Faith Mission

Yesterday I went to visit Faith Mission, which despite the fact that it is mainly housed in a neat old church downtown and displays pictures of Jesus like this one : (JesusNeedsNewPR picture), informs me that their services are not faith based. They are doing a great job of sheltering and feeding strangers, so they are practicing some good doctrine anyways. In reality, they are going above and beyond servicing their community. In addition to sheltering as many homeless men and women as they can at night, they serve 3 meals a day, provide a computer/phone bank, help people sign up for public benefits with the Benefit Bank (YAY!), and, get this: have a fully equipped vision, dental, and medical care facility. I was floored when I saw the little offices complete with waiting rooms, dental chairs, and those scary eye puff machines. All staffed by volunteer medical providers in the area. Columbus residents, I am so proud of you. This is fantastic stuff!

The only problem, my guide at Faith Mission tells me, is that there is a waiting list every night for beds. This is not a unique situation, every single other shelter in Columbus has people on the street waiting to get in. Every night. The shelters are struggling to build their capacity to meet the needs of their community. It’s funny, they are seeing an increase in the number of people needing help. So are a lot of other emergency help sites across the city. Unemployment checks are also simultaneously to this phenomenon stopping being administered to people who can’t find jobs. It’s funny. And by funny, I hope you know I mean funny in a not-so-much-funny-but-really-sad way.

See this article for more information about losing benefits currently.

'A' for effort to Faith Mission and other organizations like them, tirelessly working to serve the community.