Reducing Homelessness, Increasing Hope: The Gideon Group of N. Texas

Posted in DMN Briefing Columns, Love & Living by

Inches of snow, wind chills below zero, burst pipes, and a poorly-maintained power grid unprepared to handle the demand for heat: Valentine’s Day 2021 and the days that followed will be memorable for all the wrong reasons this year, thanks to millions subjected to loss of power and unable to remain warm, cook meals or even drink running water in their own homes. The explanations and implications of ERCOT’s deregulation and resulting power crisis are still fluid and ripe for examination in another column, but what cannot be disputed are the extreme weather conditions like these that disproportionately impact the homeless.

As of January 2019, according to information supplied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by Continuums of Care, the state of Texas had over 25,000 people in a state of homelessness, including young adults, veterans, and family households. While cities and organizations regularly attend to the immediate needs of the homeless in extreme conditions like the ones we’ve recently faced, providing temporary shelter and meals, other groups, such as the Gideon Group of North Texas, take the next step and hope to transition the homeless from short-term assistance to long-term and optimistically, more permanent housing and independence. During a recent phone call, Garland resident and founder Larry Walker, of The Gideon Group, explained the ministry’s mission, the steps they take to transition those in need, and why the solutions can vary from one individual and family to the next:

When did you realize there was an acute need for assisting people into long-term housing?

“I think it arose while seeing it daily for over a decade at both the job—I work full-time for the nonprofit Anthem Strong Families— and while heading The Matthew 25:40 Project and other ministries focused on the community’s homeless. The weather’s created a crisis that can be deadly, and it’s good to see people helping others to get them off the streets, provide good nutrition, a shower and other comforts that give them some of their dignity back. But that’s just the first step: there can be a hodge-podge set of issues that they can be dealing with, so there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution. It takes a long-term connection to affect a lasting change in their outcome.”

How does the Gideon Group address those issues?

“As they are being sheltered, we combine with other experts to offer about twelve weeks of intense workshops, providing connections with accountability mentors and coaching that lasts throughout the year. Some people’s circumstances have dictated their homelessness: they’ve lost a job, are victims of divorce, domestic violence, some are recently freed from incarceration. Those may be first-time experiences for some and they will need assistance and resources through managing money and dealing with their families.”

How is it determined who needs what?

“We partner with other groups to administer evidence-based assessments: a Behavioral Education Index, Acute Childhood Trauma Survey, a Criminal Assessment Survey, to start. It’s about identifying who they are, learning their needs and strengths. and helping them find careers versus jobs. My particular emphasis has been on fathers, men want to become better examples to their kids. Even while homeless, most want to be good parents.”

What can more communities do to help the homeless?

“I wish Garland had more organizations, apartment complexes, and homeowners more willing to assist. We gotta get away from this mindset of ‘not in my backyard’: Not all of these folks are going to bring negativity, many bring positives to their neighborhoods and would actually help them thrive. One other thing that would help is communication, we don’t try to get to know one another the way we used to or learn about who’s in our neighborhood. Eventually, it can become, “Hey Joe, I didn’t know you were a mechanic.” “Ken, you can do bodywork?” “Hey Sarah, you do hair braiding and child care?” Then people can barter services and build trust. That makes all the difference in the world.”