Through a New Lens
By Alex Gheysens
Homelessness is an omnipresent
issue in Denver. When I walk to work wearing my suit and tie in the morning, I
pass countless homeless people along the sidewalk. Occasionally I will hand out
a dollar or some change, foolishly telling myself that was my good deed for the
day. How wrong could I be? My dollar could potentially make their day a bit
easier, but the next day and the one after, they might not receive someone’s
dollar.
Before
I came to Denver, I let Nelson know that I was interested in working with
homeless people. When I arrived, he connected me with St. Francis Center, a
homeless shelter in Denver. Expecting a small venue with maybe a soup kitchen
and some bathrooms, I thought it would be a fairly slow job. However, I was immediately
overwhelmed. The space was enormous and there were at least a hundred homeless
people hanging out in the main area. St. Francis Center has bathrooms and
showers, a laundry facility, a storage system, a mail room, mental health
resources, career advisors, a clothes store, and many other services available
– ones that I would soon be helping out with.
When
I got my initial tour with Beth, the volunteer coordinator, I mistakenly
generalized many of the homeless people. I for sure thought they were all
unemployed and had been on the streets for a while. Beth told me that many of
them have jobs, families, and were actually very successful in life. Unexpected
circumstances just threw obstacles at them that they could not plan for. Each
person has their own unique story and holds so much value. It is something that
could happen to any of us, really.
After
working some more hours at St. Francis Center, I have developed a deep respect
for the community we assist. These folks are so hopeful and ambitious and
realize that this is just a part of their story, but definitely not the end.
During my time there, I have always been treated respectfully and it has been a
joy getting to know everyone. I am starting to encounter some familiar faces on
the streets of Denver, and they do not hesitate to greet me.
Knowing
that I am actually making a difference in their lives, something my lousy
handouts of change did not do, is a very rewarding experience. Bonita once said
that we are all neighbors in Denver. It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO,
student, or homeless person, we all share this city and need to take care of
each other. I can only hope that if I were to ever need this kind of
assistance, someone would have my back as well.
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