Well, I know that I am still going through things and am not out of the woods, nor expect to be really. At times there are things that surprise me still, that pop up out of the blue. So I can say the JW experience may not fully ever leave me. But, I sure can try to create new experiences.
The one thing that came to my mind when Corvin asked the question what would help you personally.
I know many of us, had the frightening experience of having no where to go. The feeling of limbo and free falling, where you aren't quite sure what to expect or how you will be received. Watching how Corvin first reacted to the invitation Larry gave, is indicative to what many of us distrust. We fear~ why, because we have good reason too. Thus, for many of all ages it is hard to reach out and actually get the help we need.
As a person fresh out of this religion in 1989, I did not really did know what direction I wanted to go in or needed to go towards, I was free falling. It was terrifying. I am glad that I did have a father outside of the religious grasp of JW-ism, but he could not understand how I felt or why I did the things I did. None the less, he loved me unconditionally. Which I appreciate to this very day.
I know my sister; Tamar had a difficult time too. She was out of the house at 15 years of age and just as unprepared for life too. Living on the streets is a dangerous place to learn. It is a place where one mistake can cost you dearly. Trying to survive doesn't give you the time to sort through all the emotions, the fears, etc. I had only wished my sister contacted me, but she did not due to being told lies by our parents. I also wished I had known about her situation sooner, rather than after the fact. Again Shunning and the lack of communication strikes havoc.
A place is needed for those who have been expelled from the home or need a place to go for protection of abuse. CPS is one thing and they are over worked and definitely there have been children who have fallen through the cracks.
I know as a group we can pull together and really come up with some terrific ideas and implement them into being. There are grants available for many things, there are businesses that can sponsor and donate, then there is us, to also help support this. It is just a matter of pulling together to make it happen.
I am not a grant writer, but I am sure there are those out there with that experience. I also know that we can establish a non-profit, a business license, etc. We can have a House of Hope, where it is a stepping stone on to better things. Where religion is a choice not something forced, where you know people can help, etc.
One of the many grants I found came from this site: http://www.fedmoney.com/grants/b0054.htm
Here are a few to look into( or what we can link with in participation of a program):
Education and Prevention to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless and Street Youth
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To make grants available to nonprofit agencies for the purpose of providing street-based services to runaway, homeless and street youth, who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual exploitation.
ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. HEALTH;
- Education and Training;
- Specialized Health Research and Training;
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Individual/Family;
- Youth (16-21);
WHO CAN APPLY:
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals); etc.
- Native American Organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, associations);
Chafee Foster Care Independent Living
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To assist States and localities in establishing and carrying out programs designed to assist foster youth likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age and youth who have left foster care because they attained 18 years of age, have not yet attained 21 years of age, to make the transition from foster care to independent living.
ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Information and Referral Services;
- Public Assistance;
- Specialized Family and Child Welfare Services;
- Specialized Services;
- Training Assistance;
- Youth Services;
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans);
- Youth (16-21);
WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
Opportunities for Youth_Youthbuild Program
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
The Youthbuild program provides funding assistance for a wide range of multi-disciplinary activities and services to assist economically disadvantaged youth. The opportunities are designed to help disadvantaged young adults who have dropped out of high school to obtain the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-efficiency and develop leadership skills and a commitment to community development in low income communities. Another important objective of the Youthbuild program is to expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for homeless persons and members of low income and very low income families. By giving disadvantaged young adults participating in the program meaningful on-site training experiences constructing or rehabilitating housing as a community service, they are helping to meet the housing needs of homeless and low income families in their community.
ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. HOUSING;
- Planning;
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Youth (16-21);
WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Sponsored organization;
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments
Social Services Research and Demonstration
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To promote the ability of families to be financially self-sufficient, and to promote the healthy development and greater social well-being of children and families.
ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Research, Demonstration;
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Infant (0-5);
- Child (6-15);
- Youth (16-21);
- Welfare Recipient;
- Low Income;
- American Indian;
- Handicapped;
WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Profit organization;
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Quasi-public non-profit institution/organization;
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments;
As you can see by the grants available there is money to start several projects, it is just getting things together to go after them.
X.
