Okay, it’s been a hot minute or a few thousand since I last posted something on my blog or even lifted my head up to see what all y’all have been up to, and for that I apologize, but I have a good reason — I’ve been ghostwriting!
Since last August, I’ve been working on a book for Deacon Michael Oles, the founder of Off The Streets, and I’m quite proud of the outcome. As of today, Finally Home – The Prophetic Witness of Off The Streets is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback versions.
Here’s the synopsis where you can read all about it:
Be someone’s hero today. We’ve all read the headlines. The homelessness crisis in America gets worse each day — but what if I showed you how to help someone transition from homelessness into permanent housing in a few steps? Would it seem impossible to you? Too big a lift? A problem for others to fix? Well, not only is it possible, it’s relatively easy and it’s happening in communities across the country right now with this simple model developed by Off The Streets. All it takes is a spark and a small group of committed individuals working together in your community. Since 2009, nine Off The Streets chapters have transitioned approximately 7,000 people, mostly women and children, into permanent housing with the payment of a security deposit and a couple truckloads of furniture. Off The Streets has done the work and learned the lessons, and we are eager to share our knowledge with you. All you need is an open heart and a few hours a month of your donated time. In exchange, we will provide your organization with a template for transitioning the homeless into permanent housing. Will you join us in becoming an important piece of solving the homelessness puzzle by spreading our message to communities across the country? Why not start a chapter today? Together we can make homelessness a thing of the past. Become the hero you were born to be.
Joe Simons, Chairman of the Board, Off The Streets, Inc., President, Danbury, CT chapter, and Founding Member of Off The Streets
Off The Streets is a wonderful organization and seeing Deacon Mike’s commitment to getting the homeless into housing has been a humbling experience. With just a security deposit and a few rooms of furniture, Off The Streets has transitioned over 7,000 homeless persons into affordable housing in nine chapters across the country.
Ask any one of the OTS volunteers and you will see a common theme running through this organization — everyone believes they get more out of this work than they put in. It’s not just the clients who are grateful, it’s also the volunteers who work so diligently to help get persons experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. But don’t take my word for it.
Read the book.
Get inspired.
Start a chapter!
Pam Lazos – 1/15/24
Green Life Blue Water 
Sounds like a wonderful read, Pam.
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Thanks, Michele. 🙏😘
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I forgot to congratulate you, Pam on writing the book. That’s absolutely wonderful!
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Right on, Pam! Excellent article.
Homelessness is a massive issue in Toronto.
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It’s everywhere, Resa, and beyond sad. And wow, Toronto! I can’t imagine living on the streets in this cold! 🥶
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Agree!
Crazy, but there are many who refuse help, who chose the cold between 2 & 5 am when the subway is not open.
They refuse allow themselves be “prisoners” (for lack of a better word) of the government or any organizations. They are distrustful of any help.
This is not to say that there are those who need & want shelter, and aren’t finding it. Undocumented refugees are the main group here. This has surged in the last couple of years.
They say our property taxes will go up 10% this year to address that particular issue. Many can barely afford their taxes, as is. I’ve cut back on everything.
Therefore this is a global issue that goes beyond addressing the homeless at hand, but overpopulation, corrupt oppressive governments, wars, economic refugeeism and on.
It is a massive problem.
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Yes, it is, and it doesn’t help that there is not much affordable housing. It’s crazy that people refuse help but then I’d they get sick they need to go to the hospital and run up a huge bill which also ultimately goes to the taxpayer. So many interlocking problems. 🤦♀️
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Yes…interlocking problems.
We have a lot of shelters here. There’s people working in the streets. We have allowable tent cities w/ warm-up centres and toilets, but it’s not enough.
We must keep trying. 🤦♀️
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🙏🤓
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Welcome back Pam! What a great idea about a committed group of people willing to help out what is a crisis for sure. Here in the Detroit area, we have a big problem with homelessness and this past week, with the exception of today, we were also in that 80% of the country enduring an Arctic blast. Street reporters were interviewing homeless people, some which sleep at the Rosa Parks Transit Center as the shelters and churches were filled up and the wind chill/real feel got to -25 a few nights. Congratulations on ghost writing this book about a worthy endeavor.
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Thank you, Linda! Good to be back.
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Good to see you Pam! What a wonderful project, for such a worthwhile cause! I’ve had to be away from my blog for a long time too, but due to illness. I’m back to posting now, once in awhile. On a side note, I’m glad to see that the use of southeastern expressions like “all y’all” is spreading to other regions. Language always grows and expands! Again, many congrats on the work you’ve accomplished!
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Leah, thank you so much. It was a great project and I’m happy to have done it. Sorry to hear you’ve been ill. I hope it’s all behind you now!❤️🩹
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Sadly, no, it’s still being sorted. A huge setback in a rare condition I’ve had since 1992. Hope to post more one day.
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Sending good vibes 😎 your way.
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Pam I hope you got what I sent xxx
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Got it! I sometimes have that trouble when I use my phone but if I go to my computer it works. The ghost 👻 in the machine!
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Pam…. I am having a big prob with google right now telling me your site is unsafe …which I know it is not in any way… and not letting me on here to comment, which is why, having got in, that comment was short. But the dudes are offended cos the other day they were locked out of their own site for the same reason, and told I
might be stealing my own bank details which neither Google nor WP have. But fortunately, when it comes to such rubbish, they are good hackers., which is why I am now here letting you know re how good it is to see you and also why you might not be seeing so many folks. This is certain things gone mad
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Oh my gosh, Shey, that’s all terrible stuff. I get so much phishing from my google account – I think it’s google and not WordPress that’s causing the trouble, just a guess — but glad you made it through all the noise and regards to The Dudes. Hope their little nerves weren’t too frayed by such inconveniences. Lord knows they have so much on their plates!😂😂😂
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It is Google. I have now checked everything out. And none of it asked for in settings either. Talk about overstepping a mark, big brother is deciding what is good for you. Anyway I’ve sorted it and any more and i will just have to find another search engine and all. The dudes do indeed have so much on their plates…lol xxxxx
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❤️
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Good work, dear Pam. It looks like it was worth it. Welcome back, and I wish you much success.🤗🤙💖
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Thank you, kind sir!
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👍. Congrats, Pam!
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Thanking you, Neil!
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So glad to hear from you, Pam 🙂 Excellent initiative! Congrats of the book!
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Thanks, Rose! Also, I’m still interested in your interview/book review if you want to do it. Happy New Year!
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A Happy New Year to you, too, Pam!
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❤️
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Good to see you and with this post. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Hello, lovely lady! Thanks for stopping by. ;0)
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