Greg lived in the suburbs, but after a bad relationship, he started drinking and then lost his job and apartment. Greg says his drinking got really bad when he started going to homeless shelters.
Greg is still homeless on the streets of Chicago and has over a year sober. Staying sober while homeless is nearly impossible.
Greg slept outside this past winter and when the cold became unbearable he would go into the local mission. Sadly, the mission kicks everyone out – every day – even in the freezing cold – unless you agreed to sit through preaching or bible studies. When I posted Greg’s photo on Facebook a friend shared this blog post from another (formerly) homeless friend that stayed at that mission “What a day in the Pacific Garden Mission is like.”
Withholding basic needs so people will sit-through religious programming is NOT evangelism – it coercion – and it’s WRONG!
The good news is there is a movement within the faith based community to end such practices.
