Plymouth Street Journal Tuesday, June 30 2015
It was a beautiful summer evening for Jens, Barb, Pastor Mike and I to serve the homeless. We were grateful for a slight breeze and the clear skies.
All in all, we served approximately 54 people! It is concerning that the number is growing and I wonder why the number is growing. Many we talk to describe failed relationships with either significant others, family, recent releases from jail or prison or they have come to Eau Claire from smaller communities that cannot provide shelter or services while they are homeless. Regardless of the cause, too many people are without a home.
A new arrival to Eau Claire is a woman that I would estimate is in her 70s. She tells us that she came from Black River Falls, was dropped off and no one has returned to pick her up. She uses one of those walkers equipped with a small platform for her to turn around and use as a seat and appears somewhat frail. I noticed that her feet were swollen and her shoes had been altered so that the laces went through only two or four eyelets near the top of the shoe to allow for the necessary expansion of her foot. She declined any shoes from us saying that those shoes were her "outdoor" shoes and that they were comfortable. I don't know of her plans, there were enough other people around that I did not get to spend much time with her.
We were visited by 3-4 families from the Beacon House and provided kids and adult clothing to them. An additional Beacon mom and daughter that we've come to know came near the end of our visit telling us that on Wednesday, they would be moving into their own apartment. They came not so much to tell us that but to thank us and all of you for helping them get through a difficult time. We invited them to stop by and keep us up to date on their progress, I pray for their success.
One of our regular younger men spoke with us about a recent situation at the shelter that has him barred from the facility. He was involved in an altercation that he did not provoke, he was removed from the shelter and the other participant has been allowed to remain. He now faces the challenges of living in his car until he can appeal his case or find other means of shelter. My perception of him is that he's always been very mellow and subdued, while its possible that there's more to the story, after watching the behavior of the other man, its hard to believe that this individual instigated the situation. The loss of the shelter to this individual also means a loss of a daily meal, loss of a shower, and a loss of safety.
Another of our regulars has had a job for quite some time but due to child support payments, his wages are not enough to provide the required deposits for an apartment or the monthly costs associated with supporting himself -- which he wants more than anything. He works long hours and has been in need of steel-toed work boots for quite some time. If you have such an item, please help this man out.
I cannot take the time to share all of the stories we encounter, while all of our homeless family's stories are different and important, these were a few that I think need to be shared. Please contact us if you are interested in hearing the stories for yourselves and spend some time on the street with serving those in need.
Karen
It was a beautiful summer evening for Jens, Barb, Pastor Mike and I to serve the homeless. We were grateful for a slight breeze and the clear skies.
All in all, we served approximately 54 people! It is concerning that the number is growing and I wonder why the number is growing. Many we talk to describe failed relationships with either significant others, family, recent releases from jail or prison or they have come to Eau Claire from smaller communities that cannot provide shelter or services while they are homeless. Regardless of the cause, too many people are without a home.
A new arrival to Eau Claire is a woman that I would estimate is in her 70s. She tells us that she came from Black River Falls, was dropped off and no one has returned to pick her up. She uses one of those walkers equipped with a small platform for her to turn around and use as a seat and appears somewhat frail. I noticed that her feet were swollen and her shoes had been altered so that the laces went through only two or four eyelets near the top of the shoe to allow for the necessary expansion of her foot. She declined any shoes from us saying that those shoes were her "outdoor" shoes and that they were comfortable. I don't know of her plans, there were enough other people around that I did not get to spend much time with her.
We were visited by 3-4 families from the Beacon House and provided kids and adult clothing to them. An additional Beacon mom and daughter that we've come to know came near the end of our visit telling us that on Wednesday, they would be moving into their own apartment. They came not so much to tell us that but to thank us and all of you for helping them get through a difficult time. We invited them to stop by and keep us up to date on their progress, I pray for their success.
One of our regular younger men spoke with us about a recent situation at the shelter that has him barred from the facility. He was involved in an altercation that he did not provoke, he was removed from the shelter and the other participant has been allowed to remain. He now faces the challenges of living in his car until he can appeal his case or find other means of shelter. My perception of him is that he's always been very mellow and subdued, while its possible that there's more to the story, after watching the behavior of the other man, its hard to believe that this individual instigated the situation. The loss of the shelter to this individual also means a loss of a daily meal, loss of a shower, and a loss of safety.
Another of our regulars has had a job for quite some time but due to child support payments, his wages are not enough to provide the required deposits for an apartment or the monthly costs associated with supporting himself -- which he wants more than anything. He works long hours and has been in need of steel-toed work boots for quite some time. If you have such an item, please help this man out.
I cannot take the time to share all of the stories we encounter, while all of our homeless family's stories are different and important, these were a few that I think need to be shared. Please contact us if you are interested in hearing the stories for yourselves and spend some time on the street with serving those in need.
Karen