I ran into a lady who is involved with a ministry to the homeless.
She told me there are lot's of encampments around town and many are ex-military. According to her, there is a camp of 60 people out in front of a store that I frequent nearby. I have seen a few of them walking from the corner where they beg to the woods where they bed down. She said their biggest challenge right now is surviving the cold temps. When I asked her about the level of survival skills in these camps, she seem to think there wasn't any. I kind of find that hard to believe with former soldiers in the mix, but have given some thought to introducing some basic survival training/supplies. How to build a lean-to, start a fire etc. I'm no survivalist and wasn't even a great boy scout but I think I could survive these relatively mild winters if faced with the challenge.
Anybody here have any interest in visiting one of these camps? Just to see what really is going on? Maybe teaching some of these guys/gals how to fend for themselves would give them a little motivation/self esteem. This could either be outside of the lady's mission or coincide with it.
She said some of them work 10-15 hours a week when they can find jobs and that some appear to be easily employable but cannot provide an address which is almost always fatal in the job application process.
Anybody?