Raymond Payne, of High Point, goes about his daily work helping others in the High Point area, Raymond Payne carries with him clear memories of the life he once lived as a homeless man fraught with addictions and bitterness. His training to be a case worker with Open Door Ministries of High Point came not in the classroom or from a textbook. For 11 years, he lived as a homeless person; he knows things that can only be learned living on the street. When his life turned around, he knew he could never do anything except care for people who are homeless and try to help them change.

For the last 13 years his whole life has been about helping others. He works seven days a week, often nights, too, going to homeless camps, abandoned houses and under bridges to take supplies and a message of hope to people that others would rather avoid. Taped to a wall in his office is a quote from Mother Teresa: “It is easy to love people who are far away, but it is not always easy to love those you live right next door to. I do not agree with the big way of doing things. Love needs to start with an individual.”

Love, food, clothing, other necessities and a willing ear are what he offers to High Point’s countless homeless men, women, and children. His expectations are realistic.  He knows many of those he visits will not change as he did, but he accepts them as they are and listens to their stories. He created a program, Rabbit Quarter Ministries, named for the Thomasville neighborhood in which he grew up, that helps homeless people gain access to basic needs where they camp or sleep – meals, HIV tests, medical attention, clothing, mental health counseling, and more.

Payne also manages a relatively new program in High Point called Housing First for the chronically homeless. Through the program, about 20 people are provided individual apartments as well as wraparound services to support recovery and self-sufficiency.  Participants are honest about the difficulties adjusting to having a roof over their heads and a door to lock at night, but they radiate gratitude for Payne’s compassion, diligence, and encouragement. Getting a homeless person into an apartment is just the beginning of a process that involves Payne with his clients. He checks on each of them regularly, shopping for necessities, calling landlords about water heaters and leaking toilets, and taking them to medical and other appointments.  In doing all of this, Payne has created, in the words of Paul Lessard of the High Point Community Foundation, “a more benevolent community.” He has educated public officials, foundations, and places of worship about the problems of homelessness in their community. He also has instilled in many people a greater desire to help those in need and to try to reduce as much as possible the number of people who are homeless.

He has not only the trust of those he helps, but also, the confidence of community leaders, who call him often to ask his advice on homelessness, addiction and other social problems. He and Mayor Becky Smothers have become friends, and he is a trusted advisor.

As people in the community have come to know Payne, he has been asked to serve on boards and commissions.  While he is so patient and understanding with those in need, he is less patient with organizations.  It is no surprise then, that he would much rather be on the street or in a camp in the woods, one-on-one, than in a boardroom.

Raymond Payne’s personal mission guides his life: “I carry love that God placed in my heart and share it with all people I meet and serve. I listen to people on my journey because I respect, treasure, and value their thoughts and ideas. My life isn’t without personal challenges and roadblocks. The challenges and  road blocks which are experiences and lessons that strengthen my will and determination to go forward. I thank God daily for being in my life to help me do what I do to serve humanity.”