Dreams of the Homeless

January 26, 2007, started out as an ordinary day. However, it would soon become a memorable and extraordinary day. By 11:00 p.m., my mind was still consumed with thoughts of James, Mario, Charles, Brian and John. These were just a few of the homeless individuals I had been privileged to meet on this day. As part of a project to interview the homeless, these gentlemen educated us to their plight, obstacles and the numerous challenges they face each day as a result of having no home. Quickly I realized that these faces could very well be members of my own family.

Many shared very candidly the unfortunate set of circumstances and tragic events that led to their current experience; a lost job with no unemployment benefits, which translated to no income; an injury on the job that led to no workers compensation or disability benefits, which again, translated to no income; an ex-offender who is consistently stigmatized and denied employment because of his past, and still another, denied housing due to his poor credit rating. And the list goes on. Yet somehow in listening and trying to understand their plight, I realized that the problem of homelessness had become my plight as well.

In the midst of their daily reality and fight for survival for those who find themselves homeless, I still perceived within each person interviewed, a spirit of hope, determination, and a strong individual belief of a better tomorrow. I will forever be touched by the consistent response to the final question posed to each homeless interviewee. When asked about their short-term goals and desires for the future, "A job, a home and a family" became the overwhelming and consistent response. With each answer, I knew that the dreams of the homeless were the same as my own. Their hopes were the same as my hopes. As difficult and far away as their dreams may seem, I'm certain that their desires are certainly not too much to ask or expect.

As I ate my dinner after work, a twinge of guilt settled in as I thought about the homeless, never quite sure where their next meal is coming from. As I lay in my bed, again I felt the sting of being protected from the cold, which I knew was not a reality for many of the homeless. Yet loudest and most prominent of all my thoughts and feelings, were the questions surfacing through my mind, refusing to go away and demanding to be answered. What can I do to make a difference? What can we do as a community to improve the lives of the homeless? Where should we start? How will it end?

And slowly, the answers began to come. I must become an advocate, a voice for the homeless, by caring enough to educate others and encourage them to get involved. The process of where to start has already begun, as we seek to understand the needs of the homeless. We must let the homeless know that though currently downtrodden, they are not forgotten. How will it end? Triumphantly of course, because those of us committed to the cause must refuse to stop until the battle is won. As a united community, dedicated and determined to win, we must work together to end homelessness. We must commit our time and our resources so that every homeless person may realize their most basic hopes and desires; Employment, a home and a family. Truly, this is not too much for anyone to ask or expect.

Carol D. Smith, CIRS
Senior Information & Referral Specialist
United Way 2-1-1