Deven's Observational Log 2

Project Homeless Connect, also referred to as PHC6, was an event on the University of Denver campus that facilitated workshops and services to aid the people without homes. From 8:00a to 3:00p, medical, employment, housing, food stamps, child support, identifications, dental and even hair cuts were given to people without homes to better their situations. It was a helpful event where hundreds of students, faculty members, and devoted citizens took time out of their busy schedules to escort clients around. A number of people were helped and there was a great turnout.
I remember waiting in the long line on the west side of the Ritchie Center in great anticipation. Thoughts of my client’s gender, race, attitude, socioeconomic status, appearance and so forth, bombarded my mind. As I slowly climbed the stairs, I calculated who my person would be by how many volunteers and clients there were ahead of me. He was a middle aged, African American man who was physically not what I had expected. I expected a ragged looking guy who wore torn, dirty clothes. However, he was the exact opposite of what I thought. He was well dressed, clean, and was nicely shaved as a person without a home, which violated the stereotypes of homeless people that I had had for so many years. I would never have guessed that he was homeless if I had seen him walking on the streets or in a store.
After we made our final step to the top of the stairs and were appointed to each other, we shook hands and became acquainted. With a smile, he introduced himself as Edward, and we moved forward in the line to check in his bags and grab refreshments. “So how are you,” I asked. “I’m doin alright for the most part. How about you,” he replied. I said that I was doing alright and that I was looking forward to getting to know him and his needs. With a smile of appreciation and gratefulness, he said “likewise.” The conversation then progressed to talking about the ride over to the Ritchie Center, where we were from and our current statuses in life.
After he eagerly grabbed fruit and orange juice, we sat at a table by ourselves where we could get to know each other better. I began asking questions about his life. Edward didn’t give me any friction. He willingly answered my questions and was a great conversationalist. He told me about the jobs in which he used to have. Edward said, “I used to work for the circus. I would set up the rides and other events in the morning and would take them down at night. It required a lot of hard work, and became tedious and frustrating at times too. The people were just horrible. People would become angry when they didn’t meet the height requirements. My boss also gave me shit sometimes…but other than that, things were good.”
“Were you without a home at the time,” I said.
“No. I was making a decent living. I was on the road so much that I was able to save a lot. We went to New York, where I almost stayed because I loved it so much. We went to Houston, Texas, out to California, to Florida, and a lot of other states. Although it was a lot of sight seeing and interesting places, I did not enjoy the lifestyle of waking up early, setting up sights, taking it down at night, and relocating to a different state by the next morning. I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
“How long did you work for the circus before you gave up,” I said.
“I was there for about 3 years,” he replied. “Three long, dreadful years. However, I didn’t really start to dread life until after I quit the job and became dependent on aid and shelters.”
“What do you mean by dependent,” I said. “Do you mean that you were just reliant on the system in order to get by?”
He looked at me shamefully and said, “By dependent, I mean that I took advantage of the system and became dependent on the handouts and services in which were given unto me. I could stay in day and night shelters and eat for free, so why not take advantage of it? They were handing it to me so I was taking it. I know it’s sad to say but a lot of people do it. If the government wants to take care of us, then let them, you know?”
But I didn’t know. I had no clue why anyone would want to use the system like that. There are honest people out there who want the services and a shelter to stay in but can not. In my mind, he was taking up space for someone who didn’t want to be in that situation but had no control over it. He was purposefully using the system to get by. He became comfortable with living for free. I did not understand why anyone would even want to live that lifestyle. Shelters are not my ideal place to lay my head at night. The soup kitchens are not my ideal choice of home-cooked meals. I did not understand him, and was a bit infuriated by his choices. It also occurred to me that he probably isn’t the only one with this mentality. To know that taxpayers pay hundreds and thousands of dollars to support people who choose to be there, is aggravating. There is way too much time, energy and effort being put into shelters and supporting people without homes for them to be using and taking advantage of the system. Perhaps Edward was taking advantage of the system of government because of the bureaucracy and run around that he receives. Maybe it was a way to get back at the government.
I soon changed the subject to talk about his family life. He did not have a child or a wife. He did, however, say that he had family who all resided in Denver. I was curious to know how they were, as far as financially and socially. Edward said, “My family is doing well. I am very proud of everyone. I don’t keep in touch with them as much as I should, but it’s alright. They are doing well for themselves.” I wanted to ask why they hadn’t taken him in if they were doing so well. I could not imagine being successful and knowing that I have a homeless relative on the streets. I am very family oriented, and I can not picture my family not being there for me through tough situations, and vice versa. Maybe there were some family issues between them that discouraged them from helping him. I am not sure as to whether or not Edward gave me the entire story. I did not ask, and he did not tell. Whether it was trust issues, family issues, or whatever else, I have no idea why his family is not helping him to better himself.
We cleared the table with his trash, and made our way to the Gates Field House where I would help him with various services that he was in need of. On the way there, he waved and spoke to several people. I was surprised by how social he was. I thought that people without homes were secluded and extroverted, yet he was very outspoken and social. Upon entering the Gates Field House, we made our way to employment, Edward’s main concern.
We quickly added into the increasing line, where we were handed a form to complete and turn it. This form contained Edward’s information that would be placed in a system that would enable him to get employment. Looking at the form, Edward was happy to have completed it the week before. He explained to the lady that his form was already completed. She looked it up in the system using his Social Security number, saw that he had completed the form, but requested that he fill the form out again. “I just filled out and turned in one of these forms last week. Is there a way that you can pull up my information,” said my client.
“Sure,” replied the lady. “I certainly can!” She was able to identify his information and verify that he had indeed completed the form. However, she asked him to fill it out again, just so that they could have the proof in paper form as well.
Through a bit of anger, my client said “What do you mean I have to fill it out again? If I filled it out once, then what sense would it make to fill it out again? You already have all of the information right in front of you.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” stated the lady. “But it wouldn’t hurt to do it again.” He smiled, took the paper, and sat down. Although it was a bureaucratic moment which only added more work for him, he remained calm. He then talked about how he gets that all of the time. “Being homeless is a part of experiencing everyday bureaucratic systems. You learn to get used to them. It’s like second hand nature…bureaucracy is like my first cousin,” he said.
From there, we met with a guy who had obviously been acquainted with Edward in the past. He took Edward’s resume, asked him a few questions, and gave him a job interview for Monday, May 12th. I could see the excitement in his eyes. His main concern was employment. He was positive that the only thing that kept him oppressed in his situation was his lack of income. Edward was sure that with a job, he could make ends meet and maintain a home. After the job lead, we went to housing where he received three possible transitional housing leads, and a form that paid for first month’s rent and deposit. I could definitely make out the exceeding joy that gleamed across his face. He looked as though life was looking up for him, and he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Satisfied with his services, he said “I sure didn’t think that I would receive this much help. It’s almost as if it isn’t true. Let’s hurry up and leave before they try to take it all back.” We both laughed at his humor. It did seem like a fairy tale, though. Edward had just received an ample of help and services that could permanently change his devastating circumstances. Edward now wanted to make his last stop in the medical area. He had been having aches and pains in his right leg, and desperately wanted to get it checked out.
On our way to the medical area, we began to see a lot of people with Life Waters. Edward was eager to find out where they were coming from. “Oh wait. Let’s find where these waters are coming from,” said Edward. “I’m mighty thirsty and they sho’ is looking good,” he said. We followed the trail of Life Waters, but to our surprise, they were all out. So we departed back to medical, where the line was short and the people were very friendly.
“May I help whose next,” said the nurse.
“That would be me,” said Edward. As he walked in and closed the curtain behind him, I could see the nurse giving him socks, soups, and other healthy hygiene products that he was lacking. She checked out his pulse, his blood pressure, temperature, and other performed other procedures before she came out and told me that he had the health of an 18 year old. “Well I sure in the hell don’t feel like one,” replied Edward. We were referred to physical therapy from there. The nurse believed that he had an early onset of arthritis.
After waiting for about a half an hour for physical therapy, Edward was finally called back. I could hear moans and groans through the curtains. I figured that the therapist was working the kinks out of his leg. The therapist came in and out with different things such as insoles for his shoes, towels and pillows. When Edward was released, he had a look of contentment on his face. He exclaimed how his leg felt much better. “Oh doc bent me like a pretzel, but it worked,” he said. With housing and job leads, as well as medical assistance, Edward was glad of his services. He was happy that he came to PHC6, and ecstatic that we had the opportunity to meet.
I escorted him back to his 1:15pm bus. I asked of any services that he wished he could have had but didn’t. He wanted unemployment services, just in case his job interview did not go to well, but other than that, he was happy. His needs had been fulfilled. I was able to watch him get on the bus with a sense of success. I felt successful for helping him to receive the services that he needed. I also felt successful for him because I knew that he would follow up with his services. I saw the desire to overcome, and was glad that I was a part of the process.
All in all, today was a day where my preconceptions were cleared. I was able to see the bureaucracy with the people without homes, which substituted for my notion of laziness. People without homes have received the run around when trying to better themselves, something in which I had never thought of. Also, I was able to see the dependence on shelters and government assistance. Sometimes people rely on these services. Whether it is to live a free life, or to get back at the system of government, some people without homes take advantage of the shelters and food. I was also able to see the calm and happy spirit of people without homes that are accepting and used to being misled and taken around the world when trying to prosper. This service learning experience was great!