In 1989, the Bethesda Center opened to serve and improve the lives of the homeless in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and beyond by providing shelter and housing along with stabilization services and case management. The facility is a 365-days-a-year day shelter, night shelter and emergency night shelter, equipped to house up to 100 men and women each night, expanding when needed to accommodate and turn no one away. The task of serving the homeless is an outreach that only happens when people step up and support the Bethesda Center with financial help and donations. Currently, the Bethesda Center is experiencing a strain in finances, leading to shortened hours and services. In order to encourage donations, the interim executive director of the Bethesda Center and associate pastor of Agape Faith Church, Chris Leab, is addressing the misconceptions of the homeless and how giving someone a hand up can make all the difference for his or her future.
The Misconceptions of Being Homeless
In his role as the interim executive director, Chris Leab often hears of the misunderstandings people have of homeless individuals.
“There is so much misconception about the homeless community. Many think the homeless are just lazy people with drug problems. Yes, we deal with substance abuse, but many of our residents are very humble, sweet, older people, who have had a number of things happen to them in life that have left them in transition. We have seen a number of people lose their homes because of landlords increasing rents beyond what they can pay, so they are forced to move out without having anywhere else to go. In actuality, these could be our moms and dads, our brothers and sisters. The truth is, these individuals don’t want to be in their situations. Many have given up hope, but let me tell you, we have a staff that absolutely loves our residents. That’s why it’s been so difficult to cut our day shelter hours. We worry about our residents, especially the vulnerable ones. Because of the misconceptions, people don’t always give to support the homeless,” said Chris.
Funding for the Bethesda Center is at a critical need and, in order to maintain quality services, the Bethesda Center needs community support which has been a cornerstone of the facility.
Going Above and Beyond in Our Community
The Bethesda Center has served for the past 35 years as a life changing lifeline, offering not only shelter, but laundry facilities, computer and internet, permanent housing, family reunification, mental and physical health care, along with case management to assist in those reentering the workforce, as well.
Helping the homeless to have a different perspective on their situation also comes with the services provided by the Bethesda Center. Sometimes, just knowing there is someone cheering you on and helping you to look for a job and believe that better days are ahead makes all the difference.
“Our caseworkers are often instrumental in getting our residents back into the workforce. This is a service that has made an impact on many, and we hope to expand this service in the future. Currently, the case management program at the Bethesda Center meets each individual where he or she is because everyone has different experiences and needs. The caseworkers provide homeless individuals with guidance in understanding the barriers that prevent their ability to live on their own. We are dedicated to not only providing immediate shelter, but also fostering long term health and self sufficiency, both are necessary for our residents,” Chris commented.
Moving Forward with a Mission
In order to continue with the mission of assisting homeless individuals, the Bethesda Center needs funds and accepts donations of supplies.
“We would love for people to become monthly partners with $25, $50 or $100 a month which will go a long way to help our most vulnerable. This is very helpful with our current budget needs. Right now, our budget is a little more than a million dollars a year, but we would need to increase that to keep up with rising costs and needed improvements. People can also donate in other ways with prepared food as we try and provide something for our guests to eat, toiletries and washing powders. There is a list of needs on our website which can be purchased through the Bethesda Amazon wishlist,” stated Chris.
For more information on the Bethesda Center and how you can help or to make a donation, visit bethesdacenter.org. If you would like information on how to volunteer, contact Pastor Chris Leab at Pastorchris@bethesdacenter.org.
