Okay. Okay.I was a skeptic. I didn’t believe that Housing First could work in Memphis, or any other city that didn’t have an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team. Why didn't I believe it?    

I believe that everyone who is really aware of homelessness and/or homeless people wants to see an end to homelessness. Nobody wants to end it more than those who've been "literally homeless," e.g. slept in shelters, on the streets, or other places "not meant for human habitation," and those who care about them. That includes those of us who have worked for years (or decades) to help homeless people break the cycle of

There’s at least one “street uncle” on the downtown streets of Memphis. I didn’t even know we had one

This a must read for people who wonder how well the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s focus on Housing First works—or not. When dozens of chronically homeless people with varying, untreated disabling conditions are placed in apartments with little or no supportive services, the outcome is, unfortunately, predictable and ultimately unsustainable, especially in cities with extremely high rental costs.

Aren’t sure? If so, it's not surprising. Originally the term “catalyst” was a scientific term to describe a combustible. However, more recently, definitions of a catalyst (per Webster's New World Dictionary) include…

The holidays are coming and lots of people of good will be doing whatever they can do to help those who are homeless. Many, if not most, will be volunteering to serve food at shelters, churches and "soup kitchens." Most will feel better when they leave. Some, or many, may walk away wishing they could do more.

Following are the 12-Steps I wrote (and tried to follow) when the frustrations that went hand-in-hand with spending most of my time trying to help homeless people break the cycle of streets, shelters, and, for far too many, jails, became overwhelming.

If you're a librarian, this rose is for you. "Brenda" was waiting for me inside Cossitt Library, Memphis’ small but historic downtown library where she, and other homeless people often spend their days, knowing they'll be safe, accepted, and treated well, just the same as other patrons.