We’ve been busy on StreetWatch this past week. Visiting homeless camps in Eastern Division with GPD Officer Dator; handing out our brochures at a Grasshoppers game during the Homerun for Homelessness; planting a second garden at the FM tent city; looking for new camps in Southern Division (thanks, Officer Clark!) and more. Photos…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150902633238997.412252.115262208996&type=1
May God bless you, Michele, to continue to pass on your blessing. I was on and off the street from 2003 until 2009. My Father died in 2003; it took the wind out of my sails in a way I never expected. Honestly, in retrospect, I gave up. We fought like hell to keep him alive, but cancer won. Then my Mother lost her life to cancer in late 2007.
Sad story, sure. But there are many good points. People like Michele were there all the while; As a former US Marine, I had this problem asking for help. They gave me help anyway; kind of knew I needed it.
I’m off the street now, but often see those that were out there with me. I always aknowledge them; some are “career homeless”; others sadly cannot break the cycle and stigma of mental-illness. Those are the ones that I’ve seen pushed to the back of the line by the “career homeless”. As a Marine my duty is to speak up, but there are always sorry excuses. Sorry excuses.