Bill perkins is one of the most important names you want to remember and find out about if you are homeless in Wilmington.
He is head of the Friendship House organization. He is one of the best men I have come across anywhere. The friendship house offers various services in different locations, but there are two or three that are important to your survival, well being and what small comfort the homeless can get. The first is the Friendship House on Third and Walnut Street. The hospitality part of it opens around 5:30 every morning. A guy named Chris is usually there Monday thru Friday despite the weather, despite the traffic despite whether or not he's had a bad night and even if the San Francisco 49ers lost that weekend. The coffee is weak alot of times and has too much sugar most of the time, but it's free, it's almost vital in the mornings, and it's warm on those cold winter days. Usually there are around 60-125 people there but it varies sometimes toward the first of the month. We all know why. Some people call it the Nobucks Cafe. But you can have all the coffee you can drink and sit until around 8:00 am or so.
The upstairs portion....or second floor is the hub of the place. You can get services there that are pretty unique as far as helping the homeless. If you have identification of any sort they will give you a Friendship House client identification card that is recognized around town as an unofficial Id. They will also help you obtain a birth certificate, social security card, state identification card and drivers license. But be forewarned. They check you for outstanding warrants and will not help you if you have any. They will however help you resolve those if you put in a sincere effort. They will also give you clothes, help you with prescriptions, bus passes, and more. They also have lockers available for one night, a week and a month. The times vary depending on the circumstance. You can also use this location as your mailing address. That alone is very valuable when you're homeless.
On the third floor there is a computer lab where you can access the internet for email and job searches. The offices are also located on this floor. they will assist you in preparing resumes and teach you the basics of computer use. utilize it....today's employment world and job search revolves around online resumes and inquiries.
Now on Sunday mornings beginning around 5:30 there is a church on the corner of West 8th Street and Shipley called St. Andrews. They give you coffee, donuts, boiled eggs if they have them and the ever popular quiche. It is a good place to be aware of on Sundays because no other place is open at that time of the morning. It also serves as a cold weather shelter from around 3:00 pm until around 8:00 pm when the temperature drops to around 20 or so. I don't remember the exact ambient temperature, but just remember when you're freezing your toes off.....go there at 3:00 pm.
Bill is a very good man who for some reason likes to help homeless people. He has a very realistic view of who homeless people are, what challenges they face, what reasons you are homeless and the type of help he thinks you need and he can give. He does not judge you, condescend to you or tell you what you want to hear. He tells you the truth and tells you exactly what he can and can't do. He is an extremely good man with good intentions and good heart. They are hard to find in the world of the homeless.
Use this organization and the things they offer. They are invaluable and a good asset to have. Be thankful for them. They are unique, they are helpful, they are on our side most of the time.
He is head of the Friendship House organization. He is one of the best men I have come across anywhere. The friendship house offers various services in different locations, but there are two or three that are important to your survival, well being and what small comfort the homeless can get. The first is the Friendship House on Third and Walnut Street. The hospitality part of it opens around 5:30 every morning. A guy named Chris is usually there Monday thru Friday despite the weather, despite the traffic despite whether or not he's had a bad night and even if the San Francisco 49ers lost that weekend. The coffee is weak alot of times and has too much sugar most of the time, but it's free, it's almost vital in the mornings, and it's warm on those cold winter days. Usually there are around 60-125 people there but it varies sometimes toward the first of the month. We all know why. Some people call it the Nobucks Cafe. But you can have all the coffee you can drink and sit until around 8:00 am or so.
The upstairs portion....or second floor is the hub of the place. You can get services there that are pretty unique as far as helping the homeless. If you have identification of any sort they will give you a Friendship House client identification card that is recognized around town as an unofficial Id. They will also help you obtain a birth certificate, social security card, state identification card and drivers license. But be forewarned. They check you for outstanding warrants and will not help you if you have any. They will however help you resolve those if you put in a sincere effort. They will also give you clothes, help you with prescriptions, bus passes, and more. They also have lockers available for one night, a week and a month. The times vary depending on the circumstance. You can also use this location as your mailing address. That alone is very valuable when you're homeless.
On the third floor there is a computer lab where you can access the internet for email and job searches. The offices are also located on this floor. they will assist you in preparing resumes and teach you the basics of computer use. utilize it....today's employment world and job search revolves around online resumes and inquiries.
Now on Sunday mornings beginning around 5:30 there is a church on the corner of West 8th Street and Shipley called St. Andrews. They give you coffee, donuts, boiled eggs if they have them and the ever popular quiche. It is a good place to be aware of on Sundays because no other place is open at that time of the morning. It also serves as a cold weather shelter from around 3:00 pm until around 8:00 pm when the temperature drops to around 20 or so. I don't remember the exact ambient temperature, but just remember when you're freezing your toes off.....go there at 3:00 pm.
Bill is a very good man who for some reason likes to help homeless people. He has a very realistic view of who homeless people are, what challenges they face, what reasons you are homeless and the type of help he thinks you need and he can give. He does not judge you, condescend to you or tell you what you want to hear. He tells you the truth and tells you exactly what he can and can't do. He is an extremely good man with good intentions and good heart. They are hard to find in the world of the homeless.
Use this organization and the things they offer. They are invaluable and a good asset to have. Be thankful for them. They are unique, they are helpful, they are on our side most of the time.