Jessie hated homeless people.
“I despised anyone who was living off the system. I blamed them for my life being hard. In a drunken rage, I threw beer cans and even kicked them. I thought I was better than them.”
Once Jessie flew into a rage because the man in front of him in the grocery checkout line was buying Cheetos and Red Bull with his EBT card (food stamps). “I chased him out of the store, chased him all the way to his car. I’m beating on his window trying to drag him out of his car to fight him…with my girlfriend and my son in the car behind him.”
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Homelessness doesn't begin with a lack of housing. Most of the time, it begins with a lack of healthy relationships.
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The emotional and psychological scars are not immediately visible, but they're just as real as the bruises. Helping homeless women and children takes time, consistent love and support, a commitment to building trust.
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God's design for family is perfect. But our families aren't. Pastor Sonny talks about why family is so important and how we can help our residents experiencing the consequences of family breakdown.
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Dr. Mark Baird explores the long-term consequences when people go through childhood trauma.
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Research confirms what we see working closely with homeless or addicted people: Childhood trauma has extensive long-term consequences. Still, there is hope in God's healing power.
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When we've experienced trauma and brokenness, we can truly take refuge in Jesus and not our own abilities. There, he shows us he was near all along.
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Kevin came to UGM for a meal and protection from the snow. Now, he’s an alumnus of the LIFE Recovery Program – and, as he says, “a whole different person.”
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Our community is generous: UGM and other charities must be accountable to them not just for the temporary relief of suffering but for long-term change.
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The task of learning can be very difficult for people who grew up with trauma. UGM's Vocational Education Centers specialize in overcoming those obstacles.
