On Friday, January 18 I joined Brad Close and several other students to take a walk in the shoes of the homeless. Michael Poworoznyk of the Metro Turning Point Shelter introduced us to the walk by bringing us into the story of a 14 year-old boy leaving a home of abuse and injury. We were challenged by our two guides to address the five questions of the homeless: What will I eat? Where will I sleep? How will I wash? How will I spend my time? Who will I trust?
It didn’t take long to realize life on the street is far from simple and in most solutions there lies further pain and injury. Beyond the tangible questions there are those of personal identity and social need; in the words of Poworoznyk, “the two big enemies on the street are boredom and loneliness.” Less than an hour into our walk we began to understand the root of struggles with mental illness and substance abuse. Shelters like Metro Turning Point create environments that, along with providing a place to spend the night, build community and address both immediate and future needs by developing personal plans.
It was a privilege to have been given the opportunity by campus ministry to participate in such an eye-opening event. The walk has encouraged me to take a second look at the issue of homelessness in our cities: to employ compassion where there is pity, generosity where there is judgment, and welcome where there is fear.
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