"The people who work at middle Tennessee's Safe Haven program said they have had to turn down hundreds of requests to help homeless families because of the tough economy."
When they're needed the most, they're unable to help because they're lacking money. In a city where, from the number of cranes arching - and buildings rising- skyward, one would think we were positively flush with cashola. Given our reputation as "friendly," one might also then assume that local businesses, concerned citizens and government officials would be running, not walking, to step up to the plate and erase the idea that somehow the Bible Belt's Buckle of benevolence and beneficence doesn't appear to want to take care of her own less fortunate community members.
You and I and the majority of other residents here know that generally speaking, this is not the case. Most Nashvillians give until it hurts, then give some more.
But the image that seems to be emanating outward from the city's core is that unless you've got plenty of money to spend while you're here, don't bother coming. Back on August 8th, City Paper reporter Nate Rau
lamented that while
"Nashville has gained a national reputation for being one of America’s friendliest cities....Some of the biggest public policy debates in Nashville’s recent history appear to be disparate issues. Many have caused tension with segments of either the city’s immigrant or minority communities."
And we've come off as downright hostile to many who are watching from afar as well.
I'd venture to add to Nate's pontificatoin here that our national reputation has also become: "if you're poor or homeless, get the hell outta here - and stay out."
Family Shelter Struggles To Help Needy
Shelter Receives Nine Calls Each Day Requesting Help
Reported By Tom Randles
POSTED: 5:57 pm CDT September 10, 2008
UPDATED: 1:34 am CDT September 11, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The people who work at middle Tennessee's Safe Haven program said they have had to turn down hundreds of requests to help homeless families because of the tough economy.
Video: Family Shelter Struggles To Help Needy
While the public agonizes over high gas prices and the soaring cost of food, others in the area are struggling to keep a roof over their heads."These are not the people that you see on the street asking for money. These people need help and want help," said Stephanie Hinson Tinnell of the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Nashville's Safe Haven program is the only area shelter program that accepts homeless families as an entire unit."We see a lot of families that come through Safe Haven that have lost their jobs or have other financial burdens, poor planning, different things like that," said Tinnell.
Last year, Safe Haven had to turn away more than 1,000 families. Over 1,000 others were forced to split up just to get assistance."For example, if we had a four person family unit, the father would most likely go to the Rescue Mission. The mother and children would go to the Family Life Center," said Safe Haven Director of Development Rachael Wilkins.
Safe Haven said they're receiving as many as nine calls a day for help, and the issues are being compounded as struggling residents from other states are moving here."Unfortunately,
what that's doing for Nashville is it's raising our homeless population and lowering their's," said Wilkins.
Safe Haven relies on volunteers and public donations and provides counseling services and training to families.They will be holding their annual Hike For The Homeless event on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Edwin Warner Park to raise funding.
Related Link:
Safe Haven
