"To truly know someone, one must walk a mile in his or her shoes."
In December, the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness, along with the Interactive Resource Center, Partners Ending Homelessness, Guilford County officials, and individuals facing homelessness in our community, embraced this familiar adage literally, undertaking a nearly 3 mile walk around the center of Greensboro, in order to honor and respect those individuals in homeless situations who would not, unfortunately, be ringing in the new year with us.
According to this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076949/Homeless-people-expect-die-30-years-average-person.html, the average life span of a person in a homeless situation is 30 years less than the average housed person's. Every year, thousands of Americans freeze to death outside (for more facts, please go to http://nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html). While temporary winter emergency shelters are a great resource and help, many can often accommodate a limited number of people (with about 20 on average), and often have specific hours during which they are forced to close their doors for the night. In addition to having to be on the list for such a shelter beforehand, many homeless individuals who hold irregular hours at their jobs may not be able to get in to the shelters before they close for the night. Additionally, some individuals may not be comfortable, for varied reasons, staying in the shelters. Thus, many of our citizens freeze to death on the streets.
The annual homeless memorial walk serves to honor those individuals who lost their lives to the harsh conditions of their surroundings. Additionally, the walk is designed to bring awareness to the prevalent issue of homelessness in our community. The event is attracts a lot of local attention,as the streets are shut down by police officers, and elected officials attend the event. The process of the walk is a somber experience, encouraging those who are out and about to pause and reflect on the serious issue presented to them by the walkers.
The public's response I experienced left much to be desired, however.
Imagine the following scene as you are idling in an intersection in downtown Greensboro: several police cars block your way of passage as a group of roughly 50 individuals, all carrying tea light candles, following a group holding the banner pictures above. I envisioned a lot of stares, some curious questions, numerous honks, and other various displays of respect. While there were stares, very few people stopped to question the procession before them. Several people snapped pictures. One gentleman took his hat off as we passed. Two people honked their horns and waved in their support. However, so many more individuals averted our gazes and simply went about their business as if nothing unusual was occurring before them. As if nothing about the message we were carrying was a concern of theirs.
Unfortunately, it is this very attitude I see applied to homelessness by the general population time and time again.
Perhaps the individuals looking away, playing on their phones, conversing with their friends, and generally pretending to not see the events unfolding before them do so because they did not experience the moving speech of remembrance and honor about the friends he lost on the streets from a homeless gentleman earlier that night that I was privy to witness. Perhaps they do not know how difficult of a life many of these wonderful individuals I have gotten to know lead. Or, perhaps, they simply do not think they can do anything to help.
Let me correct you right there people. YOU CAN! However, ignoring the problem, pretending it does not exist, will absolutely not be beneficial to resolving it.
I can't emphasize enough that every individual has a unique story, including those in homeless situations and how they ended up in them. Each of these stories will move you, surprise you, humble you, and make you unable to forget their story. We should not be ashamed of homelessness; nor should we attempt to hide it. We need to talk about it and to have it out in the open because that is the only way permanent solutions may be found.
Perhaps most importantly, we must remember to keep open minds and open hearts.
Thus, next time when a group of individuals carrying banners and candles, bundled up in layers to protect themselves from the harsh, cold, windy night passes by you, wave, ask a question, honk your horn, or heck, even join them! Perhaps next time you see someone on the street with the sign "homeless and hungry" you may stop and offer to bring them some food. Perhaps, you may attend an event such as this one in the future and meet some homeless individuals, and really sit down and listen to them, show them your respect, and get to know them. Some of these individuals may be homeless, some may be fighting to advocate for them and improve their conditions, and some may be running your city! I promise, once you walk a mile in one's shoes, you will never be the same.
The beauty of this event is that all marched as equals. All marched for one single cause.
The cold, somewhat miserable conditions of that night perfectly reflected the conditions those sleeping on the streets this winter face. By the time I reached the end, my fingers were numb from the wind and holding the banner, but my heart was so warm from having the pleasure of the company of fellow human beings, in whichever walks of life, marching together, with matching steps and matching heartbeats, occasionally cracking jokes about the obstacles in our way on the sidewalks.
Walking in the shoes of the homeless has never felt so normal.
By: Lana, an AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness member
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