There are a lot of people that I carry around with me, stories that destroy me and stories that uplift me. All of them are part of me now and this Last week I was given some stories that lifted me up to the clouds, I want to share just one with you.
The picture you see is a pallet on the floor of Church of the Reconciler, a pallet that belonged to someone who is now a dear friend. Six months ago, my client (name redacted to protect privacy) would come in every morning to set up this pallet in his spot. He would sleep, charge his phone, eat, generally leave a mess, and was mostly unpleasant to folks. Each time I passed him, I would greet him with a smile and ask what he needed, and most days he would smile back. When I say this man has a smile that lights up a room, there is no exaggeration.
To give some context, this man is on a fixed disability income and had been waiting on a HUD housing referral without knowing what steps to take next. He also deals with persistent substance abuse disorder and had a hard time avoiding triggering situations. Feeling lost and having tried all he knew, he had mostly given up hope. We had a few frank conversations about HUD timelines, his needs, and his options.
About three months ago, he was able to find a temporary place away from the worst of the drug traffic and then got his HUD referral. I started to see him less and less, but when I did, he was glowing! I worked with him and his housing case manager to help him find a place, and he has been trying to untangle his problems with the utilities so that he can move in.
Last week, I took him over to the water board to pick up some of his final paperwork. I was treated to his beautiful smile and bathed in his love and gratitude. We talked about the past six months, how he went from sleeping on the concrete to where he is now. We discussed his personal struggles with addiction and how he is feeling better able to exercise control. We talked about next steps and helping him find something part-time to supplement his disability check so he can take over his rent when his referral program runs out.
This man ended up with a HUD referral, but he took those first few steps to restore his hope fully ON HIS OWN. I always wonder what tips the balance when physical resources are not forthcoming so I asked him. He told me that it was those around him who smiled at him every day, spoke to him like a person, and were concerned about his well-being that pushed him to move. He thanked me for treating him with love and respect. I will not hide the fact that I burst into tears.
Y’all, it makes me so happy to know that the love I feel for folks can make a real difference in their lives. But it also makes me sad that something so simple is such a HUGE barrier. At The Commons, we know that loss of supportive community is one of the little-known causes of homelessness, and we try to do everything we can to build that community. While community building is a difficult task, it has a simple start: treat folks with respect, smile, don’t look away.
All of these things can be done for free. Homelessness is a complex issue, and of course, funding is needed—to pay rent, salaries, stipends, to buy supplies. There is an avalanche of needs that I see every day that money will fix. And please, if you are in a place where you have the funds, find an aligning organization and donate regularly BUT know that there is something vital you can give without spending a dime.
Look folks in the eye, learn names, give love and respect unconditionally, show up consistently for folks, treat your fellow humans LIKE FELLOW HUMANS. Once you get into the habit, the meaning this gives to your life pays you back a thousand times over. If you are interested in being part of our efforts to build loving and supportive community around those experiencing homelessness, please subscribe and reach out.
The Bham Commons 