Under the Radar

Often the issues surrounding poverty and homelessness, and the people struggling with these issues, go unnoticed. For most of us, for much of the time, it’s just not on our radar.

Siloam Mission's Under the Radar is designed to change the way you view domestic poverty and to help you understand that there is something you can do to make a difference. It is our hope that you will become more aware of the hurt in our city and that this will motivate you to make change happen. Our desire is to help create optimistic, solution-based advocates for change. We want to bring homelessness to the forefront by encouraging participants to learn more about related topics and by allowing them to serve in the places, and with the people, who are often under the radar of our society.

Under the Radar is a new three-fold program of Siloam Mission with a Youth Summer Camp, Mission Teams, and Workshops for adults.

Check it out online at www.siloam.ca/undertheradar!

New Programs at Siloam Mission!

We have three new and exciting programs coming up at Siloam Mission; Summer Youth Camp, Missions Teams, and Workshops.

The Summer Youth Camp is designed specifically for youth groups to allow students aged 14 to 18 to confront their thoughts about poverty and homelessness while serving their neighbors. For youth pastors and leaders, this is a fun and educational opportunity to help students learn more about domestic poverty.

Our Missions Teams can be catered to a high school team, church group, college or university team, community group, or business group. Bring your group to Siloam Mission for a multi-day inner-city experience and learn from hands on projects and serving opportunities.

If you’re simply interested in learning more about a particular topic relating to poverty and homelessness in Winnipeg, then join us for our workshops for adults. They’ll be held on weekday evenings once a month at Siloam Mission.

For more information on these educational programs, contact me at 204.956.4344.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator


P.S. On Tuesday September 29, 2009 at 12 noon, we’re hosting a luncheon for pastors and youth leaders to learn more about these exciting new programs. To join us for lunch, call us to RSVP.

Faron Hall

Everyone is talking about Faron Hall. He’s the man that jumped into the Red River to save a teen who had fallen in. Mr. Hall also happens to be homeless.

I’m acquainted with Mr. Hall and he is a very quiet man, kind, and soft spoken. He generally keeps to himself…but that all changed last week. Mr. Hall was all over the news with the media announcing his heroics as, “homeless man saves teen.” He was overwhelmed by the attention and grateful for the many offers of help.

What I found interesting though was the fact that the story appeared to grab our attention more because of the fact that it was a “homeless” man who did the saving. It’s like we found it surprising that someone who’s homeless would do something like that.

Does being homeless make a person unlikely to do something heroic? Does homelessness mean that compassion and goodwill are lost?

When discussing the story with a Siloam Mission patron, her comment was, “homeless people have big hearts you know,” and she nodded her head confidently.

We assume that something strange happens to a person when they are experiencing poverty or when they become homeless. We subconsciously think that somehow this life circumstance voids them of normal human instincts and empathy. How ignorant we sometimes are.

I hope that Faron Hall is a reminder that those who have homes and those who do not are really the same in the end; we are all human. I also hope this is a reminder that will stick with us and not just fade away in a couple of weeks.

Sarah Enns

Community Education Coordinator and sj101 Coordinator