Homeless

Firehouse Ministries Loses City Money in Racially Charged Dispute

Tensions continued through the week between a Birmingham City Council member and Mayor Randall Woodfin over the council’s Tuesday decision not to contribute $1 million over five years to the Firehouse Ministries Homeless Shelter.

City Offers Emergency Shelter For Hundreds Escaping Cold

Brutal cold prompted the City of Birmingham to open an emergency warming shelter over the weekend. City officials say they’ll keep it open through Friday, but they need more volunteers and supplies. Hundreds of Birmingham’s homeless found food and warm refuge inside the South Exhibition Hall at the BJCC. They spent the night in the […]

Remembering “Street James”

A public memorial for James Griffin was held at Urban Standard in downtown Birmingham. He was homeless and beloved by many people throughout the city. He was found dead under Caraway Boulevard on August 17.

Crowded Homeless Shelter Looking for New Home

The Firehouse Shelter serves thousands of homeless people in Birmingham like Johnson and has been a staple to the community since 1983. But they’ve outgrown their home on 3rd Ave North. and they’re working on moving to a bigger facility.

Commentary: Berucha Cintron “I Will.”

With area high school graduations this month, some students can find themselves at a crossroads as they determine what's next in their life. For commentator, and high school senior Berucha Cintron, this crossroads took place in the form of a short, emotional conversation she had with her mother several years before.

One of Birmingham’s Oldest Homeless Shelters Has Big Plans

Leaders say the City of Birmingham needs more services to help the local homeless population. The operators of one of Birmingham’s oldest standing homeless shelters want to move and rebuild, creating a larger, more welcoming building in a more suitable location. And the change couldn't come soon enough.

The Rising Cost of Helping the Homeless in Alabama

Life is difficult without identification. For homeless people, not having it can make life even more challenging. There are organizations that help homeless people get state-issued IDs, but cost increases are hurting their efforts. Hundreds pack into Boutwell Auditorium for Project Homeless Connect, an event that brings together several community organizations that provide free services […]

Stuff: One Man’s Stuff

All this week we've been looking at stuff by examining some of the things we keep and the stories contained in them. Of course many of us have no shortage of possessions. We store things in basements or attics. Even rent storage units because we've run out of room. But what if all you had was what you could carry around yourself? What would you keep? WBHM's Andrew Yeager continues our series "Stuff" with a look at the things one Birmingham homeless man hangs onto.