Offering financial opportunity to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals. STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot and a member of International Network of Street Papers
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By Wendy Rojo
Ending homelessness is a complex issue. The solution is an intricate and multifaceted series of challenges. Homelessness needs to be addressed at every stage so that it is truly curbed.
We need to address homelessness at the root of the cause, so that when an issue arises and someone is on the cusp of becoming unhoused, we have the tools to prevent that.
Prevention can involve funding mental health organizations, veteran resources, and foster care services, among others. If homelessness is not solved at every step of the way, then there is a potential for an individual to become unhoused again. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), investing in these services can guarantee that people have a place to turn if they need help. The USICH also stated that providing services for those most at risk is a preventative measure that requires the cooperation of all local, state, and national providers.
It takes all providers to work together to help those most at risk. If I had 50 million dollars I would invest in preventative support. I would give the money to agencies to help those with mental health conditions. The money would help fund research, and we could provide people with therapy and medications. I would improve our veteran services and invest in helping them transition from military to civilian life. I would also fund services for victims of sex crimes, to provide specialized mental health support and find stable housing.
These services are just a few examples of the preventative measures that we need to
invest in. But most importantly, I would invest in affordable housing. The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that the federal minimum wage in the United States has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. The organization also found that 65% of minimum wage workers are 25 or older. Various real estate webpages listed the median listing home price in Dallas as around $430,000.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that the federal minimum wage in the United States has been $7.25 per hour since 2009.
If a person is working minimum wage, they would only make $580 for working the allowed 80 hours. This makes it impossible to own a home in Dallas and still have enough money to pay for food, bills, and insurance. I would create communities where all homes are priced based on the minimum wage salary. I know, realistically, it may be impossible to implement this type of model today in Dallas, but we could create prototypes of communities where homes are priced fairly for all.
If a person is working minimum wage, they would only make $580 for working the allowed 80 hours.
With the $50 million, I would address the need for affordable housing and preventative care. Because without affordable homes or well-paying jobs, people feel discouraged and turn to unhealthy ways of coping.
By investing in these services, not only are we investing in homes or health services, but we are investing in people. We are all simply trying to make it day by day, and having services available to us would create a sense of safety, knowing that we have a net to fall back on if we ever need assistance.
STREETZine is an enrichment program of
The STREETZine is a monthly newspaper published by The Stewpot, a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. The Stewpot provides services and resources for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of being homeless. The organization also offers opportunities for a new life.
As part of this ministry, the STREETZine seeks to raise awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The monthly publication also offers financial opportunity for Stewpot clients who sell the paper to Dallas residents. Vendors are able to move towards economic self-sufficiency by using the money they receive from selling copies to purchase bus passes, food, and necessary living expenses. Clients also receive stipends for contributing articles to STREETZine
The content in STREETZine does not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of its publisher, editors, contributors, sponsors or advertisers. To learn more about this publication, contact Betty Heckman, Director of Enrichment, 1835 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 or BettyH@thestewpot.org. To read more about STREETZine, a member of the International Network of Street Papers, go to www. thestewpot.org/streetzine.
Managing Editor: Wendy Rojo
Editorial Advisory Board:
The Rev. Amos Disasa
Brenda Snitzer
Suzanne Erickson
Russell Coleman
Poppy Sundeen
Sarah Disasa
William McKenzie
Betty Heckman
Dee Leone
By Reverend Meagan Findeiss
Editor’s Note: This essay is excerpted from a sermon that Rev. Meagan Findeiss delivered at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas on May 25, 2025.
The other day, my son found a kaleidoscope. He put this shiny and marvel item to his eye. He cocked his head to the side to catch the light. He maneuvered his little hands on the dial to change the shapes and colors of the lens. He then told me to look through it and without missing a beat, enthusiastically asked, “Can you see me?”
In looking through the lens I saw hues of orange, turquoise, and ruby red radiating with a glitter overlay.
The complexity of parables
Reading parables requires us to be like a child looking through a kaleidoscope. We must use different lenses to look at these complex literary devices, tilting our heads to the side, turning the knob to try and make meaning. With each effort, becoming more and more aware that God’s grace calls us to look anew at what is being revealed.
In the New Revised Standard Version translation of our parable, The Unfruitful Fig Tree, the word used for the one who tended to the fig tree was gardener, but when you look at the original Greek other interpretations emerge. The First Nations Version interprets this role as the garden keeper, and other translations refer to this person as the vinedresser or a vineyardkeeper. Each variance chipping away a little bit more about this caretaker and the role they possessed.
Another interesting detail that ripens upon closer investigation is the relationship between the garden keeper and the landowner. The vinedresser is employed by the landowner, who was most likely an “absentee landowner” that lived in the city and came to check on the property roughly once a year.
Absentee landowners had a reputation for being ruthless and profit- oriented and yet, the gardener in our parable was willing to step into a risky situation that could have jeopardized their livelihood. The keeper of the fig tree spoke their mind, pled their case, demonstrated agency even while situated in a subordinate role. This caretaker was determined to advocate for the fruitfulness of something it had tended to for years and placed the onus of the action on the landowner.
The owner was focused on the past performance, meanwhile the gardener opens the story toward what is to come. The ending of the parable is not known, yet the parable leaves the reader/hearer hopeful of what the landowners’ response might be, hopeful of what extra care and attention might generate in a year, hopeful of what might change to make the parable conclude with a desirable ending.
Parables are a mystery, and yet they bring forth enlightenment and revelation. What one deems as true today from a parable, can years from now signify something completely other. Parables have a timelessness to them.
Jesus knew that anything he said about the kingdom of God would be misunderstood. Words like messiah or forgiveness would be misinterpreted. What is crazy is that even after two thousand years of exposure, humanity is no closer to understanding better than the first hearers. The meaning evoked from the parable of the fruitless fig tree in the first century does not take away from the parables mesmerizing curiosity and wonder to the reader/ hearer millennia later.
For Jesus, parables were his schtick. Jesus spoke in parables; thought in parables, acted in parables, and insisted that what he was proclaiming could only be said in parables. He was an ambulatory parable always teaching, enlightening, and revealing unveiling something new. Jesus made his teaching timeless.
As followers of Jesus, we follow the footsteps of those that have come before us in learning how to grapple with finding meaning. We hold fast to techniques that have been helpful to others to aid
Continued on page 5
By Brenda Snitzer
Sometimes the article I’m asked to write for STREETZine is easy to do. Other times, like this month, the subject is much tougher. The question this edition is focusing on -- where would I spend $50 million on homelessness if I had the money or was mayor? -- is an especially complicated one.
For starters, $50 million is a lot of money. But when facing this very complex problem here in Dallas, it really isn’t a lot. There are endless reasons why individuals and families fall into homelessness, but a common theme is a lack of resources or a personal support system. Addressing those realities, whether through case management work or providing food on a daily basis like The Stewpot does at The Bridge in downtown Dallas, takes money.
So does another huge problem here in Dallas: the lack of affordable housing. Gentrification of communities all around the downtown core, including in traditionally lower-income neighborhoods, has made Dallas an unaffordable city for
housing. That’s true even for those who have decent paying jobs.
A lack of resources, including a personal support system, and a shortage of affordable housing make the solutions to curbing homelessness a multi-faceted challenge.
That’s why if I were the mayor and had $50 million to invest, I would devote a big portion of it to multi-family and mixed-use housing. I also would designate enterprise zones to encourage new construction of mixed-income housing. Dallas’ inner city particularly suffers from a huge shortage of affordable housing.
That’s why if I were the mayor and had $50 million to invest, I would devote a big portion of it to multi-family and mixed-use housing.
The best practice that some cities have developed is to combine mixed-use housing with a variety of income levels in the same complex. That way, you are not concentrating the poor in certain neighborhoods.
I would encourage developers to build mixed use/mixed income housing and have the city designate enterprise zones where developers would receive tax
credits for building housing. I would want at least 30%-40% of a complex to offer affordable housing. That would include requiring a portion of the units be eligible for housing vouchers. I also would want to include on-site resources that could create community and encourage neighbors to know each other.
The remaining funds from the $50 million would be invested in case managers as part of the All Neighbors housing continuum that serves Dallas and Collin counties. All Neighbors specifically would work with the various properties in the mixeduse enterprise zone. Case managers would create a support system for individuals and families who live in the affordable units. That would include services and resources to help them stay housed.
A complex situation like homelessness requires a system that addresses a range of topics. And as good and important as that $50 million would be, the challenge would require money beyond that as Dallas works to address it.
Brenda Snitzer is the executive director of The Stewpot.
By Poppy Sundeen
As you thumb through the pages of this publication, you’ll see more than half a dozen pieces written by members of The Stewpot Writer’s Workshop. Since 2022, workshop participants have told their stories and shared their thoughts in print via the STREETZine. Their contributions changed the very nature of the STREETZine by adding the voices of Stewpot clients — people with firsthand experience in navigating the streets, shelters, and various waystations along the journey home.
Now, members of the Writers’ Workshop are exploring a new outlet for their storytelling: video.
Within a couple of years of the workshop’s founding, the writers’ output spilled over into yet another vehicle: the StreetLevel blog, located on The Stewpot website at thestewpot.org/street-level. Then in January of 2025, the Writers’ Workshop completed its opus: “Thy Neighbor,” a hardbound book of their essays accompanied by artwork from The Stewpot art program.
Now, members of the Writers’ Workshop are exploring a new outlet for their storytelling: video.
Bart retired just last spring from his position as professor of film and video at the University of Texas in Arlington. It was one of many roles he has played in his decades-long career, including director/ founder of Dallas VideoFest and producer of KERA TV’s “Frame of Mind” which provides a showcase for documentaries and short films created by area filmmakers. Along the way, Bart has directed award-winning documentary films and written extensively on the subject in columns for The Dallas Morning News and other publications.
Recently, Bart published a book entitled “Smartphone Cinema: Making Great Films with Your Mobile Phone.” The methodology outlined in the book is the core of a curriculum he generously offered to
share with The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Back when Bart started in film and video, the tools of the trade were prohibitively expensive, not to mention heavy and unwieldy. Now all that has changed, thanks to mobile phones. Today’s smartphones can rival yesterday’s stateof-the-art equipment in producing quality video and audio. And as luck would have it, the majority of Writers’ Workshop participants own or have access to smartphones. The only missing component?
Guidance from an expert.
Most smartphone users have tried their hands at shooting videos, often with disappointing results. On Bart’s first day at the workshop, he offered up some simple tips anyone can use to improve their smartphone footage, including techniques for steadying the phone and reducing the jumpiness that plagues most amateur video. He went on to help participants learn how to compose wide, medium, and tight shots of their surroundings — shots that can express not only facts but feelings and become the foundation for visual storytelling. The second session focused on audio, covering both techniques for getting good sound quality and the use of audio as a creative tool.
In the weeks ahead, workshop members will learn how to combine visuals, words, and sounds into coherent video essays. That’s where editing comes in. Fortunately, there’s no major barrier to mastering that part of the process. Just as smartphone cameras and audio recorders have replaced their more expensive and complicated predecessors, today’s editing apps allow us to complete quality video pieces on phones and home computers.
The Writers’ Workshop is no stranger to audacious goals. You need look no farther than the 2025 publication of their book, “Thy Neighbor,” to know that. So, what’s on the wish-list for the videomaking project? One goal is to post topicdriven video essays along with written essays on the StreetLevel blog. Or perhaps the workshop’s videos could one day find a place on YouTube. An entire YouTube channel populated by workshop videos? Why not? What about a group project that culminates in a documentary? The possibilities are as unlimited as the imaginations and determination of the Writers’ Workshop participants.
As the video-making exercises continue so do the pen-and-paper writing sessions. Group members are still working on essays for STREETZine and the StreetLevel blog. But now there’s one more outlet for their thoughts and stories. One more medium to explore. One more reason to be excited about heading to The Stewpot each Friday morning for the Writers’ Workshop.
Poppy Sundeen, a Dallas writer, is a member of The STREETZine editorial board.
Continued from page 2
us in our search for enlightenment. Often parables have been interpreted by using the text that comes right before or after. Today’s text is part of a Lenten lectionary passage that connects it with a greater narrative about Jesus talking to a crowd that is asking about why bad things happen.
Often parables are read through an allegorical lens where a basic structure of substituting the main actors with that of God, Jesus, and people helps to conjure clarification. Whatever role you put God in, you have to ask yourself the question, does it align with your theological view of who God is? Of whom Jesus is? Or who we are in relationship to God? You see, God’s narrative is so much bigger than one allegorical role.
How do we interpret parables so that they can be heard still speaking today?
One of the themes that emerges from the conversation Jesus had with the crowd (in verses 1—5) is the discussion about why bad things happen. A question forms around the idea of someone’s life not being “fruitful” as the cause for the bad thing. The parable then picks up on this theme as well. The root of this idea commonly referred to as the “prosperity gospel.” The basic notion that God blesses those that God deems as good, or said another way, as those that bear fruit.
The flip side of this paradigm being that those that endure tragedy, hardship, illness, poverty, barrenness, the list goes on and on, these things are an indication that you have not found favor with God as a result of your sinfulness, or unfruitfulness.
The prosperity gospel is an untrue depiction of a God of love. It is a harmful farce used to make people feel unworthy of God’s blessings if they endure hardship.
Theologian and scholar Justo Gonzales takes the bad theology of the prosperity gospel and puts on a new lens in which to look at it: Could the things we are given, the advantages we have been afforded, be the manure piled up on the fig tree, because we would not be able to bear fruit otherwise?
Agriculturally speaking, when figs are collected from a fig tree, it occurs at the end of a vineyard season. The grapes have been collected, and the vines have been pruned. The vineyard scene would consist of dried out stumps and desolation. The only lush, green, and verdant thing remaining would be the fig tree. The tree appears to be healthy and vibrant.
Yet our passage reveals that it is the tree that receives special attention and fertilizer because it is lacking so much. The tree has been the recipient of years to generate fruit…and yet it has not…Could it be that God is speaking through this interpretation about the fruit we have yet to produce?
Another interpretation of this parable could be through the lens of us as the absentee landowner. Our lives are engrossed in the use of resources. We are quick to cut down that which is not producing rather than demonstrate patience by giving time and attention to that which might be under performing.
Through this lens of ecotheology, a theology that bridges the divide between ecological issues and the study of God, how have we commoditized fruitless trees? How have we treated creation in correlation to our wants and desires? What have we expected and demanded of nature?
Is there something in your life that could be substituted into the role of the fruitless tree? What has felt as though it was no longer giving fruit that you might have cut down? Is there something that could use more of your love and tending?
Our capitalist society has impacted the way in which we interpret parables … What do we care the most about? Ourselves, God, others, creation … fruit?
My grandmother gave me an antique kaleidoscope a few years ago. It has multiple lenses you can use: one lens had elements that would jostle around inside, and another lens had so many elements there was no movement. Whichever lens was used, a captivating beauty was revealed. In order to uncover the beauty, effort is needed to pick it up, select the lens, and look through it to unearth what was hidden within. The etymology of the word kaleidoscope translates to “an observer of beautiful things.”
Jesus has gifted us with the choice of how we look at his teachings, what lens to use in our interpretation. But we have to beware, cautious, ready because the beautiful things we will notice will elicit a transformative change of heart. We will begin to notice that God’s grace calls us, again and again to look anew at what God is revealing.
Holding the parable of the fig tree at the forefront of our thought: Did you see God’s grace present in the parable as the answer to the hard question? God’s grace present in the conversation between the vine keeper and the owner? God’s grace present in the gift of years? God’s grace present in the unknown future? God’s grace present in the verdant fig tree? God’s grace present in a new perspective?
God is the generator of hope, which has moved and inspired different interpretations throughout time. God is the one who changes minds and perspectives, the one who determines what is fruit and what is not.
May we remember to look anew through the beautiful kaleidoscope God has gifted us…and with wonder and curiosity, anticipate how our hearts will be changed by God’s grace.
Reverend Meagan Findeiss is associate pastor for care and belonging at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
Luke 13:6-9
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.
7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’
8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Editor’s Note: Each Friday morning at 10 a.m., The Stewpot hosts a Writers’ Workshop. During the sessions, participants address selected topics through prose or poetry. In this edition of STREETZine, we feature the essays of writers that discuss what they would do to curb homelessness if they had $50 million.
By Mike McCall
We have all thought for a moment what we would do if we ever received a substantial amount of money. What if we took this thought experiment to the next level and focused on what we would do for others if we won that imaginary pot of gold. Let’s make that the stipulation that comes with the money. You will receive this jackpot if you use all the money to help combat homelessness.
While you contemplate your next action let me tell you what I would do with the money. For starters I would have to catch my breath and probably sit down for a few minutes. Receiving funding like that would be a dream come true for me.
From my experience, I have learned that the only true way to combat homelessness is to help the person change and build a life they are proud of. It’s less about providing housing and food than it is about showing someone how to live a different life and make better choices. This belief of mine follows the idea behind the proverb: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
’By no means am I saying that food and shelter are not important but the aid that that I have seen seems more like a temporary solution for an ever-growing problem. I have personally seen and been helped by practically every service Dallas has to offer. They saved my life, but I did notice the struggle individuals had creating a sustainable lifestyle once they got back on their feet.
The element that I would like to focus on is how addiction is a plague to the reintegration process. Having personal experience in this area, that is where I would choose to invest my newfound endowment.
I would like to create an environment that is focused on freeing the individual from addiction, so they have a better shot at turning their unhoused status into a tale of overcome adversity. I would use the $50 million to help fund more extensive
recovery programs within the current system of shelters we have already.
These programs would also be attached to incentives in housing upon completion. Instead of receiving a voucher for a year, you first would have to complete a year of Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program treatment. The reward would be a two-year voucher followed by a rent compensation allotment of 50% for the third year and 25% for the fourth year.
This would be a five-year program. And, yes, urinary analysis would be required throughout to keep receiving the assistance.
I have seen too many individuals who want to change their life but due to their socioeconomic situation the change is seldomly sustainable. Providing unhoused individuals with an opportunity to free themselves from addiction and giving them a reasonable incentive to do so in my mind could be the step to breaking
the cycle. From my experience, 30 to 90 days just isn’t enough time to effectively alter an addiction which for some has been a driving force during most of their lives.
This is why I would invest all that money in an unhoused individual’s future with intensive programs to free them from their addictions. I don’t know how far 50 million dollars would go but it would be worth it to see. Working in unison with the shelters, while paying a living wage to those able to lead the charge, would give those in need a better chance once they are on their own.
I know there is not a single solution that will cure the ongoing epidemic of homelessness we are experiencing these days. But I do know we need to look more at solving these root causes like addiction and mental health than we currently do.
Mike McCall is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Worksop.
By Kenneth Henry
By Kenneth Henry
If we had 50 million dollars to spend on homelessness, the first thing I would address is mental illness. I think mental illness is the number one reason for homelessness. We should make it easier for homeless people to access mental health care before it gets out of hand. Over-medication is another obstacle for homeless people. Doctors should have the time to properly assess a patient before prescribing too much medication. If we put more money into mental health, I think we could decrease homelessness. We should also put more money into physical health care. Some families are caught in deep debts concerning physical health, which could put them at risk for becoming homeless.
The next thing we should do is provide money to existing shelters. Some shelters find it very difficult to provide basic needs such as clothes and hygiene. The shelters are trying to provide beds and food to their homeless guests. Also, shelters need employees to make the process run
By James Varas
If I was mayor and given $50 million, I would make sure homeless people in my city all have water. I would have a nonprofit organization that serves them water and a facility that provides gallon water jugs.
I have lived in a homeless shelter and $50 million is not enough money to run a homeless shelter the way I feel it should be. While I was living in a shelter, drugs and thugs were always a problem. I feel like homeless people living in a shelter should be tested for drugs. Until you have lived in a homeless shelter, you would never know what goes on in one. Visiting a shelter is one thing but living in one is a whole different perspective.
Yet instead of telling you how I would run a shelter, and why I think all people need Jesus Christ, I am going to write about something that I know all homeless people need and that is water. Rather than preach to you, I will write about the need of every living creature for water.
I remember when I was a professional mover, I would carry a gallon of water
smoothly. If a shelter lacks employees, they must cut off vital service that homeless people need to keep them safe.
Shelters also need upgrades and improvements to their existing structure. Things break and have to be fixed in a timely manner. There are plumbing issues, ceiling leaks, and general ongoing maintenance to keep the shelter in good operating condition. A shelter might need more beds to accommodate more homeless people. A great number of homeless people are turned away because of not enough beds. If the shelter had enough money to expand their area, more people could get into the shelter instead of being turned away.
Of course, more money should be put in for more shelter. With an ever-growing population of homeless people, there is a need for more shelter. Homeless people would have more choices to find a shelter that is right for them. Different shelters have different rules, so a person might find themselves in a difficult situation. More shelters would provide more choice for an individual to find the right shelter for him or her.
everywhere I walked and moved. I would stay hydrated all day so I would not pass out even though it felt like I was baking in the truck, especially in the trailer as I packed the household goods. I was a mover for over 17 years and no matter how hot it was, I would chug my water jug and not pass out. I would do the same when walking in downtown Dallas while staying at the shelter. I would fill my water jug with cold water at a drinking fountain.
Finally, I think more money should be put in for education. Education could be used for homeless people, shelter workers, and the police. Homeless people could use more job skills training to put them back on their feet.
More workers should be better educated to the plight of homelessness. Some employers are not sympathetic to the homeless population. They think it is the individual’s fault, and in many cases, it is environmental factors that cause someone’s homelessness.
The public should also be educated on the plight of homelessness. If more people were aware of the different causes of being homeless, they would help instead of being afraid of homeless people.
Getting money from the government is a hard process. I think 50 million dollars is a good start for combating homelessness.
Kenneth Henry is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Jesus says in Matthew 10: And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
So, if I was mayor, I would spend the $50 million on bottles called “living water.” That would help meet the physical needs of people experiencing homelessness. And I would have a scripture verse inscribed on the back of the bottles. (I have Bible verses written all over my walls and
I enjoy reading the scriptures as I glance around my home.)
Money isn’t my specialty, so maybe you’re asking the wrong person on how to spend $50 million. But I would at least give a gallon of cold water to anyone who wants one.
James Varas is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Jason Turner
I’m not much of a budget person, so it’s hard to say if I really do fathom how much $50 million is. But if I were a mayor of a city that received $50 million to combat homelessness, I would most likely create a shelter or a giant complex of free housing.
The housing crisis is the most important one. Finding people and getting them into housing that they can keep and don’t get kicked out of is part of the challenge. I think $50 million would be enough to turn an old hotel into housing where people don’t have to pay for their rent unless they made over a certain amount of money.
I was homeless for a little over 10 years and, honestly, I wasn’t ready to get housing until about seven years into being homeless. That meant three miserable years before I got public housing by chance through settling down in a shelter in Dallas.
By Lisa Lopez
Thank you. Thank you. I would like to thank Abraham Maslow, the brains behind the Self-Actualized person. Someone who knows themselves well enough to know how and when to implement needed changes for the betterment of their lives.
At its core, the Center for the Actualization of the Self is a merging and blending of institutions and organizations aiming to improve the human experience. A place where accountability and self-reliance are cultivated, modeled and encouraged. A physical address on the map that is open for the needs of orphans birth to death. A healthy, dignified eco-system to guide humans through the crisis of having no home. My experience with homelessness taught me orphanages are no longer in existence. Consequently, a major foundational structure will be dedicated to the development of a Montessori Orphanage for children.
Part of the process of actualization is learning how to grow our own herbs, plants and vegetables. Becoming
My first inclination would be to evenly distribute the money to all those who signed up for housing in advance. I don’t think that would solve homelessness, although it would make people very, very happy for a short period of time.
Building shelters chips away at a good amount of housing. But I don’t want to have people in shelters where they don’t want to be for long periods of time.
Another idea would be to build feeding facilities that also would allow clients to do laundry and shower. There would be towels, washers, dryers, soap, shampoo, and a cafeteria. It wouldn’t be a shelter and would be easily accessible. Some showers would be for kids and some for adults. They would be separated but still close to each other so families could stay together.
Of course, you still would have to document things and have regular upkeep and donors to keep the place running. But the qualifications would be simple and inclusive.
wealthy, abundant and successful with our own food means pursuing the highest degrees of excellence in culinary and hospitality entrepreneurial pursuits.
We will have strict protocols and routines to ensure goals are fulfilled. I have a strong unwavering belief in the power of prayer both individually and collectively. Although prayer has been utilized almost exclusively, by religious organizations it is still a universal birthright and a direct channel to the divine. We will devote intentional time individually and collectively to the topic of contemplative prayer and meditation.
The visual and performing arts will be nourished, highlighted and given profitable expression.
Having had multiple encounters with death, I learned I cannot deny it. I am drawn to learn more about hospice and mortuary practices to improve the experience of not only the less fortunate or non-actualized people facing death but every human facing the end of their human existence.
Hence, the first step to materializing this 50-million-dollar venture is to purchase a
Thinking about a $50 million grant, I remember the stimulus package that came during COVID. It did help people more than hurt them for a short amount of time. Maybe money like that in the future could be given as a grant to homeless people. A buffer, if you will, to temporarily give purpose to their lives. A small grant would be a way for them to enjoy a simplistic thing, like going bowling, doing iFly or just having a steak.
I know this sounds unreasonable but letting people have a free day to enjoy themselves would combat homelessness by giving people a sense of inclusion and respect. Some of these ideas are exactly why I’m not a politician or cultural anthropologist. But I would like to throw these out for consideration.
Having $50 million to combat homelessness would require a mayor to make tough decisions. But those decisions should be put up to a vote for the will of the people.
Jason Turner is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
plot of land. A physical address where we are able to make the world a better version than how we found it.
Step two: put together a team of people for key positions and outcomes (Montessori is phase one).
Step three: become clear on mission, vision and purpose.
Step four: open doors for business.
Step five: learn, adapt, and grow.
I gladly and willingly accept this generous gift from the city of Dallastopia to launch the first iteration of Lisa’s Center for the Actualization of the Self. We will be making history and creating new models for living. We hope not only to diminish homelessness but ignorance as well.
Lisa Lopez is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Paul Ranjan Watson
If I were mayor, the first thing I’d do is listen. I’d sit down with people who are unhoused. I’d ask them what they need most. I’d learn about their struggles.
This article is my plan for helping our neighbors. It’s a plan that’s not just about money, but about people. It’s about dignity, hope, and a path to a better life.
My plan has three main parts. First, we need to provide safe shelter and housing. Second, we need to address the root causes of homelessness. Third, we need to partner with our community to make a lasting change.
A person needs a safe place to sleep before they can do anything else. So, with $50 million, the biggest chunk of money would go to housing. This isn’t just about building new shelters. We need different kinds of housing for different people.
We’d create more emergency shelters for those who need a bed tonight. We’d also open more transitional housing centers. These are places where people can stay for a longer time, maybe six months to a year. They’d have a safe room, access to a kitchen, and a community of support.
The goal is to move people from the street to a more stable place. We’d also partner with local landlords and apartment complexes. We’d give them incentives to rent to people who are just starting out. We’d make sure people have a key to their own front door.
Homelessness isn’t a single problem. It’s often a mix of things. Many people on the street have mental health issues. Others struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. We have to help people with these struggles.
I’d use a big part of the budget to fund mental health services. We’d have mobile clinics and street outreach teams. They would meet people where they are. They would offer counseling and medication.
We’d also expand addiction recovery programs. We can use a model similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s a faith-based
and a secular model. We’d have meetings and sponsors to help people stay on the path to recovery.
These groups are powerful because they are built on community. People share their stories and support each other. It’s about one person helping another.
No single person can solve this problem. Not the mayor. Not the city council. We need everyone to help. My plan would set aside money for partnerships.
We would work with faith-based organizations. Churches, mosques, and synagogues are already doing great work. They provide meals, clothing, and a listening ear. We’d give them grants to expand their efforts.
We’d also partner with secular bodies like nonprofits and community centers. They are experts in things like job training, resume building, and finding work. We’d connect our neighbors with these services.
The budget would also help small businesses. We’d give them tax breaks if they hire people who have been homeless. It’s a win-win for everyone.
This plan is a a hand up, not a handout.
It’s about giving people the tools and support they need. It’s about restoring their dignity. This isn’t just a plan for the city. It’s a plan for our neighbors.
Every person deserves a place to call home. Every person deserves a chance to build a better life. With $50 million and a caring city, we can make that a reality.
My plan for $50 million would focus on three key areas. First, we must provide immediate and long-term housing solutions for those on the streets. This includes both emergency shelters and transitional housing.
Second, we’d address the underlying issues that lead to homelessness. We’d invest in mental health care and addiction recovery programs. We’d use a community-based approach, like the AA model, to provide support.
Finally, we’d build strong partnerships with both faith-based and secular groups. By working together, we can provide meals, job training, and a pathway to a new life. It’s about treating our neighbors with respect and giving them the tools they need to succeed.
Paul Ranjan Watson is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
If I Had 50 Million
By Vicki Gies
There was a time when I said, “I wish I had a million dollars, then I could get a lot of things!” But now in later life, circumstances have changed, as well as my faith!
First of all, I would pay off all my debts; second...I would give to my church, as they have helped me to grow in my faith.
Next, I would give to my favorite charities: first and foremost, St. Jude Children’s Cancer Hospital and Research. I once lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and I got to see Danny Thomas dig the first hole for the hospital. I finally got to see the finished hospital years later. It is so beautiful, and it took my breath away. Children are the future!
Another charity I believe strongly in is the ASPCA because of my love for animals. I love both domestic ones, and wildlife too! I would start my own animal rescue center after buying about 100 acres of land.
Where the wildlife is concerned, I would give to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), along with a big donation to Jane Goodall for her devotion to caring for and loving her chimpanzees in Africa. I would give a substantial gift to the memory of Diane Fossey, for her dedication to the Lowland Gorillas in Africa and her efforts to stop poachers. I really admire both of those
By Darin Thomas
How to invest $50 million to curb homelessness in a city is a very good and wise question. First, I’d build more shelters, some really good ones, cook good food, and show love. I’d also hire more counselors and more people to help get homeless people into a shelter.
I’d also build some apartments for those that really don’t want to leave the streets. Let them go through the shelter so they can progress into living again in their own place.
I’d make sure all homeless people eat. And I’d let them know if they like eating well, they have to go to one of the shelters to get the good food and help they need. They would receive three good meals a day and snacks at night an hour before bed. I’d let them know there are
women and their bravery.
As for my other charities, I would give money to the American Heart Association, Cancer Research, Alzheimer’s Research, Diabetes Research and Catholic Charities.
And last, but not least, I would build a state-of-the-art amusement park with a museum for the underprivileged and mentally challenged children, especially the children who participate in Special Olympics. No outside people would be allowed in (only their parents), and there would be no charge for the children.
Also, I would make sure that people with a low income get help with affordable housing....very minimal rent with all bills paid. Not all homeless people are bad, and they deserve a second chance to start over with a new beginning.
After I get my charities taken care of, then I’ll start with what I want to do. My father had an interesting quote, and it’s stuck with me through the years of getting my life back on track. He said, “You can’t always do what you want to do, for having to do what you need to do!” My needs always come first, then my luxuries (what I want to do)!
For my personal bucket list, I want to purchase one of the most expensive motorhomes, like a Prevost or a Vanhool, so that I could travel around the country
good showers at the shelter and beds where they can get a good night’s rest.
Building shelters like The Bridge in downtown Dallas could help people get help through drug treatment and self-help classes. I’d look for ways to involve faithbased programs in offering programs that help people get back on their feet. The Prison Entrepreneurship Program I was involved in is a good example. It helped me build character, be honest, participate in a team, and be a great leader to my team.
I also would want to bless the people that help from the heart who are out there every weekend helping feed the homeless. I know God sees every one’s heart and will bless all who serve his people.
A good mayor has to follow certain standards and guardrails in spending public money. I would do that with the $50 mil-
to see certain cities, national parks and landmarks that I’ve always wanted to see. I’ve seen several, but I want to see them all!
Also, I want to go on several cruises... the first being a round trip on the Delta Queen River Cruise on the Mississippi River beginning in New Orleans and going all the way up to St. Paul, Minnesota. The second-round trip one would be an Alaskan Cruise because I want to see the whales, especially the Humpback whale! I’ve seen a lot of documentaries on the whales, but I want to experience it for myself.
The third cruise I would want to go on would be the KISS Kruise. KISS is a classic rock music group that I followed for 46 years. People who have gone on the yearly event say that it is absolutely awesome! I might even buy a state-of-the-art yacht or sailboat to tootle around in!
The next-to-last thing I want to do is to travel to Daytona, Florida to be able to see and participate in the NASCAR Daytona 500 race. I’m a huge fan of NASCAR, and I would love to give the command to start the race and even get to go around the track in the pace car…maybe even a little faster than usual!
Vicki Gies is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
lion given to my city. If invested wisely, my hope would be that the city’s homeless population would get the skills and services they need to start living. I’d also pray that they become the person God intended them to be.
I’d do everything in my power to be a blessing to homeless people and spend the $50 million wisely, making a good investment for them.
Darin Thomas is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Evan Williams
If I was given $50 million to help homelessness in Dallas, I would spend the money on housing. I would buy a shelter or cheap properties to create more living arrangements for the homeless.
I would start this process by researching local housing issues and getting a sense of prices. I then would connect with real estate agents to tour the local market.
I also would tour local shelters to check their capacity and services. People who are homeless need showers, resources like books, and a safe environment. Those elements help people who are homeless become more independent and gain a sense of freedom.
They also need activities like jumprope to keep them healthy and strong. And they need mental activities like reading magazines and solving puzzles. I worked on puzzles a lot while in rehab. Puzzles helped me pass the time of day and complete a task. I particularly liked puzzles that were based upon a piece of art.
I know Dallas has shelters, but we need more of them. There are homeless people who don’t make it inside the few shelters that do exist. I know because I’ve been banned from all of them for not getting along with others. Being more accepting could keep more people inside rather than on the streets.
Evan Williams is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Editor’s Note: The following essays showcase insider tips on overcoming homelessness. These blog posts, along with many others, can be found online at www.thestewpot.org/street-level Oatmeal, Exercise, and Self-Love
By Lisa Lopez
My favorite memory from my four-month stay at the homeless recovery center, The Bridge, is hands down the breakfast oatmeal. Managed by the Stewpot, the Second Chance Café is run entirely on donations and volunteers. These people are wonderful expressions of encouragement, kindness, and love. It was a wonderful way to start my grim days of reckoning. Unbeknownst to me, oatmeal is my ultimate comfort food. It also requires a high degree of patience, love, and attention to make it just right. Particularly in large amounts. It never disappointed.
I also have fond memories of me running, twirling, climbing trees, doing handstands, or cartwheeling all over the campus (cue in the triggered security guards hollering at me). Especially exciting was the Monday 5:00 a.m. cutthroat mad/ sprint 200-meter obstacle course run to secure the first 25 spots in the line. It was important for me to stay fit and active in the first weeks when I was bound to the shelter by my four pieces of luggage. Fun facts: I always made it to the top 10 of the line (even when I fell flat on my face.) A fellow female guest picked me up and we both made it to the finish line laughing our heads off. Lastly, I was dubbed “twinkle toes” by fellow guests.
The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek, “filled with God”. I attempted to fill my entire self with a zeal for life and what was happening to me. Falling in love with your life exactly as it is insider tip number one. Mr. Einstein used to say, “Every problem contains the seed to its own resolution,” and that stuck with me. As such, I suggest people begin to see the seeds of resolution unfolding in their life. By staying open and curious to the process with as much self-love as possible.
Tip number two: work on the things no one can take away from you. Buddha says that even when everything is taken away from you, you still have something. This is different for everybody but is probably the same at the core. In time of deep trouble and sorrow we are forced to confront ourselves and come to terms with our present circumstances. Not having anywhere to go, to be, to see, or anyone to talk to at the shelter meant I could use that time for deep introspection. There were plenty of distractions; I had to be fiercely clear with my boundaries, priorities, mindsets, and behaviors. Working on my confidence as well as my faith and patience was critical. With daily work and a lot of discipline and devotion I made it through all my goals and purchased property and finally left the shelter on a windy February morning in 2024. Not being homeless, I could start anew.
Finally, my third and last insider tip comes from the early Egyptians. It is no coincidence Jesus spent years learning about their beliefs, techniques, and practices. They knew the laws of the universe well. Thoth, deity of wisdom and knowledge says: “Man’s actions are the seeds of his destiny. Know Ye, each thought and each deed creates waves upon waves in the eternal ether. Those who understand the laws of cause and effect become the masters of their fate, bending reality by aligning with the flow of cosmic order. Guard your thoughts, O man. For thought is creative force. Control your emotions. For through them you create worlds unseen.”
Essentially, this is a call to cut all ties with lies and self-loathing in loving and supportive ways, to question all thoughts that are not supportive and to consciously align thoughts and actions.
Lebanese Canadian, poet, activist, author and speaker Nadjwa Zebian says “When you build your home in other people, you give them the power to make you homeless.” Make sure you are building a fortress of secure love within yourself with all the enthusiasm you can conjure.
Lisa Lopez is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Worksop.
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CHAPTER 31, SECTION 31-35 of the Dallas City Code PANHANDLING OFFENSES
Solicitation by coercion; solicitation near designated locations and facilities; solicitation anywhere in the city after sunset and before sunrise any day of the week. Exception can be made on private property with advance written permission of the owner, manager, or other person in control of the property.
A person commits an offense if he conducts a solicitation to any person placing or preparing to place money in a parking meter.
The ordinance specifically applies to solicitations at anytime within 25 feet of:
Automatic teller machines, exterior public payphones, public transportation stops, self-service car washes, self-service gas pumps, an entrance or exit of a bank, credit union, or similar financial institution, outdoor dining areas of fixed food establishments.
