Hello to you. My name is Greg Allen and I’m 54 years old and live in Berkley, Michigan. I have been without a place of my own for over seven years now. The first year of my homelessness proved to almost be fatal to me. I nearly died three times that winter from exposure to the cold. For about three and a half years, I went from shelter to shelter program here in the Detroit, Michigan area. Many of the jobs I was able to secure were temporary and not able to provide me the stabilty in order to find a place to live. Thankfully, and I believe by the grace of God, a small non-profit heard of my homeless journey and in July of 2014, took me on to handle their outreach to homeless men, women, children and others who are living on the margins of poverty. I found a real calling but still had no place of my own to call home. This organization provided me with a very small stipend that pays for some groceries and for the past three years, they have afforded me a small room to live within their outreach building. The winters here plus the years of homelessness on the street have taken their toll on my health. I have been very underweight for several years now as a result. I am hoping that I will be chosen to win the RV or travel trailer as such because I would like to go to an area of the country where the cold weather is not as severe. This past winter and several months I have had several bouts of severe exhaustion and dehydration which a doctor has told me is becoming a chronic condition. I can do so much good with this RV if chosen to receive it! I plan on going to another area of the country and doing the same type of street outreach to the poor and homeless as I have here in the Detroit area for the past five years. With the knowledge I have gained and my own homeless experience, I will be able to help so many others navigate the obstacles in finding shelter, food, and help. Since July of 2014 I have fed 400 disadvantaged children per week with a program I created called Snack Pax. And I created another program called Care Pax which puts in the hands of the homeless a special pack containing toiletries and other items to help with perdonal hygiene and care. Most importantly, in each Care Pax is a resource list of service organizations which was personally tested by me while homeless for those years. I plan on teaching others in another area of our country to do this outreach and to help others who are also in severe need. I really hope I will be chosen to receive this prize because my position living in this building is very unstable at best, and the offer to sleep here could be pulled from me at any time. This is the insecurity and fear I have had looming over me for seven years now. The non-profit has had financial instability of its own and could be extinct very soon. So, while I have not experienced a “natural” disaster like perhaps others who have written essays here, my own “disaster” has been in the making for seven years now, and I know a change needs to be made soon or else I could find myself in the same situation on the street again. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my essay. IF it is possible, I invite anyone who wants to know more details about me and the outreach I do for those in need. I am always happy to share my testimony. It must not be hidden. People need to be made aware of this issue. Thank you.