I’ll bet you never have to worry about where you are going to sleep or where you might get your next meal. Surely not, because you are a college student and you have meal trades and a dorm or apartment bed. But imagine, for just a second, what it would be like to lose everything and be out on the street wandering with nowhere to go and almost no help. I’ve always had this idea to either give up my sight and go blindfolded, or choose to live on the streets(and really live ON the streets) for Lent one of these years. Maybe that will happen when I’m financially stable and go through some kind of mid-life crisis.
Anyway, I took a trip to Austin the other day to visit Front Steps. It is run by the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. They strive to help accommodate those who are in need of the life basics. On their website their mission statement struck me the most, ‘We sincerely believe that homelessness is a journey, not a destination.’ I feel this solidifies their attitude towards helping the homeless get back on their feet or on with their normal lives prior to being out on the streets.
The first thing I noticed was that you have to be let in by an employee, and as soon as you walk through the door you pass under a metal detector. Right away the first thing I noticed was that everyone there looked similar to anyone else in a normal setting. Sure they weren’t wearing Gucci, or business suits, but on the whole there would have been almost no difference than if I had walked into the grocery store or other public place. A lot of men even had baseball caps, which I’m glad to see because the summer heat is still wicked. There were signs about the mission statements and mottoes in a few different areas and back against a far wall I could see about 50 or so folded, black sleeping mats, so I would assume they also offer a place for people, in need, to sleep. There were quite a few people in the center and a few times I felt like I was in the way. There were also people standing outside the center waiting to be let in.
The conversations I could overhear were only those that the clients(as the staff referred to them) had with the Front Steps staff. One lady asked about how a staff member’s wedding went, and another was asked how he had been, and how his trip had gone. I got a feeling that staff and clients build a relationship beyond a normal business transaction and that they actually get to know each other on a personal level.
I can’t say that I know everything I need to know, about the homeless, nor am I trying to claim I know the solutions and reasons these people are there. I don’t think I can begin to comprehend how someone can get to that point. However, by the same token, I can say that I won’t think twice about sparing some change next time it is asked of me. I’ll also do my best to spare change to organizations like ARCH/Front Steps who are clearly doing their best to help any way they can.
-Nick Kukowski
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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