I grew up in a smallish town ... where I can't remember ever seeing a homeless person. Seriously. Sure, there were poor families, but no one on the side of the streets sleeping or begging for money. When Steve and I were married, we lived in D.C. for almost a year and I had a crash course in living in a big city, and all that that entails. Yes, you have the many cultural experiences available and employment opportunities that never would have been possible in a small town, but you also have the poverty situation. It was an eye-opener, but we weren't regularly faced with the homeless population. It was there, we saw them ... maybe we gave them a McDonalds Value Meal once in a while ... but that was it.
Now, as many of you know, I work in a downtown Nashville church. And I do mean downtown -- we're on the corner of 7th and Broadway. I remember when I first came here, I couldn't believe that all the doors to the church buildings were always locked and we had video cameras and intercom systems on certain doors to allow deliveries and church members to enter the building. (On Sundays and Wednesdays, we have a security guard stationed at the doors to allow members to come and go without having to use the intercom.) At first, I didn't really understand the need for such security - but after only a few weeks it became clear. I estimate between 40 - 50 homeless and/or drunk/ drugged out people (and thats probably on the low side) come to our doors every day. I can't even estimate the phone calls we receive every day. We even have a specific voicemail box set up so that when people call in asking for assistance with rent, utilities, food, etc -- they can leave their information and someone in our ministry gets back to them. It's a constant barrage ... and for every 1 person that comes to us for help and legitimately needs help, there are 10 drunks/druggies that show up. We have a childcare in our building ... and that alone justifies having our doors locked 24-7. Can you imagine what could happen if just one drugged out person got near any of the children? I don't even want to think about it!
But it's frustrating. There are procedures for how to handle these situations .... but sometimes it is very hard to turn people away. Even though most of them time we are giving them somewhere to go -- the Nashville Rescue Mission , Travelers Aid (they help people with bus tickets, many people just want to get home to their families), Barnabas House (a halfway house), or one of the multitude of support centers. We have a clothing closet that we open on Wednesday nights for people to come and find coats, shoes, regular clothes. It's our policy to never give out money, and while we will pay bills - it's always done directly through the utility company. We never give money straight to the people.
A wonderful ministry that downtown Nashville churches are involved in is called Room in the Inn. It's a volunteer nonprofit shelter program for the homeless, funded entirely by donations. Over 150 churches all over the city volunteer their facilities for one night a week. On any given night of the week, there are atleast 15 churches available. Our church has Sunday nights. Each week a different group of church members is in charge of Room in the Inn. We provide dinner that night, a place to sleep, showers, clothes washing, and a healthy breakfast the next morning.
You think you'll be prepared for what you will see ... especially having worked here and having seen the masses of people coming to our doors every single day. But it doesn't prepare you for seeing a young woman with her 3 children. Homeless. And her youngest child isn't yet 6 months old. How does this happen to someone? What circumstances in life caused a this young family to be in such a heartbreaking situation? Is there anything we can do to help them get themselves up and out and into a better life? We can try -- but in the end -- it is up to them. They have to want it and be willing to do what it takes to get there. It's so sad when you see the homeless people that seem resigned to their station in life. They aren't even trying to change their lives. I cannot imagine ever getting to the point that I thought it would be ok to not have a home. How do they get to the point where it doesn't matter anymore?
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