Gimme Shelter

"As a society, we like to dehumanize the problem," Len the coordinator told us, "it saves us have to think about it, or feel guilty about it. After all, if we tell ourselves it's their own fault, then we don't need to do anything about it. 'Homeless People'. The very expression suggests that they're 'homeless first' and 'people' second. That's why here at the shelter we use the term 'People who are homeless'."

We were wrapping plastic spoons and forks in paper napkins ready for the people who would soon stream through the door. The tables had already been washed down and by now were set with water jugs, condiments and bread, all items donated by local sponsors. By 11:55, Trevor, Peggy and Clarice were manning the serving hatch; Sean was ready to hand the trays to the guests as they stepped up, while Kim and Tom stood behind a table containing the salad and desserts. Jeff was manning the door with a hand-clicker to control the pace. My job was to hand out mugs of water as the guests filed past.

Did you know that of the approximately 9,000 homeless living in Metro Denver, nearly 60% are families including around 3,600 children? I didn't.

At 12 a bell rang, the door was unlocked and the guests arrived. Many were dirty, dressed in rags and often carrying their possessions under one arm. Others were obviously making an attempt to maintain their appearance, with combed hair and clean complexions. A surprising number were smartly dressed and one even carried a briefcase.

"Oh yes," explained Len when I commented on this later, "Around 25 percent of the people who are homeless have regular, full-time jobs. It just isn't possible to afford a place to live on the wages they earn. Many of our residents work at the baseball stadium; others are car-park attendants. The person serving your food at McDonalds or Burger King is quite likely to be homeless. They work hard but simply don't earn enough to get off the streets."

I thought back to the times when I've heard people claim that the homeless are simply lazy, or stupid. "I've no sympathy for them; there are plenty of jobs for those willing to work!" We've all heard that, right? Remember, 25 percent have full-time jobs.

Some were extrovert and animated. "Thank you sir, thank you sir" we heard over and over. Others, stony eyed and beaten, barely raised their heads as I handed them the water. One elderly gent took the mug and with trembling hands, drained it to the bottom. He held it out to me and in a soft voice asked "May I have another cup please?" How degrading must that be for an old man, to have to ask for a cup of water?

Tens of thousands of poor and needy people come through Denver Rescue Mission each year for shelter, food, clothing, medical care and chapel services. 365 days a year, the facility provides a breakfast, lunch, and a dinner meal. Up to 200 men (110 shelter beds and 90 overflow cots) find a warm bed and a safe place to sleep each night, although women and children have to go to a different facility. Private donations allows the mission to provide clothing to the needy, everything from warm gloves, to underwear, to business attire for job interviews.

"The weather's going to cool down in the next couple of weeks," said Len, "then we'll get real busy." Last winter, two major snowstorms within the space of a few days effectively shut down the city of Denver. "We had 300 men sleeping here back then; on the floors, in the offices, in the corridors. On the third day, we ran out food."

The mission provides trained counselors to help up to 2,000 individuals each month with needs such as food boxes, baby diapers, furniture, clothing, household goods, and referrals to other agencies. The Mission's health clinic provides free medical, dental, optical, hearing, and chiropractic services to the poor. Volunteer medical professionals play an integral part in this clinic program.

And still they came through the door. Young people who looked like they should be in school, old people who looked like they should be sitting on a front porch watching the world go by, and saddest of all, wild-eyed and frantic people, damaged people who looked like they should be in a hospital. The Mission feeds them all.

It was a quiet day all told, with only around 130 guests. Usually it's between 200-300, although this varies with the weather. "Sometimes we have to push them out the door to let others come in." said Len. Today though, by 1 pm the kitchen was serving seconds to the clever ones who knew how the system worked.

Most of the workers at the Mission are homeless themselves; many in rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Len knew all their names, and prefaced each one with "Mr." "We never forget that some of our guests are not good people" he told us "and many are not well balanced. Some have been in prison and others will end up there. As a result, we have to take security precautions such as having cameras everywhere, including the bathrooms. These folks have little enough dignity in their lives and we're aware that this takes away even more. So we try to treat them with respect whenever we can. It's the least we can do."

I thought back to an old man, looking at me with rheumy eyes and asking if he might have a second cup of water. Then I drove home to my safe, warm house, with its well stocked refrigerator and cupboards full of food. And my clean, comfy bed. And the pile of bills on the desk didn't seem large at all. And I gave thanks for the people at Denver Rescue Mission, doing what they can to help those who have nothing.

I have it so good. And so do you. Please don't ever forget that.

Thanks to Miss Cellania; this Gunsmoke File was awared a Perfect Post award.