Anthony strolls down Connecticut Avenue chatting with a city worker. (photo: Reed Sandridge)
It’s freezing outside. Literally! It’s only 18 degrees Celsius right now and with the wind-chill it feels like 2 degrees! The high is only supposed to get to 27 today. I am so thankful for the roof over my head.
I met with Anthony yesterday. We had lunch and went over our progress. I urged him to go to a shelter last night, but he refused. He’s stubborn as hell when it comes to the topic of shelters. “They’re no good,” he always says. You’d think his tolerance for shelters would increase as the temperatures outside decrease, but it doesn’t.
Progress with his housing are a bit stalled right now. We have reached out to Georgetown Ministries as well as Pathways to Housing – but haven’t heard back from either of them. There are other groups, but both of these Anthony was open to working with. That some stubbornness he exhibits related to shelters comes out when you discuss public services. Granted he’s been around a while and has formed opinions on which groups work and which don’t.
photo: Reed Sandridge
I only did half of the amount of writing last week as I was supposed to. Anthony can only do so much to help me with this. He always asks me and encourages me to make time for it. I don’t think I have been able to change my behavior enough yet to write as much as I should, but I am improving.
As we got up from the table after our lunch meeting Anthony began the laborious process of putting on all his layers. He had on several clothing items on including a thermal underwear set which some blog readers shipped to me to give to him. A modest winter coat protected his torso followed by a couple of layers around his head. The ritual was topped off with him donning one of those fur aviator bomber hats with the ear flaps. It’s seen better days – I’m going to try to get him a new one.
I will give him a call in a few minutes to see how he is doing.
Here are a few more photos that I took yesterday.
I spoke to Anthony this morning. He didn’t go to a shelter and said he made it through the night just fine. I don’t know how he does it.
I wonder if there is any research or literature on why the homeless dislike shelters so much. I’m sure we can all think of some reasons why, but as you said, you’d think when temperatures are below freezing, one would reconsider their position on shelters.
Here are some interesting reasons, not scientific research, but still valid.
It’s interesting that the author up front says that one of the common reasons that homed people give – not wanting to follow rules – was not his reasoning at all. That has been one of the reasons that I personally have believed outdoor homeless refuse to use shelters.
Also an interesting NPR segment about why homeless avoid shelters.
I live in the city of Baltimore. It is nothing more danteirhenisg to see previous soldiers homeless. All the aid that is provided for others, how can this country toss out the people who have fought for it, have laid their lives down, possibly, to safeguard our freedoms, and to bring our freedoms and prosperity to other peoples of the world. Something doesn’t add up. Are we really as altruistic as that? Or are there other reasons why we are fighting these wars that make leaders so guilty that they have to ignore the needs of the most loyal people to our American missions and dreams . Where is our great value for human beings for them?