling."

Indianapolis' new ordinance doesn't even have the word "panhandler" in it. The ordinance restricts anyone holding a sign.

Detractors said the ordinance unfairly targets the poor, promotes class warfare and violates First Amendment rights.

"Youth groups should not be fined for holding car wash signs on the sidewalks," said City-County Councilor Angela Mansfield.

Those in favor of the ordinance said it addresses an ongoing safety issue, keeping motorists eyes on the road and solicitors off the street.

It was already against the law for panhandlers to enter traffic to take donations, a police officer had to witness it before making an arrest.

Police will now have the power to keep solicitors 50 feet away from traffic stopped at any intersection in the county.

Wheeler Mission, an organization that has fed, clothed and sheltered the homeless for 116 years, said the stricter ordinance will help those they serve.

They hope it will encourage more kind-hearted residents to drop money into one of five downtown donations boxes, instead of handing it to a panhandler, who may be a scam artist.

So far, the $7,000 from the drop boxes has gone directly to 47 Indianapolis agencies that directly help men, women and children living on the street.

"It's going to discourage people from giving to panhandlers and, hopefully, encourage them to give to organizations like Horizon House, Wheeler Mission, Good News and others who are really on the front lines serving the homeless," said Steve Kerr, of Wheeler Mission.

Police made 140 arrests under the current ordinance last year. This year, they have already made more than 140 arrests, with four months left in the year.

The new 50-foot rule will go into effect as soon as Mayor Greg Ballard, who supported it publicly, signs it.

© TheIndyChannel.com (http://www.theindychannel.com/news/20657061/detail.html)