Every 15 seconds, somewhere in America a woman is battered, usually by her intimate partner. (UN Study On The
Status of Women, Year 2000) Millions of people are in abusive relationships, or directly affected by one. After living in an abusive
relationship, problems don’t end when victims escape the nightmare. ...
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At a time of year when those in need are most at risk, a benefit to help fight hunger and homelessness is planned for this Sunday. Here’s the announcement we received:
Light Under the Bridge, a Homeless Christian Ministry (non-profit), is joining Union Gospel Mission and the White Center Food Bank’s fundraiser for the hungry and homeless. Featuring “A Night of Giving with Joe Arrants,” November 13th from 5:30-8 pm, at Westside Foursquare Church, 11452 26th Ave SW. We will be serving soups, salad, & bread. Hurry and buy your tickets and invite family, friends, neighbors, etc. Tickets can be bought from Jon 206-941-4301 or at the door.
Did
you know in Manatee County there has been no where for a woman without
children in crisis to go to get help? To get their lives back on track? Its
important to note that the majority of women in crisis have already had
their children taken away from them by either family, friends, or the
state; therefore, when she wants help to get her life back together
again, there has been no where for her to turn in Manatee County. Not
even the Salvation Army of Manatee County has been able to help as they
only have a few cots available for single women. 
BRADENTON -- By any measure, the safety net for the homeless, the hungry, the destitute and the hopeless is strained to the breaking point in Manatee County. Too many times, it may even be missing altogether because the need is so overwhelming.
Thursday, three young women ...
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is excited to announce our 1st
LIGHTHOUSE for homeless & abused women has been acquired. Praise
God! This will serve a huge need in Bradenton, Florida as our house will be the
very 1st house for homeless women without children
in the county! Now we need your help to prepare this house - to make
it a beautiful home, a place of peace, rest, & healing. We have a
lot of work to do to get this house ready to be open for business.
Please consider your vital role in helping us!
We are excited about the vision God has placed on our hearts for the new Florida Division of Light Under The Bridge. Upon moving to Bradenton, Florida, we quickly discovered the tremendous need in this area for Discipleship Homes for the homeless to recover and get their lives back on track. To get the full picture, keep in mind that King County's population is 1,931,249 with 24,000 homeless/year, equaling 1.2% of the population and has tremendous resources, shelters, and discipleship recovery homes for the homeless to get their lives back on track. However, our area in Florida has a worsening problem with homelessness.
The two counties in our area, Manatee & Sarasota county have a combined population of only 688,126 with 19,000 homeless people/year, equaling 2.7% of this area's population as homeless. Even more staggering, is that of the 19,000 homeless in our area, over 4,500 are children, of which over half of those are elementary children! Families make up an alarming 40% of our homeless population. More families are losing their jobs and homes due to the poor economic conditions this area is facing. Outside of the Salvation Army (here it is for men only) and a few other temporary overnight shelters, there are no resources for our homeless to get off the streets, get jobs, and get their lives back on track. Furthermore, there are zero resources for women and children. With all of this in front of us, it became crystal clear why God sent us to Florida, we have been equipped with the solution to help the homeless get their lives back on track, Discipleship Recovery Homes.
Light Under The Bridge Homeless Ministries is launching its latest vision, LIGHTHOUSES Transitional Discipleship Recovery Homes for Men and Women. We will provide a proven and unique 3-Phase program to help individuals and their families; bringing about societal recovery and full restoration from crisis, setback, and personal distress in their lives caused by Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Abuse, Homelessness, Prostitution, Emotional Trauma, Loss, and Hopelessness. LUTB will offer a Christian, God-centered, loving, nurturing, and healing environment which has been successful for Men and Women in recovery where other rehabilitation programs have proven ineffective. Through LUTB Ministries, individuals are not only able to recapture a clean and sober way of living, but also our beloved men and women can establish and completely transform their lives through this unique program of getting their lives back on track through the healing power of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to spiritual & life restoration that LUTB provides each individual, the impact of our efforts affects our society & local community. In Manatee & Sarasota Florida counties, where LUTB will be opening their LIGHTHOUSES Transitional Recovery Homes in 2011, according to Suncoast Partnership, over 19,000 people were served by our local homeless service providers in 2009. These 19,000 homeless people is estimated to cost Manatee & Sarasota counties approximately a combined total of health care and incarceration costs $815,404,000. LUTB’s goal is to rescue and rehabilitate 150 homeless within the next 5 years, providing a $6.4 million savings after five years through the establishment of LUTB Transitional Recovery Homes, a 2500% return on investment. LUTB costs include operational expenses for staff, transitional housing, mobile outreach vans, food, communications and transportation/relocation costs in the amount of $250,000 per year. Light Under the Bridge (LUTB services are designed to search for, rescue and rehabilitate the homeless to become productive, contributing citizens who benefit, instead of cost, society.
As with any ministry, the financial need to bring the vision into reality can seem overwhelming. And we need your help. LUTB is currently seeking funds for the following needs to establish the first discipleship home:
1. 6 months reserves to start up LUTB LIGHTHOUSES operation and open first home = $65,050 (rent, utilities, deposit, groceries, home expenses, operational expenses, etc...)
2. funds for purchase of van for home to use to transport residents to jobs, medical appointments, church, and to pick up donations of food, furniture, and supplies = $15,000
3. donation of or funds to purchase furniture for home, beds, bedding, kitchenware, bible study programs, and clothing.
