Posts by Glenn Cranfield
The Uphill Battle of Homelessness
“To be homeless you have to be creative to survive.” ~ Kateri, formerly homeless artist The uphill battle of homlessness is a cyclical pattern that seems impossible to break free from. It takes creativity, compassion and people working together to serve one another and never giving up. One segment of my interview with Nicole Minyard…
Read MoreReal Hope Ep. 20: Opportunity For Artists Experiencing Housing Insecurity with Nicole Minyard
LISTEN ANYWHERE YOU STREAM PODCASTS APPLE PODCASTS | AMAZON/AUDIBLE | SPOTIFY In this episode of Real Hope, host Glenn Cranfield has a conversation with Nicole Minyard, Founder and Executive Director at Daybreak Arts in Nashville, TN, to discuss how Daybreak Arts provides artistic, economic opportunities, and creative resources for those experiencing homelessness. As of today,…
Read MoreWhy do so many homeless people suffer from mental illness?
Homelessness and mental illness, unfortunately, often go together. But why is that? We explore the cyclical nature of these two conditions. There are many factors that can lead to homelessness — financial strain, substance abuse, and mental illness. Financial hardship and drug dependence are external factors, and it is easier to draw a clear line…
Read MoreHomelessness in Nashville Is Growing But We Are Not Losing Hope
I drive and walk past homeless veterans and homeless families every day. The causes of homelessness are so diverse and the solutions are so complex. There’s no hiding that our local statistics are discouraging and help is needed. But we will not lose hope. The Nashville Study of Homelessness The Nashville Study of Homelessness addresses…
Read MoreReal Hope Ep. 19: Training Tomorrow’s Nonprofit Leaders with Kim James
LISTEN ANYWHERE YOU STREAM PODCASTS APPLE PODCASTS | AMAZON/AUDIBLE | SPOTIFY In this episode of Real Hope, host Glenn Cranfield has a conversation with Kim James, Executive Director at Young Leaders Council (YLC) in Nashville, TN, to discuss how her team trains the next generation of nonprofit board members. YLC trains over 165 professionals every…
Read MoreSubstance Abuse & Homelessness: Getting Past Stigmas and Identifying Effective Solutions for Sustained Recovery
As of the writing of this article, we’ve just left behind May now recognized nationally as “Mental Health Awareness Month.” We celebrate the strides in destigmatizing mental health which was unfortunately a part of our culture for far too long. The idea of visiting a therapist is no longer seen as negative, but as necessary…
Read MoreReducing Homelessness WITHOUT More Housing
“We need more housing in our city!” That’s an argument you’ll often hear when debating how to impact homelessness in the community. But what if you could reduce homelessness without adding more housing? While adding housing can help, there are other ways to make a lasting impact in reducing homeless populations in your city. Recently…
Read MoreSilver Shotgun Shells
Wouldn’t it be great if there was one solution that could solve everything? In today’s culture, we tend to seek out quick fixes and one-size-fits-all approaches to address our problems in the spirit of efficiency and practicality. Nowhere do we see this more prominently than the issue of homelessness across the United States. Homelessness is…
Read MoreHomelessness is a Bipartisan Issue
No matter what city you either live in or visit, there’s a good chance it has a homeless population. The issue of homelessness continues to grow across the United States, especially in recent years with the global COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 580,466 people experienced homelessness in one…
Read MoreCoping With Trauma as a Volunteer
Volunteering to help organizations that serve the homeless population is a wonderful way to give back to your community. And while help is certainly needed, it’s important to understand that many individuals who are experiencing homelessness have also experienced intense trauma that might impact the way they interact with you. Here are some basic ways…
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