Read Me a Bed Time Story, Please?

The Homelessness Challenge was such a great experience. I learned so much about not only homelessness but also how to survive with nothing but the clothes on my back. The most influential part of the trip was sleeping on the streets. To be honest I was absolutely terrified to sleep outside in Washington, D.C. but I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did it! My guide was Anthony and he took us to an alley way to sleep. We went dumpster diving for cardboard to sleep on.  This was such a grounding experience to dig through the garbage to find cardboard to use as what I would call back home a mattress. All four of us girls huddled together for warmth as Anthony our guide began to tell us his story of how he became homeless. His story was very powerful and put in perspective that anyone can become homeless. This part of the trip was my favorite because I felt like I really got to know Anthony and I got a chance to ask questions that I otherwise never would have gotten the chance to. Anthony's story is something that I will never forget. 

Ayja’s Experience on March 24th 2013

I was only able to participate in the homeless challenge for one night because I attained a fever the second day because I got wet from the rain and it was cold at night.

I learned so many things from the challenge that naming all of them would take forever but one thing I learned that I didn’t think I would was just how much it actually hurts when someone doesn’t recognize you as a human being. I can honestly say I have never experienced indifference on a level like that before. Also how low you feel when you are shut out by society and no one wants anything to do with you. Something connected to this that my guide Andre told me was that many people do not become homeless because of drug use, but start using when they become homeless to deal with the pain and loneliness. This shocked me because it never had occurred to me how lonely being homeless actually is/must be. Before this challenge I was just like any other member of the housed society; I always saw homeless people but never acknowledged them because it is a social taboo and like most people, I didn’t know what to do. Many don’t know how to address homeless people and I learned that we should just speak like we normally would to any other person. We should not let the stigma against the homeless population dictate who we come in contact with and connect with, because we are truly just shutting ourselves out.  After participating in the challenge my outlook has completely turned around, I learned that we should not be afraid of homeless people because people are just that; simply people. There is nothing in the world that makes any housed person immune from being homeless. Anybody could end up on the streets; it just takes a series of unfortunate events.  I also did a lot of self-reflection during the challenge and realized that I was never truly afraid of the people that were homeless but society itself. I think what scared me most was what society could have possibly done to put someone in a situation like not having a place in world. I don’t think I wanted to acknowledge that. These are just some of the insights that I learned from my one day on the homeless challenge but I will take these insights with me for the rest of my life. 

Our Experience on the Homeless Challenge: Second and Third Days in D.C.

           The homeless challenge started off right away at the National Coalition for The Homeless. After watching a video of previous college students who conducted the challenge, we were separated into groups of two and given a map along with information on shelters, soups kitchens, and other resources that the coalition normally gives to homeless individuals. At the start, my partner and I began planning our day which included attending a service and making sure we knew how to get to the soup kitchen by one o’clock that same day. At any rate, we ended up getting lost in Georgetown, but we did manage to attend an Anglican service. 

            The biggest thing I noticed after the service and throughout our day was the fact that the individuals we encountered were ready to ignore or otherwise deny that we were homeless. Though the priest and other members of the church were nice to us, it was also clear that several of them did not want us there especially since one of them told us to make sure our clothes did not touch the food. Based on the few people there, it was clear that many of them were from privileged backgrounds, and many of them assumed that we were “looking” for jobs and that we would be able to get back on our feet. But homelessness is not a thing that occurs over-night nor is it temporary.

            This was apparent when we slept outside that very night with a guide. His name was Steve Thomas, and he told a remarkable story about growing up unloved by his mother and facing negative influences through drugs and alcohol. His story deviated immensely from the typical stereotypes of homelessness that these individuals face such as addiction problems, being lazy, or having mental disorders. Though some of these stereotypes may be true for some, they are typically the direct result of a lack of a supportive community. The greatest lesson I gained from Steve’s story is that he ultimately became homeless because his mother did not care about him and his support system failed to help him get back on his feet. Steve’s story and my experience panhandling has really contributed to the belief that we need to be able to meet people where they are at and support one another especially through hard times.

            The next day involved a lot of panhandling, and there were remarkable acts of kindness where a woman bought us breakfast and gave us her gloves to another woman offering to house us in her three-bedroom apartment. Despite these acts of kindness, there were also difficult moments where people would mumble that they did not have spare change or they would walk straight past us without even looking at us. There were also moments where people were adamant and treated us differently. At a Hilton hotel, the woman there refused to give us access to showers and basic toiletries, and at a Potbelly restaurant the employee lied about having only applications online. If anything, this experience has really showed me the spectrum of human interaction from kindness to outright discrimination and ignorance. 

It is also important to note that we did not gain insight into what it is like to be homeless. To be homeless means to experience it, and it is usually a chain of events that causes an individual becoming homeless. That being said, building community by acknowledging homeless individuals and offering help ranging from a dollar to a meal is an important way of ending homelessness. Like any problem, homelessness is not the fault of an individual, but it is the result of a lack of affordable housing and societal stigmatization. Moreover, homelessness results and remains a problem through the lack of individuals to acknowledge it as a problem of society and a failure of building community. This is why I plan on bringing this information back to Minnesota because I strongly believe that everyone should be an advocate for homeless individuals. We all have the potential to give and to feel the warmness from giving, and I know that it means the world to the receiver.

Our First Day in DC: Mariya

Our morning started insanely early, or, as some may look at it, insanely late. Van doors slammed at 3:30am, wheels up at 6:30am, and feet on the pavement by 10:00am. Walking, subway-hopping (done by most for the very first time), quickly eating, a few hours exploring, and meetings to discuss our upcoming Homelessness Challenge, which is a major topic on everybody’s minds. I’m struck by a lot of different topics however, all of which deserve some attention, I feel.

For instance: the DC area is absolutely gorgeous! The sidewalks are so wide and clean, and every building we pass is a masterpiece of architecture. So many of the major monuments and landmarks are grouped within walking and subway distance. Just today a part of our group, myself included, chose to visit the nearby Holocaust Museum—a beautiful building with heart-touching exhibits. We reconvened later met two incredibly inspiring individuals a part of the advocacy community, and discussed some of what it meant to experience homelessness. A portion of our group prepared dinner for us later and I, at least, set upon our pasta like a starving wolf.

Tomorrow begins our moderated experience with homelessness—without any of our typical resources, such as money or cell phones, we’ll be challenged to do our best to manage our situation on the streets, attempting to find ways to eat and take shelter, and even to use the restroom! Though many of us are nervous about the challenges and difficulties, and are wary about the implications of experiencing homelessness, our group at the end of the day has agreed: we will do our best to bridge the gap between our own fortunate lifestyles thus far and that of the individuals experiencing homelessness. Stay strong, everyone!

~Mariya Khan, DC Catalyst Trip

First Day in DC!

First Day in DC!

Today having been the first day we spent in DC was great. Sight seeing, memorials, and many more historic statues and figures around this part of the country where amazing. The many diverse people in this state walking to the flow of their own busy days.

Once we reached the inner part of the city I noticed that something was a little off. The many beautiful buildings and landscapes just couldn't mach the many homeless people walking the park. This opened my eyes to notice that the homeless challenge that we are about to face tomorrow will definitely be one of the major learning experiences that any college student will ever have. Hope it goes well!  

Washington, D.C. Blogs

Hello and welcome to the blog for the Catalyst trip to Washington, D.C.. This trip focuses on homelessness in the heart of America. The group will begin posting when they leave for their trip and will try to post once a day (trust us, they'll be plenty busy.) There will be lots to talk about in these updates, so please, enjoy the blog, and thank you for your support!