Severe Weather Shelter Network continues to stay focused on what we provide. Emergency shelter on life threatening winter nights for individuals living on the streets of our communities.
A funny thing happens when you spend time with people. Relationships begin to form and stories begin to come out that we may not have known before. This has been the result of providing a place of refuge. Shelter nights are a safe place where our guests begin to relax and feel valued. Our volunteers are wonderful listeners and encouragers. The perfect setting for real life stories to emerge.
A number of summers ago I got curious. I frequently hear this question from people who have never experienced homelessness: “Why don’t they just go get a job?” I have to confess that over the 3 previous years of shelter I had wondered the same thing. So I began asking questions.
I learned that more than 30% of our guests do work. Most work through Day Labor trying to get work tickets for more than one day at a time. In order for them to have the best opportunity to get those longer term work tickets they have to be at Day Labor by 4:30 am. It is a sort of lottery really as to what kind of work you might get and for how long. Most of the jobs are heavy labor, cleaning up demolition sites, moving construction materials, pushing wheelbarrows, etc. Our guests are paid minimum wage, cash on the barrel head at the end of the day.
In order to get a better paying job there are a number of things that would have to fall into place. One of those is regular access to showers. When is the last time you got ready for a job interview without taking a shower first? Access to public showers is very limited. In fact, some of our guests will try to use the Recreation center showers or Gym showers if they can. Many times, regular patrons of these facilities are upset by people experiencing homelessness coming in to shower, even if they are paying for the privilege. In all honesty, when someone hasn’t showered in a couple of weeks and their clothing hasn’t been washed in that same amount of time there is a bit of an aroma that comes with that. Patrons feel they aren’t paying for that aroma…they are paying for the privilege of a private gym where everyone is more or less like them.
One of the ways Severe Weather Shelter Network would like to come along side our guests is to provide vouchers for showers. There are details to be worked out, but we recently received a grant that will allow us to purchase those vouchers from local Recreation centers, or even perhaps a local Gym. New relationships in the business community will help us continue to elevate these barriers that prevent people from getting off the street.
We celebrate those partners that DO offer showers! CitySquare Denver is one of those partners. Living Well Shower Trailer out of Bethlehem Lutheran Church is another one. Charles Whitlock Recreation Center allows a number of vouchers through The Action Center each year. The Rising Church in Arvada allows for showers.
When you take your shower tomorrow morning please remember our guests. Take a moment to contemplate what it might be like if you did not have access to that shower. How would you maintain your job? How would maintain your mental health and self esteem?
These are my own meditations and contemplations as we move toward the beginning of another shelter season. I hope you will join me in greeting our guests upon their return. It is always like a good homecoming!
Lynn Ann Huizingh
Executive Director