by Louise Breland

Created on: August 13, 2010

I recently learned a lot about homeless shelters that I want to share. In June of 2010 I entered a shelter to become a resident, at the time I thought that I was the only person in the world to have to do that. I have never looked down on the homeless and I am thankful that I did not. My first night they did not have a bed for me so I had to find somewhere to stay that night. I was going to sleep in my car but after talking to my brother I called my friend who allowed me to stay at her home that night. The next day I returned to the processing office at eight am and waited and waited to be called on. I had no job and no money. As I sat there I noticed the multitude of young women with children and older women come and go. I quickly learned that I was far from being the only homeless person in the world and stopped feeling sorry for myself.

I watched as women with mental problems and abuse problems came and went. I was finally called and found that I was assigned to a shelter called Somerset. I was given paperwork and a token to catch the bus there. Somerset houses men and women. It was a former warehouse building with two floors that were not occupied, the elevator hardly worked and when it broke down the residents had to walk up to their floors, mines being the six floor. When I got to my floor I had to shower before I could go into my assigned room, there were six other women also in that room. Three of those women have mental problems, one was gay, one was alcoholic and the other was drug addicted. Did I mention that there was also a bed bug problem there, this was was turning out to be quite an experience.

Starting at 6:30 am you had to get up, get showered if that's what you did and go to breakfast and get out of the building. Hopefully to try to find your way out of that situation. At 12 noon you could return for lunch and at 4 pm is dinner time. The food was and is horrible but they do feed you. My biggest problem was how the staff (female) members spoke to the women there. When the verbal dis-respect finally came to me, I had already made up my mind to handle that right then and there. I had words with one of the workers about how she was speaking to me and I made sure that I was very articulate when I did. I let her know that I was a grown women who was not a drug addict or on medications and did not appreciate the tone of voice that she spoke to me in. When I said my piece I reminded her that she was just a pay check away from where I was as well as every woman there. I gave her something to think about, without us being there she would not have had that particular job.

You never know what can happen in your life that will bring you to your knees and render you homeless. You should always treat people the way that you want to be treated in return. Everyone is different and some are more troubled than others so you have to move with caution. But, first and foremost compassion is always in order for any given situation. Compassion is the key to possibly helping someone feel better about themselves and changing what needs to be changed to help them self.

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