慈善家给无家可归者提供住处

AS IT IS 2015-06-25 Philanthropist Provides Homes for the Homeless 慈善家给无家可归者提供住处

Each day, thousands of people with mental illness are living on the streets of cities and towns across America. The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development says one-fifth of the 610,000 homeless across the country suffer from a mental illness. Doris Buffett is the sister of investor¹ and billionaire Warren Buffett. She has donated one million dollars through a non-profit organization to house homeless people with mental illness.

Doris Buffett is a philanthropist, a wealthy person who gives money to help make life better for other people. She lives in the small town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her recent gift of one million dollars went to a local non-profit called Micah Ecumenical Ministries². She says she is happy to help homeless people with mental illness find new homes.

"I'm overwhelmingly³ happy that due to my brother's brilliance⁴, and he's had good luck, we've all got good luck, that I can do what my heart wants me to do. And this is it, I'm determined⁵ to give away my money before I die."

Vickie Chevrette and her brother Jerry Grimsley were among 20 people to receive homes as part of this effort. They still remember that cold January day, when they packed up their tents and stepped into a real house for the first time in three years.

"I couldn't believe it. It was wonderful. It was warm. It was solid."

"Warm. Well, we didn't have to worry about the snow no more, or the rains, because we used to get flooded, we had to go buy a pump to pump water out from our tent sections."

Meghan Cotter is the Director of Micah Ministries. She organized the purchase of seven so-called "Buffett Houses." To live in one, she says, residents must pay 300 dollars rent per month per room, or do volunteer work to make up for the part of rent they cannot pay.

"We are not just putting people into housing and providing support services, we are actually giving them reasons to get up in the morning, and come and be a part of something. And a lot of them really have a lot of value in that."

Vickie Chevrette’s receives disability payments from the government. It pays for the rent for their home. The home provides her with privacy⁶ and comfort. Since moving into the house, Vickie Chevrette has been mentally stable. She now can remember to take her medicine instead of worrying about where to take a bath. And she loves her kitchen, with its granite⁷ countertop, and new appliances.

"Everybody that comes into this kitchen says they want it."

Although his back injury makes it hard for Jerry Grimsley to do any housework, he tries to mow⁸ the lawn and plant flowers in the back yard.

"Just to show we have pride in the place, and we are trying to take care of it.  And show Ms. Buffett that we are really thankful that she gave us this opportunity. "

Doris Buffett's contributions have helped Micah Ministries cut the number of homeless in the city by 58 percent over the last five years. The philanthropist says she is extremely happy with this project, and plans to donate even more money in the future.

Words in This Story

philanthropist – n. a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people

non-profit – adj. not existing or done for the purpose of making money

brilliant – adj. extremely intelligent or successful

disability  - n. a condition (such as an illness or injury) that damages or limits a person’s physical or mental abilities

1 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

2 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

3 overwhelmingly   

adv.压倒性地；不可抵抗地

参考例句：

• They voted overwhelmingly against the proposal. 他们以压倒多数票否决了该提案。
• The local economy is overwhelmingly dependent on oil and gas extraction. 当地经济过于依赖石油和天然气的开采。

4 brilliance   

n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智

参考例句：

• I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。

7 granite   

adj.花岗岩，花岗石

参考例句：

• They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
• The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。

8 mow   

v.割（草、麦等），扫射，皱眉；n.草堆，谷物堆

参考例句：

• He hired a man to mow the lawn.他雇人割草。
• We shall have to mow down the tall grass in the big field.我们得把大田里的高草割掉。