Local Barbers Give Back To The Homeless

Modish Stills lead photographer "The Mechanical Eye" stopped by the Homeless Resource Network to capture barbers from Overflo Outreach Ministries as they groomed members of the homeless community in Columbus GA. HRN Director, Elizabeth Dillard gave praises to the barbers and their commitment to servicing the homeless with free haircuts. HRN's Lydia Jackson was familiar with the likes of Zo, Ashley & Tiffany, barbers who she's been seeing on a regular basis on the first Monday of each month. I noticed she referred to the homeless as clients and she stated that the barbers treated the clients with the upmost respect.

At times it felt like I was in a real barbershop and barbers being barbers, the conversation quickly changes to gossip and sports. Several of the clients seemed familiar with the barbers and they looked eager to get their haircut. I know when I get my haircut I feel like a new man. I can only imagine how these guys felt. How you look is how people perceive you in this world we live in. A fresh cut can do a lot for a man's self esteem. Just maybe for a brink of time, it'll remind and inspire these guys when life was in a better place for them. 

The mission of the Homeless Resource Network is to actively partner with the community to seek solutions to homelessness through advocacy, services and collaboration. The Homeless Resource Network has for twenty years provided coordination of homeless services.  The Network strives both to prevent homelessness and to connect homeless families and individuals to services that will support a transition from homelessness to permanent housing.  One way this effort is accomplished is through monthly network meetings that are open to the public to encourage community participation in coordinating services and addressing homelessness. During the last program year, the Homeless Resource Network provided the following coordinated services to end homelessness, resulting in 381 people securing housing:

·         47,357 bus trips to employment, social services and medical care

·         291 birth certificates, essential for identification, housing and school

·         166 state identification cards or driver’s licenses

·         Storage of personal belongings for 321 people - Terrence Flowers (ref. HRN Col. GA)