News-Record.com

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Rosalyn Orr

I read with interest the story concerning LaToya Coltrane and similar families with school-age children who have struggled with periods of homelessness (“Nowhere they can call home,” Jan. 11).

I imagine many readers were surprised to learn more than 930 students in Guilford County are homeless. (Some estimate the number to be significantly higher and growing.) The News & Record has done a good job describing efforts to help homeless families, including Greensboro Urban Ministry’s regular and overflow shelters and a coalition of agencies implementing a Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

The Barnabas Network is a nonprofit working to serve these families as well. In the past two years, Barnabas has provided more than 750 mattress sets and frames to children who would otherwise sleep on the floor, or worse. These include children moving from homelessness or experiencing equally overwhelming circumstances.

I wish to thank the businesses, foundations, faith communities and individuals supporting this effort, including Sealy, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Hillsdale Fund, Cemala Foundation, Ellison Family Fund, Bobby Long, Sternberger-Tannenbaum Foundation, Mary Lynn Richardson Fund, Joseph Bryan Foundation and Jim Rucker. The need to help these families will continue. The Barnabas Network pledges to redouble its commitment to ensuring innocent children in need do not suffer unnecessarily.

The staff, board and volunteers of The Barnabas Network also have a unique understanding of Ms. Coltrane’s struggle to find sustainable employment. Employment is arguably the most important variable in ensuring that those returning from prison or recovering from other major setbacks can establish themselves as successful citizens. The stakes are highest for those with children.

Based on statistics, the likelihood of ex-offenders finding decent work is not good. At the same time, the costs and negative implications of these individuals remaining unemployed are huge to their families and the community.

The Barnabas Network offers support and meaningful work experience to those seeking employment during times of critical transition. Lives can be changed for the better when deserving people who have made mistakes are given another chance.

Chances are that most readers, certainly including myself, have made some bad decisions along the way.

Were we given another chance? What if we had not been?

Please call, write or visit The Barnabas Network to learn more about how to help the most vulnerable members of our community.

The writer is executive director, The Barnabas Network, and lives in Greensboro.