I try to write about places I have been. I have been in the Military,Vietnam, Veterans Hospital and I have been poor. I have been a bouncer, Escort Driver, and I have P.T.S.D. and am Bi-polar + Parkinson"s disease. Okay I"m ugly too,(joke).If I told you the count of homeless in our town is 2,736,I am giving you the official number for Seattle. That"s an old number, Many of us feel it is over 3,000 Men,Women,and children. I have given you a
boring number.
When you and friends go out into the night and early morning and visit homeless camps in the Seattle drizzle,the numbers turn into real people.
You expect to find a drunk, unshaven man who smells. I found a 26 year old woman nursing a baby in a tent. We got her more formula and food and blankets. She refused to come with us so today mental health folks are going to her. Paul is a mechanic who say"s he has no problem working but no money for food or rent. Four of us are busy handing out food,clothing and information to folks. Bus passes are given out.
Veterans were huddled together from Vietnam and Iraq. I said "Who served in Nam?" laughter is nice to hear on a cold and rainy night.
Many homeless age 50 and over have given up looking for work. All benefits have been
used and many have a college degree. I gave several self-esteem talks. I doubt if any worked.
I have enough information to write many posts. The message will always be the same.Many of the folks I met had no idea they would wind up homeless. They followed all the rules got an education some never drank. They were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Age discrimination is rampant in our Country.
Bill Gates is an exception but most folks lives usually have some issue that is serious and could get them to make a life change decision. You could find yourself sitting in a tent just like these folks.
Today while the invisible part of our population try"s to survive,66,000 will pay hundreds of dollars at a professional Soccer game.Maybe someday some of them will help us help our invisible family,
Republicans are taking away food and milk from babies. They should feel ashamed. Does a Republican have a soul?
An activist does things. I have learned it has to happen one sandwich or one blanket at a time, A better Life for all is what we should all be after.
-You can give without loving,
but you cannot love without giving.
-Amy Carmichael