Homeless Shelters

I Was At My Lowest and Then Things Got Better

I got a bed upstairs

The days of taking the long walks to the library took their toll. When I was thrown out, I only had a fur-lined denim jacket. It was after Thanksgiving. A man from the Baptist church across the street walked through the waiting area.

God was looking out for me

He was handing out flyers. The flyers advertised a clothing give-away at the church across the street. I went across the street and found an old blue coat that had seen better days.

A few days later, I was going to my truck, when I saw a brand new pair of gloves on the ground by the door of the truck, where I couldn’t miss them.

A few days later, a woman came through the waiting area with hand-knitted hats and scarves. I was outfitted for the weather, but it was too late.

Two upper Respiratory Infections in the same month

I kept getting sick. I would go see the caseworker and she would drive me to the hospital. Two upper respiratory infections in a month. The lack of sleep and the stress had worn me down completely. I was nearing the end of my rope.

I got a bed upstairs

I went to see the caseworker after I got back from the hospital. She wrote a note for the shelter team and told me to see them that evening. Not all the homeless at the shelter were on the streets all day. I would watch as they came downstairs. They were cleaner and happier, laughing as they headed to the cafeteria. “How did they get upstairs?” I would ask myself as I watched them head to the cafeteria. I found out how that night.

My first visit to the Shelter Team

The Shelter Team came to work at around 8:00 P.M. Their office was in a room in the back of the shelter. The Shelter Team was protected by a Plexiglass barrier and an armed police officer.

I got there early. The cop gruffly told me to have a seat. I waited a few minutes before they raised the curtain to open for business. The Shelter Team member read the note, then she had me sign some papers, she wrote me a voucher and told me to go upstairs.

I took the elevator one floor up and got off into a different world. I exited the elevator into a brightly lit area. It was crowded with men sitting on chairs, hanging out, and walking the hallways. I sat in front of the closed office door and waited to be called.

A few minutes later, a huge man opened the door and told me to come on in. He read me a list of rules, then he had me sign some more papers, then he lead me to my room. Where I would spend the next three months.

Final Thought:

When you are going through a storm, ride it out, because storms blow over.