Homeless in Lubbock

Broadway and the entire Lubbock community are banding together to bring awareness to the breadth of the homeless dilemma in Lubbock.

Join us if you can.



www.innercitylubbock.org

This is a reminder and an update on the movement to provide shelter for our homeless friends in Lubbock, TX this winter.

Reminder: Prayer Vigil for the Homeless this Saturday, Oct. 18th from 8-9pm at the Mahon Library downtown (1306 9th St). Participants are also invited to spend the night on the sidewalk alongside the homeless.

The Point: Together we will ask God to provide shelter for the homeless of Lubbock, TX this winter and in the future.

Logistics:
From 8-9pm we will have a focused time of prayer during which several community leaders as well as some of our homeless and formerly homeless friends will lead prayers asking God to hear our cries and respond.
There will be access to toilets.
The ground is concrete and will be cold and hard! Participants are invited to make this experience as real as they like (e.g., sleep on cardboard, newspaper, etc.), but if you need sleeping pads they are also welcome.
During the night participants are invited to sleep, pray and get to know each other. But please be aware of those who need to sleep! Those wanting to pray or talk are asked to do so in the parking lot west of the Library.
Safety: Come in peace and expect to stand (or lie down) alongside our friends. There is no reason to fear this community or the idea of spending the night. There will be plenty of people around, we will have Police proximity and the area is well lit. But please be wise about how you participate. Here are a few tips to ensure safety:
Please stay in groups and do not go anywhere with people you do not know.
PLEASE DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ALONE WITH SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Please keep track of your valuables! Do not leave purses, cell phones or other items unattended.
If you are spending the night, try to sleep next to a few people you know.
Please do not give cash to the people on the streets; if there is a need you want to meet please try and meet the need directly (i.e., if they're hungry, give them food or a gift card)
Creativity: Most of us will be guests to the Library which has served as a "home" to many homeless people over the years. As guests we want to be a positive presence. Feel free to bring food, bottled water, hot chocolate, breakfast burritos! or anything else to share with those in need.

Shelter: Currently we do not have a facility to use as a shelter this winter! This is our main concern this winter: finding a facility with floor space, toilets and a heater. For information concerning a facility, property or donation for a shelter facility please contact Dale Milhauser at 1745@suddenlink.net or (806)368-7334.

Backup: Carpenter's church has decided to continue the prayer vigil on a nightly basis starting Nov. 1st through March 15th. We will continue to ask God to provide shelter for the homeless and we will invite our homeless friends to join us in prayer each night from 8pm to 8am until that happens. All of those who are interest in volunteering to be on a rotation for prayer and supervision please contact volunteers@innercitylubbock.org or call Chad Wheeler at (806)543-0526.

Standing together with God we can do anything! Let us stand together with the marginalized and forgotten of our society and we will house the homeless!

Check out this video produced by Aldersgate about homelessness in Lubbock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8CeCoj-kP0

Let me know if you have any questions and see you Saturday night!

Chad Wheeler
Carpenter's Church
chadwheeler@innercitylubbock.org
(806)543-0526