It was late last night when I arrived home to find my husband sitting with his computer at the table. We are both working super long hours right now. Always adjusting, it seems, to the changes of our careers. We sometimes crave a quiet moment when there aren’t two laptops surrounding us.
When my clock alarmed at 4:30 am this morning, I wasn’t thrilled (that’s an understatement). I needed to grab clothes and coffee and return to the Room in the Inn host church by 5:00 am, so that an overnight volunteer could leave and go to work this morning. Yes, that’s right. Someone who stayed up last night providing safety and oversight for twelve women to sleep was leaving to shower and go to work. Volunteers are amazing creatures! Our space this week is donated by one of our long-term congregations. While it isn’t their “turn” to host, we needed space and they opened their doors. That is the way it’s been since 2001 when Room in the Inn began in our area. People see the need and they respond.
When I entered the shelter I was struck by the quietness of their sleep. I know there are many nights that coughing and snoring keep part of them awake but when I arrived in the wee morning hours they were peacefully and blissfully sleeping. I spoke to the volunteer that was leaving to go about her day, she gave me a night report and quietly left. It was another hour before the ladies needed to wake-up for their day. They need all the rest they can get.
Being homeless is exhausting. There are so many “whys” to the issue of homelessness. I, too, stood in that place years ago where I wondered why people end up with no homes, why they stay there, how addiction works, why can’t they “just” get a doctor to give them medications, why don’t they go live with family? What a naive place I was in my life with those thoughts. My thoughts were innocent enough and (I like to think) not judgmental, just uneducated. I lacked understanding because I’d never chosen to ask.
Fast forward back to my morning. How blessed am I to be standing in a church space, watching over twelve wonderful women who are grabbing the last few minutes of shut-eye before their hectic day begins? They will have meetings and appointments, yes. They will also look for space just to be. A place where people don’t spend their time judging the way you look, your presence, your very place in the world. When will their story change?
Friends, it’s time that we all look around and figure out that homelessness will end when housing begins. Our community lacks affordable housing and the more condo/apartment complexes that we build – that lack affordability – the more we perpetuate homelessness. Next time you see someone on the street and you “decide” that they’re homeless…..ask yourself why. You might find a very complex answer to that question but, then again, the answer could be super simple. #housingfirst
Nana Reflections 