Point in time count for those experiencing homelessness

At the beginning of this week, I participated in a point-in-time count for Muscogee County, Georgia. This yearly count of sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness is conducted to evaluate the impact of current community programs while assessing emerging needs.

The first day, we spent a few hours in a women and children's shelter interviewing those living there. The second day started long before sunrise; we made our way into the shadows of the surrounding neighborhoods to find those sleeping under tarps, bridges, and everything in between.

I've worked in ministry for a long time. I've seen suffering. I've seen poverty.

This hit different.

Maybe it's the season of life I'm currently walking through, but I couldn't help but focus on the little things that seemed to shorten the distance between their lives and mine.

Standing on train tracks, looking up at the mattresses shoved into spaces where the under hang of the bridge connects with its foundation with half-eaten cans of food and used needles underfoot, I felt like I was a million miles from anything familiar. But, the sound of the traffic overhead along a route I frequently traveled reminded me that I come within feet of these men and women who call these mattresses home—daily.

In the woods, standing outside a small tent, I saw food containers and packaging that looked as though they came from our Outreach center. I wondered which of our volunteers had handed them their bag of food when they came; I wondered if it was me. I felt a deep sorrow as I thought of the person who sat in this tent and quietly ate the snacks we had given them—alone and cold.

Walking by another encampment I noticed whoever stayed there used pink tulle to tie tarps together to provide shelter…privacy…dignity. I couldn't help but think about the tulle I used to make my daughter a tutu for her ballet class. I thought what a gift it is to take little girls to dance, to let them choose their favorite shade of pink tulle, to tuck them into the safety and warmth of their own bed.

I could go on and on, but I won’t. I'm still working through the impact this week had on my heart. I'm thankful for the opportunity to stop and see my neighbors experiencing homelessness who often try to stay hidden in the corners of our busy spaces. They must be counted, prayed for, cared for, loved. Their stories matter. They matter. I pray tonight that each of them find warmth and peace within the folds of Our Lady's mantle.

As always, you are in my prayers, please keep me in yours.

-Kelly

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