Scene from a homeless encampment known as the Jungle last year.
Scene from a homeless encampment known as the Jungle last year. The Stranger

The 8th Annual Congregations for the Homeless (CFH) fundraiser took place recently at the Bellevue Presbyterian Church and was attended by nearly 400 of the Eastside's socially aware uppercrust. The emcee, Sterling Bentsen, who is also the CFH community liaison, apologized for the crowded space, saying that it was to give the audience a feel for the conditions we homeless face daily in the shelters.

During the fundraiser, CFH board chairman Pat McDermott and CFH executive director David Bowling each spoke about the accomplishments CFH has made in the past year. In that time, 70 people were housed directly from the streets; 84,000 meals were served; and 57,621 bed-nights were provided. Fifty-nine percent of those who entered CFH shelters exited to housing as opposed to returning to the vagaries and uncertainty of life on the streets. And in terms of the continued success of those housed, 92 percent remained in stable housing after two years.

The expansion and renovations currently being finished up on the eastside winter shelter at Lincoln Center are indicative of the success CFH has had moving people off the streets and onto the path of independence. When completed in November, the newly revamped shelter will house and feed up to 100 men. They will have access to indoor shower and laundry facilities, and a full kitchen is being installed as well as offices for caseworkers and volunteers to help shelter residents access and navigate the resources available to them. Much of the renovation work was provided at cost by local contractors and construction firms.

At the event, two CFH alumni, now in stable housing and with full-time employment, were featured in a short video discussing their routes into homelessness and how CFH helped them persevere and make their way back into hopeful and fulfilling lives. One overcame corneal cancer, which consumed his savings, 401K and retirement, leaving him on the streets. The other gentleman lost his longtime position to massive downsizing during the economic collapse of 2008 and slid into a battle with alcohol. Both of these men overcame the challenges they faced and climbed back into stable lives primarily through their determination and the help and support of the caring people and resources made available through CFH.

Finally, the gift request was made by the Reverend James N. McEachran. Pulling his keys from his pocket, he said, “Here are my keys. I have one for my car, one for my home and one for my place of work. Imagine waking up tomorrow to a cold morning having none of these.”

I am certain that there are a few cynical souls who will accuse many of those at the fundraiser of being motivated by guilt. However, I strongly suspect that most of those in attendance know that they have been lucky in life. The people I spoke to were unassuming, pleasant, friendly, and carried auras of kindness. Most have had setbacks in their lives and surely know full well how close catastrophe sweeps by, barely missing the majority of us almost daily.

Allen Benson is former small business owner who is currently homeless and living on the Eastside.