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This is a tent city.
As explained in a wonderful documentary Tent City USA, such an establishment serves as not only as "permanent" a place as homeless individuals can call home, but also as a community, a support network for those who desperately need one to re-gain control of their life and get back on their feet, but whom, unfortunately, society tends to cast out and deprive of that fundamental human right.
Tonight, the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness organized a truly perspective altering event. What started out as a simple movie screening of Tent City USA with a panel discussion following, became something so much bigger than we ever anticipated. The event was held at a local "gold mine" of resources for Greensboro's homeless population, the IRC (interactive resources center). Our panel consisted of four current tent city residents, who, by the way, do not like being described as homeless, because of the negative connotation it has regretfully come to carry in our society, and prefer creative names for themselves, such as "long-term campers," and "professional outdoors-men."
Why does homelessness carry such a stigma in our society today? As the documentary and several of our panel members point out, most people just assume that all those without permanent homes and steady incomes are "dirty, uneducated, drug addicts, and alcoholics just wanting a government handout." This is perpetuated myth, very distant from reality, as this study in San Francisco shows.
Most of us wouldn't expect four smart, funny, frank, humble, hardworking, resourceful individuals. But that, and so much more, is exactly what these people are.
I certainly wasn't expecting to be moved to tears with their stories, experiences, and the injustice they face from the society I am part of. While I have never been one of those people who would tell a homeless individual to "get a job" (FYI if you are one of those people, you try that in this economy while NOT having a permanent address, and let me know how it works for you!), I would walk by someone asking for a dollar to buy food (which as the study above shows IS where your dollar is actually going) with my head bent low, mumbling something about not having cash on me.
AND I AM ASHAMED!
As we all should be.
What I learned from these individuals tonight is that they come from life situations that make up our worst nightmares. They have been abused, molested, beaten, left on the street as children and teenagers. They have been stripped of every ounce of their dignity. Who am I, or you, or anyone to say they CHOSE this lifestyle? While all of our discussion members take full personal responsibility for their choices that may have contributed to their downward spiral, leading them to their current living situation, we have to realize that these people are just as much, and I would even argue more so, a product of their circumstances. Particularly in this economy, we all know "the system" is not only imperfect, it is severely deficient. What little aid non-profit agencies scrape by, fighting tooth and nail, advocating for their clients is simply not enough!
As one of our panel members pointed out, "who would choose to live like this? I'm not happy with this. None of us are." He has 3 blankets to cover up with in the cold temperatures we are experiencing right now. In the morning, there is dew, which means he and his shelter are wet, and there is absolutely nothing he can do about it.
As one of our sagacious panel members pointed out, temporary aid is greatly appreciated, but it doesn't solve the problem. With the continuous rise of the homeless population in the United States, something is simply not working, and these men and women, who have the actual experience of living on the streets, are more than ready to ponder these problems and offer solutions! However, as we see in Tent City USA, as well as from our panel's discussion, their voices are silenced by our prejudices. Temporary housing vouchers only last for a year, hardly enough time for even those qualified for jobs to find employment in our economy, let alone someone who may have been incarcerated, for often very MINOR offenses such as DUIs, or someone having a learning, physical, or other disability, or suffering a mental health issue.(I will save the prejudices our society has against mental health care for another blog rant). Yet, the system is deficient in providing resources to remedy these hindrances to steady, full-time employment. As one of our panel member mentioned, he is "willing to do anything." He will "work his tail off, if only someone, anyone, will give him a chance!" Yet corporate America turns its cheek the other way and ignores the problem.
Why? Because we are embarrassed, hindered by our misconceptions, unsure of how to act. After even only an hour of getting to know these individuals, I would confidently hire any one of them, knowing they would provide their best work and want to be at the job 100 percent. Our panel members expressed the desire to work without pay even, or to have a probationary period so they may impress their employer with their work ethic in hopes of eventually obtaining paying employment! However they are discriminated against based on their status, their appearance, their living situation. As one of our panel members pointed out, he seeks employment every single day. Yet every door is slammed in his face. Another member added that someone at an employment agency once told her she "doesn't look homeless."
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| I'm sorry. I wasn't aware HOMELESS had a certain look to it! |
The Tent City USA documentary mentions the benefit of such an establishment as fostering a sense of community. These men and women truly becoming the family they never had to each other, and love and care for each other in a way I have not never experienced in our bigger communities. Yet, as seen in the film, and based on our panel's experience, we shun them. We just don't want to be reminded to the fact that our "American dream" may have failed.
They, in turn, welcome us and each other with open arms. One gentlemen recited an anecdote I would like to share. One night, in colder weather than we are currently experiencing, he was settling in for the night under the bridge. Another individual lacking housing, having just gotten off from a graveyard shift, approached him and offered to give him $10 for one of his blankets. This gentleman gave it to him for $5. These two blankets are the only possessions he had to keep himself warm, and he chose to share with someone in need.
After getting to know these people, I realized they have so much heart and love to give, and they, like all human beings, just want the same simple things we ALL want and need: acceptance, a place they feel they belong, a sense of purpose and accomplishment, however minuscule form work, and love. Our lady panel speaker was funny as hell! (excuse my French). One of the younger gentlemen of the panel and I bonded over our failed romantic relationships! These people are real, and they are human. For people in their situation, some of them being homeless for years, they have a remarkable spirit and resilience. They maintain a hope beyond all hopes that with enough effort and patience, eventually good things will come to them, so they go on. They apply for jobs they know they will be turned away from. They attend GED classes offered at the IRC. Most importantly, they help each other in any way they can.
Most basically, and most importantly, they are JUST PEOPLE. They are not "the homeless." They are not a statistic. They are not "something" deserving of de-humanization and ridicule. The are just people. Like YOU and ME. With stories. With hopes and dreams. They are smart. They are eloquent. They are funny.
Oftentimes, we find ourselves judging those whose stories we simply have no conception of so easily. However, one of our panel members has not been in a steady, permanent home since he was thirteen years old! He has struggled, as any of us would under such circumstances, as psychology teaches us that a stable home environment is one of the single most important factors contributing to a successful transition of a youth into an independent adult, and he has been overlooked and denied opportunities his whole life. His story really hit close to home as I am the same age. Having graduated from a university with not one, but TWO, diplomas, I was unable to obtain employment for months after graduation. Despite having a full scholarship, my savings were drained by the expenses of college, and I found myself jobless, with only $100 to my name. I was lucky. AmeriCorps became my opportunity and salvation. If I hadn't, I would be sitting right there in a tent next to him, utilizing only blankets and body heat in order to keep from freezing in the chilly Carolina fall, and I have had the opportunity to obtain an education, unlike him! The reason for my personal over-share is that I want to drive the point across that homelessness is something that can happen to each and every one of us. Medical bills, rent increases, elevated cost of living, a flailing economy are all factors working against us constantly. Some of us win the battle against our circumstances. Some of us don't. By the way, out of the over 633,782 people currently identifying as homeless (this number is actually lower than the over-all number of the homeless population because it represents only those who were able to be counted during the 2012 point in time count), roughly 40 percent have a disability, 1 in every 3 are veterans, and about 20 - 25 percent suffer some form of mental illness. Of these individuals, 2/3 are un-sheltered!
Before I left, one of the gentlemen told me I was going to change lives.
I really hope he is right. I and our wonderful AmeriCorps team will do everything in our power to help them and other homeless individuals in the Greensboro area. We will continue spreading awareness about their cause and fighting for their rights.
However, little did these three men and one lovely lady know that with their candidness, their stories, and their amazing personalities they would touch my heart so much, and change MINE, and I just want to say THANK YOU to them. I will never be the same, and I am forever grateful to you guys.
I challenge you, dear readers, next time you encounter a homeless individual, to not avert your gaze, but to approach them, shake their hand, and listen to their story. Volunteer at your local shelter. Attend your local legislation meetings and let your voice sound for those that are kept silenced. Help spread awareness with others in your life by sharing this post with them. And, most importantly, keep an open mind and open heart. You might just find it stolen, and you will definitely not be the same afterwards. You will experience one of the most humbling enlightening, and most importantly, HUMAN, moments of your life.
Homelessness is a serious, devastating crisis in this country as well as the world. However, a solution does not have to be out of reach. Imagine if each one of us applied only just a little bit of our strengths and efforts; we could move mountains! Or rather, tent cities and other residents lacking shelter into permanent housing.
Post by Lana
