St. Ben's Community Meal helps in many ways....New Life & New I.D.’s For Homeless “Too many losses,” Joe sighed. He had come in to get help applying for an ID as his was lost when he was robbed. Joe is homeless and he said that he had been using crack cocaine for 20 years. “I stopped using crack last summer while serving a term in county jail. It has just cost me so much,” he said. Joe started to list everything he had lost to his crack habit. “I lost my family, my job, my friends and now my marriage. Going through de-tox in jail was terrible, I endured five days of hallucinations without any medication. I started drinking alcohol as a child and using crack in my 20’s but now I have been accepted into a treatment program.” “I count on St. Ben’s,” Joe continued, “and they have always helped me. I have received bus tickets, clothing, regular meals and now an ID!” Josh Hren, Volunteer Coordinator and Meal Chaplain, explained how the program works, “St. Ben’s Community Meal helps homeless people get their ID’s as without them they can’t get into a shelter, apply for GAMP (medical benefits) or find work. The ID’s cost $28 so we contribute $19 and ask the guest to bring a co-pay of $9.” Br. David Schwab, Capuchin said, “We used to process 10 people at a time. With Josh’s help we are processing ID voucher requests one at a time now. This gives us time to learn more about each guest’s individual needs and make referrals to programs that will help them get off the street.” Josh smiled and added, “And we always make sure we end our time together with a prayer.” Someone had donated a case of new wallets. Joe was already looking through them for one to keep his new ID in once he had finished at the DMV. He also smiled and said, “I am lucky my father, brother and girlfriend have been encouraging me to continue being sober. And St. Ben’s has been a great help!”
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