What started as a single student’s mission to offer hospitality to the homeless has grown into a student-run organization serving 750 meals and sharing meaningful conversations over the last year.
Tag: homeless
Volunteers needed at The Beacon
The Beacon, the homeless day resource center operated by Catholic Charities in downtown Madison, has a need for volunteers.
Pro Labore Dei feeds homeless people
The Madison branch of Pro Labore Dei (for the Labor of God) Apostolate has much to be thankful for.
First, we are thankful to God for keeping us moving forward since we first began here in 2001. With God’s help, we have not missed a Friday feeding homeless people in downtown Madison since we started on Friday, Sept. 26, 2003.
Hope does shine at The Beacon
Most of us have seen people holding signs at intersections saying, “I’m homeless. Please help me!”
We feel sorry for them and want to give them some money. But we get the sinking feeling that the money won’t help them break out of the cycle of homelessness.
However, since The Beacon opened almost a year ago in Madison on October 16, 2017, I feel more optimistic about homeless people. And I wonder if I should carry a card with me to give those people begging for money information on The Beacon.
The Beacon presents community update
MADISON — On April 4, staff members of The Beacon, along with members of the Madison Police Department, presented stories of successes and challenges from its first few months of operation.
A comprehensive day resource center for people experiencing homelessness in Dane County, The Beacon opened in October of 2017. It is a joint venture among Catholic Charities Madison, Dane County, the City of Madison, and United Way of Dane County.
Here’s a way to help the homeless
The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that there are 564,708 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the U.S.: 36,907 (6.38 percent) are children, 47,725 (8.33 percent) are veterans, and 269,991 (47.6 percent) are disabled and unable to work.
Many factors can contribute to a person becoming homeless. These factors include (but are not limited to):
• Poverty
• Lack of affordable housing
• Job loss
• Lack of health care
• Mental illness
• Substance abuse
• Domestic violence
Name chosen for homeless day resource center
 |
||
| Partners in the homeless day resource center project gather to announce its name as “The Beacon” during a press conference on May 2 in Madison. Pictured from left are: Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Catholic Charities of Madison President and CEO Jackson Fonder, President and CEO of United Way of Dane County Renee Moe, president of J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. Dave Beck-Engel, and Madison Deputy Mayor Katie Crawley. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MADISON — “The homeless day resource center will be known as . . . The Beacon.”
The words of Catholic Charities of Madison President and CEO Jackson Fonder marked the next step in the project to open said resource center near downtown Madison.
The name was announced at a May 2 press conference at the United Way of Dane County in Madison.
The announcement came after more than 400 people submitted naming ideas online and more than 400 people voted on the name finalists, which were: The Beacon, The Net, The Opportunity Place, and The Turning Point Center.
At the press conference, Fonder said “The Beacon” was submitted first by former Catholic Charities board member Diane Ballweg. Other people also submitted the name as an idea later in the process.
Working together
Joining Fonder at the press conference was Renee Moe, CEO of United Way of Madison.
And the name is . . . The Beacon
It is a sad fact that many men, women, and children continue to be homeless in the city of Madison and Dane County.
Here we are in the capital city of Wisconsin, a city known for its progressive character. Yet each year, about 3,500 people experience homelessness, nearly half of them being children.
Working together
How can we reduce or even eliminate homelessness in our city? A bold effort is underway to work on this problem. It is a collaboration of the faith, business, nonprofit, government, and neighborhood communities working together.
Voting underway to name new homeless day resource center
MADISON — Voting on a name for the new homeless day resource center is now underway. Four finalists are in the running: The Opportunity Place, The Net, The Beacon, and Turning Point Center.
From all around Dane County, people submitted ideas for what to name the center that is under construction in Madison at 615 E. Washington Ave.
Schools, faith centers, clubs, organizations, and individuals submitted ideas for a name. Those who would be using the center were included as well. Bethel Lutheran Church provided its homeless guests with an opportunity to submit ideas offline.
St. Vincent de Paul Youth Service Council develops new scholarship, plans hike
MADISON — The Madison St. Vincent de Paul Youth Service Council (SVdP YSC) continues to organize a variety of service, faith, and friendship activities throughout the year.
New scholarship
A new initiative this academic year was the creation and development of a scholarship designed to provide financial support for future education to a high school senior qualifying for free/reduced lunch.