Hamilton group hits the streets to help homeless drug addicts

Hamilton’s Taken it 2 the Streets Outreach Ministry is a “boots in the street” operation to help addicts. Every Friday night, the group looks to provide food, clothing and help to those suffering from addiction who have become homeless. CONTRIBUTED

Hamilton’s Taken it 2 the Streets Outreach Ministry is a “boots in the street” operation to help addicts. Every Friday night, the group looks to provide food, clothing and help to those suffering from addiction who have become homeless. CONTRIBUTED

Doug and Rhonda Songer find themselves in a growing population: Parents with children who have overdosed as a result of a drug addiction.

But instead of hiding in shame, they took their fight against drugs to the streets hoping to help not only their child, but others as well.

Taken It 2 the Streets Outreach Ministry is what the Songers describe as a “boots in the street” operation that every Friday night looks to provide food, clothing and help to those suffering from addiction who have become homeless.

Taken It 2 the Streets Outreach Ministry is attempting to deal with addicts face-to-face in order to make a difference.

“We obviously are faith-based and we try to mentor the homeless people we meet,” Rhonda Songer said. “But we help with clothing and food. Many of them say they just feel abandoned and lost, but we try to show them there is a better way.”

A big problem is that a majority of the homeless don’t have ID – without an ID they can’t get into the shelters and they can’t get a job, she said.

“We are able to connect them with the Salvation Army because they will give them vouchers to get IDs,” Rhonda Songer said.

On Saturday, the group will host what it calls an “urban outreach event” from 3 to 7 p.m. at Symmes Park, located at 4th and Henry streets in Hamilton.

Drug addiction recovery resources will be available during the event.

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