Monday, June 25, 2012

Why People Are Homeless Part 3


Here is another example of the people we have to deal with on a daily basis...
The guys in the Center were told to take out the trash to the dumpster. They carried the barrels to the dumpster and there they sat next to it. We have two large, blue, 55 gallon plastic barrels full of rotting food and other stinky trash next to a large dumpster and they would stay there until they were FINALLY emptied into the trash. In utter frustration Fran instructed the guys to carry the barrels to the dumpster and put them in the trash. Fran said, “Annette, do you know what these people did?”
I answered, “They threw the blue barrels INTO the dumpster.”
It was the most illogical plan of action but to them-the most literal.
She emphatically replied, “Yes! The barrels were IN the dumpster.”
So Fran was in a training class with people from a partnership grant Mercy Ministries received. She explained the trash problem in a group setting. Fran told me what one of the responses was from an out-of-touch participant. He told her she needed to explain in great detail how to take out the trash step-by-step and then, send the volunteers a follow-up email. I laughed myself off the couch when I heard this “fix.”
Most of these folks don’t own a computer let alone have email. Some may even be illiterate. I asked, “That answer was not in our zip code?”
Fran corrected me, “That answer was not in our reality.”

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

If People Want to Know Why Some People Stay Homeless Part 2


Here is one example of “our” people:  A sign was posted inside the front door to Fran's office-it read, “All volunteers must sign-in” Fran complained to me that they had to take the sign down because people were signing in-ON THE SIGN!  I wished they had kept it-that would have made a funny picture.
If people want to know WHY some people stay homeless…

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Addictions-what is the difference between...


What is the difference between a crack addict and an alcoholic?  An alcoholic, when they steal your money, they just shrug their shoulders when confronted. "Oh, well, too bad," they say. A crack addict when they steal your money-they will help you look for it. 

Another difference:

A crack addict has a driver’s license and no automobile and an alcoholic has a car and no driver’s license. The druggie sells their car for drugs and the drunk is too stupid and drinks and drives and gets 1 too many DUI’s.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

How we got Mercy Manor

This story is from the Augusta Chronicle from May 2012. We were given Mercy Manor from the bank in Waynesboro, Ga. in 2009.  Our address is 644, 646, 648, 650 Crawford Avenue. The 4 doors in the previous post have a different address. We do not pay taxes on this piece of property because it is used for non-profit purposes. The people who rent from us pay $300 a month which includes all utilities. They can eat next door at the Mercy Ministries Day Center and use our laundry room for no charge.

 

 

Former Augusta Commission candidate Robert DeMello sentenced to 58 months in federal prison for bank fraud



Former Augusta Commission candidate Robert DeMello was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to 58 months in federal prison.
Robert DeMello, a former candidate for Augusta Commission and Georgia Senate, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 58 months confinement for bank fraud.  FILE/STAFF
FILE/STAFF
Robert DeMello, a former candidate for Augusta Commission and Georgia Senate, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 58 months confinement for bank fraud.

DeMello, a real estate broker who in 2005 lost a bid for the commission District 1 post to Betty Beard, was indicted two years ago along with property manager Raymond Turner and appraiser William Raulerson on three counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The indictment said that between 2003 and 2010 DeMello recruited and paid several individuals to serve as straw buyers to purchase Augusta properties – located at 644 Crawford Ave., 1211 and 916 Greene St., and 2570 Lumpkin Road – at inflated values used to obtain mortgage loans from a Waynesboro, Ga., bank.
DeMello and Turner, who according to the indictment obtained fraudulent appraisals of the properties from Raulerson and filed the mortgage applications, were ordered together to pay the bank restitution of $451,656. Turner was sentenced last year to 62 months in federal prison.
According to minutes from his sentencing, DeMello accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced on Count 2 of the indictment, bank fraud. He requested a federal facility and agreed to turn himself in by Saturday.

Mercy Manor


This was the old Ward School. Our building is over 150 years old. I am showing 3 photos-before, during and after the construction.

If People Want to know WHY some people stay homeless PART 1


We have a boarding named that we lovingly call Mercy Manor. It houses about 20 people who would otherwise be homeless. We were given the property. (More about that in the next post) So here is a short story to illustrate who our people are...
A Mercy Manor resident named Carol was upset. She walks into the front office next door (Mercy Ministries Day Center) and complains to Susie (office manager) that she has over a $200 cable television bill.
“I am NOT paying this bill,” Carol firmly states as she stamps her feet.
Susie asks her why.
Carol said, “Well, I don’t have a TV-so I don’t need to pay for the bill.”
Susie starts to laugh and says-“Carol-why did you order cable in the first place?”
Carol did NOT think it was funny but she was so proud of having paid all her bills for the month and NOT buying any illegal drugs in the process.
If people want to know WHY some people stay homeless…

As a side note "Carol" not her real name-was asked to leave because she keep sneaking her boyfriend in every night and she kept failing drug tests.  She was gone in the next 3 months.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Let's get started...

I have finally decided to actually write SOMETHING. I wanted to call this blog numerous things, ie: The Moon Is Always Full over Mercy Ministries; You Don't Have to be Crazy to Work Here; Welcome to the 5-ring circus-Mercy Ministries.

                                            Here is our desktop photo for our office machines.
So this blog started out as a book-but the situations are short-to the point, ridiculous, sad, insane and numerous other adjectives.
Welcome to the world of non-profits in Augusta, Ga. Glad you can come along for the ride. Fasten your seat belts honey-you're gonna need it!

Mercy Mary