CRIME FINALLY HIT OUR NETWORK

Crime in America and opiate abuse is on the rise.

I called my girlfriend several weeks ago and learned that the Network had been robbed. Crime has come into our homes and has now entered the Network. The Healing Support Network had an open house and was robbed of all donations. You have to understand the network to see the seriousness of this breach of trust.

Healing Support Network was founded more than thirty years ago upon the death of Thelma’s son. When Billy was shot by a neighbor, the family was devastated. The network was formed by friends beginning to have meals with the family to help them cope. The father left the family because he could not cope with the grief and sadness of the family. Billy was his only son. The meals were macrobiotic at first and later they became raw foods. This is a vegan group. Thelma was a social worker. She began to run this organization without any outside funds.

I became involved with Thelma when she put out a request to the Association of Black Social Workers for help.  She was the Director of Black Family Development and needed licensed therapists to do billing. I volunteered and allowed her to use me and my license to keep the organization going.  The Network had not been formed at that time. It was not formed until the death of Billy. The Network was initially a close group. The membership expanded.  Rosa Park and Erma Henderson were members and others could be found at a meal. One never knew who they would meet at the Network. Politicians would come when they were seeking election or re-election. I remember nights alone giving rides to strangers who came for meals. I have thought that I could have been killed or hurt in many of these incidents. This organization ran on trust. The trust of members paying their membership dues and eating with the group on a regular basis. I used to buy meals several days a week. I learned to cook the meals from Thelma who taught classes. This was a wonderful support group. It provided a port in the storm for the homeless and others who were in need. It provided meals and information for persons who were medically challenged. The theft this week was the first time funds have been stolen from the group. It shows how things are changing. Churches and other groups are also being robbed. We remember Rev. Franklin, Aretha Franklins’ father being killed during a robbery of his home. Thelma has never shown fear of strangers. She has allowed total strangers to live in her home. She has always had a high level of trust.  This theft highlights other problems that we are facing in society at large.

In Michigan, when I lived there, I did not experience break-ins as I experienced in Houston. I lived in a house and had a security system. I lived in Michigan for forty years. No one ever stole clothing, sheets, towels, food and basic items as they do in Houston. I only moved my clothing and books to Houston. My clothing, books, honors, awards, undergraduate, graduate and law school notes, books and resources were stolen. My high school and college yearbooks were stolen. Dishes, silverware, pots and pans are repeatedly stolen. All of my shoes have been stolen repeatedly. In Texas, they even steal food, paper towel, tissue, face cream and hair products. I moved to the Galleria area and the  theft increased. Stealing and break-in are worse in this area tnan in the predominately Black area. This is a high crime area. What these thefts show one is the level of crime and poverty in America. People should not be breaking in to steal food. My class notes and books were stolen from law and graduate school. My apartment is burglarized on an almost daily basis. My security system indicates the burglaries do not take long. My cameras and security systems are attacked by burglars. I feel violated and unsafe. Human beings should not have to live like this. Something must be done about the crime in America. When funds from the Network get stolen, we are in the third degree. This has always been a safe haven. The Network shares with the homeless and others. To have someone steal instead of asking for help is foreign for our group. We are inclusive. It is a sad day when this happens. To have someone in our midst who steals is such a breach of trust. Crime in America and in our home is on the rise. We need to start a conversation about how to reduce crime. The one place we should be safe is in our home.