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Safe Housing Brazil Project #43235

Crescimento Limpo, Supportive Housing for Homeless

by Associacao Crescimento Limpo

Crescimento Limpo, Supportive Housing for Homeless

Project Report | Mar 17, 2022
A place to grow

By Mark Kaiser | Founder and director, Crescimento Limpo

Sunday morning breakfast at Cafela

Everything is changing, always. At least in the details. The work of Crescimento Limpo has tradicionaly served single Brazilian men coming from backgrounds of homelessnes and chemical addiction. For the last two years we have seen the demand for our services shift to Venezuelan refugees, and in the last six months shift again to Brazilian and Venezuelan families with children. Today the CL house (downtown location) serves 22 residents, 11 of whom are children. This has been a huge change for us and we are still learning and adapting as fast as we can manage to serve well these dear and highly vulnerable friends in our care.
The most recent of these families came to us this last Sunday. The father, Jefferson, had lost his job and been unable to make rent, so they were left to the streets. With what money they had they got a bus and set off to the city of Jefferson's mother, but the money was not enough to complete the trip. Saturday they were left to sleep in the buss station of our city, Itu.
Sunday morning we serve breakfast to the homeless from our café and they were brought along by the other homeless men and women who come regularly. A vollunteer told me afterwords that he overherd one of our guests telling Jefferson and his family, "What I can offer you is this- to bring you here. These are good people, now it's up to you." Jefferson shared his story with me over coffee while his exhausted family ate and rested. Their four boys, ages six, four, two and seven months played some and slept some... worn out by the night on the street. They joined me to church that morning where they were able to meet more of our CL staff and we were able to make arangements for their entrence into the CL house that same afternoon.
After a good nights sleep they were a different family on Monday morning, with all of the uncontainable energy that you would hope to see in four healthy young boys! We are currently working on school enrolment as well as meeting their needs for clothing, etc, AND raising funds to purchase an additional refrigerator to help keep the needed food onhand for our growing family!
I am very proud to be able to provide for this family, and am so thankful that God and our community of supporters has allowed for this opportunity! Everything is always changing, at least in the details. But the essence of what God has given us remains; we are able to care for the vulnerable amongst us and walk alongside them towards hope. Thank you for helping us to live out this mission to whomever God may bring our way!

Sunday breakfast at Cafela

Jefferson and his beautiful family

Links:

CL Website

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Nov 17, 2021
Receiving Venezuelan refugees in Brazil

By Mark Kaiser | Founder and Director of Crescimento Limpo

Leon, Eucaris, Keyder & Kendall, reunited in Itu.

What a privledge it is to get to see lives and whole families restored first hand! Working with CL has allowed me just that priveledge, as the story of Leon and his families resettlement in Brazil demonstrates-
In the last two years Crescimento Limpo has experienced a highly increased demand for support from friends arriving Venezuela as refugees. Leon came to live with us at the CL halfway house in 2019 with the first group of Venezuelans that we received. From day one he had one urgent mission- he would work hard and save money to bring his wife, daughter and sister-in-law to live with him here in Itu. He got a job at a local hotel and soon made good on his promise. He brought his wife Eucaris, daughter Kendall, and sister-inlaw Keyder. The first picture here is of their family, finally together again, worshipping with us at church one Sunday morning.

This moment was especially impactful to me because his daughter Kendall was the same age as my son Liam, and I couldn't have imagined being separated from my baby for so long without the means to keep my family together. They lived with us at the halfway house until they were able to secure an apartment and move out. We helped Keyder get enrolled in school and we were able to hire Eucaris at CL's café, the Caféla, ensuring that we would be able to continue to support and disciple them after they moved on to their new residence.

Recently Eucaris came to talk to us, brokenhearted. She told us that her brother Carlos and his family were needing to leave Venezuela for Brazil as well, but that she didn't have the means to bring them or to offer them housing in Itu. We told Eucaris, "of course you do! You work for CL; an organization that exists to help with exactly these life transitions! Your work opens enables us to keep our doors open to receive men and women needing housing during life crisis!"

So we accompanied Carlos' journey. Between the Brazilian border and Itu, he would have to go through documentation process and wait for the dates for their flight from Manaus to Sao Paulo. This meant twenty days in the large city of Manaus where he, his wife and their one year old child would be on the streets. We contacted the Church of Christ in Manaus and explained their situation. Immediately, one of the church members went to pick them up and keep them at their home for 20 days! Because of the church acting as the body of Christ throughout our country, Carlos' family was never left unsupported or unaccompanied.

Carlos, Grecia (wife), and Fabricio (1.5 year old child) arrived to our house two weeks ago, and they were eagerly welcomed by their family and our staff! Carlos is currently working with us at the CL Farm, in our garden and grounds maintenance. He is being mentored by myself and Rogerio, our monitor of 8 years. Fabricio, who was underweight when he arrived to Itu, is already looking chunkier and healthier! We are honored to be a piece of their journey of restoration.

Carlos, Grecia and Fabricio at Casa CL

Morning devo at CL Farm. Carlos is 3rd from left

Links:

Crescimento Limpo Website

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Jul 23, 2021
Guaranteeing a Way Out

By Mark Kaiser | Founder and Director of Crescimento Limpo

CL House, keeping the door open to recovery

CL housing serves a wide variety of public. We currently assist individuals coming from chemical addiction, long term homelessnes, international refugees, victims of domestic violence and of economic misfortune. There are endless factors that leave our friends unable to provide for their own housing and disoriented within the practice of daily survival.

I had a friend years ago who inspired our work. For confidentiality, I'll refer to him here as Adam. Adam had been living on the streets for years, and due to his addiction he burned all his bridges with family. When he came to us asking for help to get clean, we gladly helped him into a residential rehab program and accompanied him throughout his six month stay. When his time at rehab was complete Adam faced the question of where to go next. Without any other option in view, he decided to seek his father's blessing to come back home to "start over". I went to speak to Adam's dad, and softened the blow before picking Adam up from rehab. I was met with a lot of fear about what could go wrong, but also a dutiful willingness to try again. In my inexperienced pursuit of reconciliation, I took that as a "win" and did nothing more to help prepare Adam's family for the coming transition.

When I showed up with Adam the next week, the fear had overcome any sense of familial duty. Adam heard hurtful words of disbelief, and we left his father's house to prepare a makeshift space in my garage for his reception. Adam's self confidence took a major hit and he began his recovery with the feeling that there was no place off the streets where he belonged. As a Christian, I couldn't sleep with that. What is the Kingdom of God if those who look to overcome their personal demons, and who follow the guidance offered towards recovery, find only dead ends?

This was the story that gave rise to our organization.

I believe that anyone who would commit himself/herself to the hard work of recovery should have a viable option to live out their recovery. That is the purpose CL fulfills- to guarantee access to a way out of homelessness.

For ten years now CL has kept an open door to those in need. We have learned daily how to do that better, and our lives have been enriched through the process.

Thank you for partnering with us! And may we all find such grace to carry us through the darker days that we will face as well.

Peace to your home.

Learning new skills in construction

Continuing education while at CL

Links:

CL Website (English version)

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