Mailed to subscribers only. Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this message.
March, 2007
Chaplain Dave Goodall
|
Chats with the Chaplain
Let me start with the story, which ended the last newsletter. We finally, after 4 months were able to get the young man's birth certificate. We did this through "people searches" finally locating an uncle by writing letters to 12 men with the same name in hopes that one would reply. One did and helped us get a birth certificate. The results are a job, an apartment and a wedding.
February has been a short month but a busy one. Between ECH and Justa Center, our new center for homeless senior citizens, we have added 374 clients to our rolls, many of which seek or have sought services from both facilities. Costs and numbers of birth certificates continue to rise. Cook County, IL just raised the cost of theirs by 30%. Each birth certificate ordered also represents $.78 in postage, two envelopes, paper, copying and time. We now spend more than $75.00 per month in postage. Every day, a fist full of birth certificate applications goes to the post office. The up side is that every day, someone gets a birth certificate in the mail and gets a chance at a new life. Susann Palmer, our first Administrative Assistant has been learning to do birth certificates very quickly. It's not as easy as it sounds, because every state and every county are different. All have different forms, requirements, and fees. One could do weeks of birth certificates before even repeating one once, so every day is a new adventure.
Our second Administrative Assistant started today. Ralph Spencer brings business, government and computer experience. His job will overlap Susann's a little, but he will have some very different duties as well. The presence of these two people, with our volunteers, gives me the time to work on some more difficult cases as well as some new opportunities evolving on the Human Services Campus. We have begun having monthly memorial services for those who have died on the street in the past month. We have had one funeral service for a woman who died on the campus. The Chaplaincy often has next of kin information, and sometimes even a picture to share with family and friends.
We can thank Eddie Smith of our Board of Directors for this great story. Ten days ago, he received a call on his cell phone from a woman who said she heard he knew how to get birth certificates. Not sure how she got his number, he gave the information to me. She turned out to be the wife of an 80-year-old man who had never been able to get his birth certificate. A midwife in Mississippi delivered him and the birth was never recorded. They have made two trips to the office so far to start the task of gathering documents. It looks like we'll be able to do what no one else has done for this wonderful gentleman. I'll keep you posted. We are known as document problem solvers, and we deserve that recognition. Please remember that it is your continuing support that has made this possible.
Thank you, and God bless you all,
Dave Goodall, Chaplain
Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless
1125 W. Jackson St.
Phoenix AZ 85007
Phone: 602-417-9853 - Fax: 602-258-2675
Website: www.azhomeless.org
E-mail: chaplaindave@azhomeless.org