08-21-2007, 12:07 PM
Dear Reader,
My name is Paul Kruse, I am a past recipient of the Focus award in the area of social justice and racial equality. I have opperated a non-profit corp.in St. Charles county called "First Step Back Home" for 28 months which has provided almost 800 people with the basic necessities of life and about 400 with the hope of a future through assisting them with jobs and transportation.
I have many ideas on how to improve the region, but since I have a lot of experience with helping the poor I will only talk about this group of people.
First the facts, there are over 37 million people living in poverty in the U.S. and over 100,000,000 who are not self-sufficient in the U.S. There are 2.1 million people in Mo. receiving welfare and/or soc. sec. dissability, below poverty level, income benifits. At least 50% of the people in Mo. are not self-sufficient. 50% of the peopel in Rhode Island can't afford a home or an apartment. Most states are in a similar crisis. Forclosures are higher this year than they have ever been before. I believe this is a crisis because a state or a country is only as strong and prosperous as it's people. With so many people living in misery and poverty how can we even hope to have a strong state or country, not to mention a clear conscience and obedience to the Greatest commandments of God? Love your neighbor as yourself is not a suggestion, it's a command from God. This is why our country and world is in such turmoil, we are not obeying God on something that is His greatest concern for our lives on earth. I believe He will heal our land when we start obeying Him!
The problem. A living wage is now at about $15.00 per hour. There are many lower educated, low wage earners still making $7.00 to $9.00 an hour. How do we expect people to live when they are making 1/2 of a living wage? I have assisted many people to self-sufficiency making a take home salary of $250 per week, but that is only because I work with them and help them get their basic needs met by existing social service providers and through contacts with local employment agencies.
The solutuion. The Bible says we are to Love our neighbors as ourselves. Those who are doing well in life would never let themselves become homeless, jobless or anything that would lower their life style or threaten their survival. So why do we sit by and watch millions of people who ,the Bible says are our brothers and sisters in this life, suffer in the misery of physical and Spiritual poverty? I am only one person and I have helped hundreds of homeless get back on their feet mainly just by guiding them to the services that already exist and by showing them the Love of God. Not all people can be helped, but I have discovered over half of those in need and can work can be. The solution to this problem is that everyone doing well in life should be assisting at least one who is not doing so well ( as stated in 1JN3:17 ). Very rarely does this mean giving them large sums of money which many people fear will be needed out of their own pockets. I have assisted the homeless back to self-sufficiency before just by giving them something as small as a phone card at the cost of $7.00. Love and concern by others is the most pressing need they have.
My question is; where is everybody? Helping the homeless who can work and maintain a job is so easy anyone can do it. I don't have degree or did not have any experience with the homeless 28 months ago.
But just look what God has made out of nothing and is doing now!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED? CALL OR E-MAIL ME.
Thank You,
God Bless You!
PAUL kRUSE
paulwkruse@centurytel.net
cell 314-852-5288
web page: http://www.firststepbackhome.org
My name is Paul Kruse, I am a past recipient of the Focus award in the area of social justice and racial equality. I have opperated a non-profit corp.in St. Charles county called "First Step Back Home" for 28 months which has provided almost 800 people with the basic necessities of life and about 400 with the hope of a future through assisting them with jobs and transportation.
I have many ideas on how to improve the region, but since I have a lot of experience with helping the poor I will only talk about this group of people.
First the facts, there are over 37 million people living in poverty in the U.S. and over 100,000,000 who are not self-sufficient in the U.S. There are 2.1 million people in Mo. receiving welfare and/or soc. sec. dissability, below poverty level, income benifits. At least 50% of the people in Mo. are not self-sufficient. 50% of the peopel in Rhode Island can't afford a home or an apartment. Most states are in a similar crisis. Forclosures are higher this year than they have ever been before. I believe this is a crisis because a state or a country is only as strong and prosperous as it's people. With so many people living in misery and poverty how can we even hope to have a strong state or country, not to mention a clear conscience and obedience to the Greatest commandments of God? Love your neighbor as yourself is not a suggestion, it's a command from God. This is why our country and world is in such turmoil, we are not obeying God on something that is His greatest concern for our lives on earth. I believe He will heal our land when we start obeying Him!
The problem. A living wage is now at about $15.00 per hour. There are many lower educated, low wage earners still making $7.00 to $9.00 an hour. How do we expect people to live when they are making 1/2 of a living wage? I have assisted many people to self-sufficiency making a take home salary of $250 per week, but that is only because I work with them and help them get their basic needs met by existing social service providers and through contacts with local employment agencies.
The solutuion. The Bible says we are to Love our neighbors as ourselves. Those who are doing well in life would never let themselves become homeless, jobless or anything that would lower their life style or threaten their survival. So why do we sit by and watch millions of people who ,the Bible says are our brothers and sisters in this life, suffer in the misery of physical and Spiritual poverty? I am only one person and I have helped hundreds of homeless get back on their feet mainly just by guiding them to the services that already exist and by showing them the Love of God. Not all people can be helped, but I have discovered over half of those in need and can work can be. The solution to this problem is that everyone doing well in life should be assisting at least one who is not doing so well ( as stated in 1JN3:17 ). Very rarely does this mean giving them large sums of money which many people fear will be needed out of their own pockets. I have assisted the homeless back to self-sufficiency before just by giving them something as small as a phone card at the cost of $7.00. Love and concern by others is the most pressing need they have.
My question is; where is everybody? Helping the homeless who can work and maintain a job is so easy anyone can do it. I don't have degree or did not have any experience with the homeless 28 months ago.
But just look what God has made out of nothing and is doing now!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED? CALL OR E-MAIL ME.
Thank You,
God Bless You!
PAUL kRUSE
paulwkruse@centurytel.net
cell 314-852-5288
web page: http://www.firststepbackhome.org