Last year, I spent a lot of time planning an event that ended up going terribly. Between a water break road closure on North Avenue and a flat tire, two of the five presenters I’d scheduled to speak on homelessness at a local middle school cancelled an hour before the event. Because the format involved the speakers rotating through separate classrooms, someone needed to fill the vacancies. Reluctantly, a coworker and I stepped into the slot of the presenter. We offered up what we could about homelessness in Baltimore City and provided some information about different service providers and volunteer opportunities in the area. It was a lesson in both “how to fake your way through a presentation”, and “how to really confuse middle school students.”
“Does anyone know of any homeless service providers in the city?” we’d ask, hoping to generate participation.
No response.
In order to get the ball rolling, we’d mention some well- known organizations.
“Has anyone heard of Healthcare for the Homeless? … or My Sister’s Place?”
“Your sister has a place?” Yelled one student. “Why don’t people go stay with her?”
The class was laughing at this jokester and chatting away amongst themselves before we could explain that My Sister’s Place is actually a transitional housing facility for women with mental illness, not a house run by any sibling of mine. At least that’s what it is in Baltimore. In Washington D.C., that’s the name of a housing center for women experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. There’s a My Sister’s Place in Gainesville, Georgia and Hartford, Connecticut. And it isn’t only female siblings that are getting support. My Brother’s Keeper is the name of agencies in Baltimore, Massachusetts, Texas, and beyond. Some focus on treating addiction, some on mental illness. Whatever the specialty, it is clear that there is an emphasis on supporting homeless individuals like they are family. For many individuals, people experiencing homelessness are family.
It was an offhanded comment, but the middle school student from last fall had a question I hear frequently. All he said was “Why don’t people stay with her?” But the idea that “I could never let my son/mother/cousin/friend live on the streets,” is a sentiment I’ve heard many times. Usually, it is from someone who does not happen to have a family member on the brink of becoming homeless. While the words are meant to show support for a loved one going through a hypothetical tough situation, it is an easier promise to make than to keep. If you can financially and medically support someone who is struggling at the poverty level, that is excellent. But why should solving homelessness be the responsibility of the nuclear family of those with a mental illness, an addiction, or those who are unable to work?
I am certainly not about to waste time asking for minute changes from successful programs across the country. But if I were, I might suggest a better name for these sites would be “Your Sister’s Place“ or “Our Brother’s Keeper.” It might create a little less confusion about exactly who is responsible for ending homelessness.
Great piece, Jasmine. I think it’s very hard for many people to imagine how a “normal” person could become homeless, including themselves. And I think it’s just as hard for people to imagine that someone’s who’s homeless has no-one to turn to. It seems like there’s an assumption that if you have no-one willing to take care of you, you somehow deserve your fate. But we all have an obligation to people living with homelessness, whether they’re our brother, sister or a total stranger.
Well Missy, you have done it again! Made me think beyond the end of my nose about “people experiencing homelessness” ( learned that term from you too). If we humans could more often avoid the pronouns ME & THEM and think in terms of US wouldn’t we all be better off? Mental illness, poverty, and addiction all have their unique challenges that families often try to first deal with privately. If and when that support system falls apart it is comforting to know various social services are available to step in and become the next family. Thank you for your open mind and open arms to those who need help.
Dear Jas:
Keep up the great work. Jesus loves you; this I know.
Jasmine:
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments it is a hard subject to understand and you being determine to conquer to make life better for them and the families, Love Janie Feeney Wilson