Urgency

I spent Wednesday (1/29/20) afternoon with the friendly employees and our homeless neighbors at the Urban Ministry Center on North College Street. I was there volunteering as part of the 2020 Point-in-Time Count. We volunteers were in a largish room with chairs set up for us and our homeless neighbors we were to survey for the Point-in-Time Count. I was equipped with the survey app on my phone, a warm hoodie, and a smile. Ready, Set, Go! Homeless neighbors were called inside the room in small groups and directed to volunteers for participating in the survey. With a quick introduction, and a handshake, we were off and running. I am always struck by the sight of folks without homes. They often carry their “home” goods in a backpack, or two, and/or other bags. I remember, as a child, hearing the term “bag lady”......it has deeper meaning for me now. Those bags are important, perhaps more important than money. Everyday existence is often in those bags, not mere items, liveliness and livelihood, note the root of both words…..life, are/is in those bags. Another observation was the humanity of the room. Every human in that room had a family, a childhood, memories, clothes, and problems. Yet, half the folks in that room were taking a survey asking questions about themselves and their homelessness. How did this happen to you? What went wrong? How can we help? Those were not the survey questions, but the survey questions were meant to inform policymakers about addressing some of those questions. Informing policymakers and those policymakers using the information to enact change takes time and, of course, money. Two things, time and money, that often frustrate well-meaning and well-intended efforts in our community.

Most of the homeless individuals and families that I met, and surveyed, were friendly, hopeful, and willing to answer the survey questions. One gentleman, however, was skeptical. I introduced myself, gave my best smile and delivered the introductory information about the survey. I asked him to participate and readied my app for data entry. He asked, “Will answering these questions get me a home?” I smiled, I thought he was giving me a hard time. I gave my best diplomatic response, something along the lines of “this information will be used to inform local government about homelessness in hopes better allocating money and resources to help with homelessness”. Long pause and intent stare. “So, answering these questions will not get me a home?” “No sir, I am just a volunteer, I cannot promise you anything.” End of conversation and end, well it never began, of the survey. He got up and walked off. That gentleman wanted immediate results, an immediate solution, a home. In this time of instant gratification and overnight Amazon deliveries, why can we not have more urgency about providing housing for those in need. Why does politics have to interfere with helping the neediest among us? Why do we have to conduct annual surveys to inform us, yet the problem remains the same despite the collected information? Where is the urgency?

Have you ever.....?

Have you ever started a blog because you felt like you had important stuff to share?  Well, I did....10 years ago!  I posted exactly once.  I started the blog using Blogger.  Do folks still use Blogger?  I hope so.  Have you ever experienced something you felt was bloggable and felt the need to start a blog only to realize that you already had one (that you started 10 years ago!)?  Well, that happened to me too.......this week!  And so it begins.......again!

Please note:  I left the original blog vision for historical purposes.  I may expand beyond science and educational issues.  We will see how it goes!