Service Learning Log 2: PHC6

Project Homelessness Connect 6 was finally here. This was going to be a big test for me after my last experience with the homelessness downtown. I was standing in line waiting with everyone else for my client. It never struck me until I realized that I was in the front of the line waiting for the next bus to show up. My client would be the second person off the bus, Jeff’s would be the first. When he finally arrived, I was scared, intimidated, and hopeful that it would go better. I was to be Michael Grier’s partner for the day at hopefully assist him without breaking his hope as I had done before. Michael’s main goal was to get a job. He had been homeless in Colorado for six years after he moved here from New York. He had not had a job, he did not have any friends, and he had no income. Michael on paper seems as bad as it gets, but I think Michael is one break away from his whole life changing. We got him a resume, we got his records completely straightened out, he talked to a lady about a job interview, and then he saw a promising career in the job fair. He had sold insurance in New York so he knew a lot about money and finances, something that is desired by banks. TCF Banks was there conducting interviews for the homeless people. Michael talked to them, filled out an application, and was promised a second interview, if not a job within two weeks of the event. “Today is a good day.”, said Michael, “Today is a very good day.” Michael expressed to me the desire for a job that pays $27,000 a year, a place he can get health insurance from, and a place he can retire with. All of these things were discussed in his interview, which was very promising. Michael was very grateful to me and to everybody who helped at PHC6. I was very pleased to know that I had helped somebody find a job after nearly ten years without one.
This day was very educational and hopeful for me. Michael told me that he could just never get a second interview with any company and that because of his weak resume, there was nothing he could do. This helped me see that homelessness is not a choice, but rather something that can often times not be helped. This made me view homeless people in a different way than lazy bums because they were not lazy bums; they were people who found themselves in unfortunate circumstances with no way out. This is significant to me because it changes my outlook on a huge group of people all across the world. This makes it possible for me to look into the eyes of a homeless person and know that they are trying and working hard to better themselves.