The face of the homeless

In this last semester I participated in an internship at the People's City Mission. If someone had asked me the question "What words would you use to describe a homeless person?" before my experience there, I would have naively used words like bum, lazy, and undisciplined. My understanding of homeless has changed greatly. There are a few who may be homeless by choice, but the majority are homeless by circumstance or disease (physical or mental).

At the mission I found people of all levels of intelligence and schooling. One fellow had master degrees in different forms of engineering. He had lived the American Dream, but alcohol and depression had caused him to loose everything including his family. But now the Mission is his family, and he finds joy in giving back by preparing meals for all those there. The days he cooks people know it will be great food, he just has the nack for it.

There are many women and children at the mission, and yes there are also a few people that the world would label crazy, but they are trying. I am taking and abnormal psychology class this semester and have found people that would fit under the headings of having depression, mood disorders, borderline personalities, and even a few that are paranoid and possibly even schizophrenic. As long as they behave themselves and do no harm to others and/or themselves, they may stay. But if things get out of hand, they are passed on to more intensive care facilities.

There was one little lady there whose energy and love of serving others was inspirational. This gal and her son had in the past been residence here at the mission. Now she was a staff member who was awesome at dealing with the clientele. She told me that she was working on her GED and eventually wants to go on to college if she possibly can, so that she could give back even more possible as a caseworker there.

Homeless does not look the same to me now. This experience has truly changed me too, because I will be back there volunteering, it is in my blood now. I want to help others succeed against the demons that have put them here. I think that this will definitely help me see people differently in my practice and allow me to come along side them, not preach to them do this because I say so.