Tags
compassion, emotion, empathy, homeless, hunger, kindness, love, loving kindness, philosophy, psychology, spiritual
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The line forms at five o’clock,
mostly long-haired, bearded men
wearing dirty winter coats, torn pants;
some women with blackened eyes,
some with missing teeth,
each sliding a tray to be filled
with a bowl of soup
a hot meal.
The television is on.
Some stay for the evening
reading, talking, playing cards.
For the most part
the evening is jovial,
an occasional argument,
fights are taken outside.
I look on,
wipe tables when people leave,
take dirty dishes to the kitchen.
Everyone is out by nine o’clock
so that cots may be set up
for those spending the night.
Sleeping is crowded.
Someone comes in late,
starts punching the walls,
fights break out because of snoring,
someone tries to steal a cell phone —
a typical night
at the soup kitchen.
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Dennis Cardiff 
Vivid to my senses as a whole! Wonderful writing !
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Thank you, as always, Debbie, for your kind words. I value your opinion very much and know your compassion. ~ Dennis
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You capture the environment well. It is not one where people should have to live long term. The agency I volunteer with helps homeless families. Our agency keeps the family together, but some places that is not possible. Our goal is to limit the time the family is in the shelter and migrate them to subsidized housing based on their ability to pay. Many people are surprised when I tell them our families have jobs, yet the average wage is so small, a crisis has caused them to lose their house. To get the subsidy, the family has to accept social work case management along with a team of volunteer mentors called Hope Teams. Our thrust is to help these folks climb a ladder. As for the men you help, the chronic homeless are the hardest as they have fewer opportunities. The acute homeless can get housed faster, but they still have to go through what you describe. You are an angel for doing what you do and letting others know what these folks are dealing with. Thanks. BTG
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Thanks so much for your comment. It’s good to read about this situation from a different locality and perspective. The goals are the same, dignity, food, clothing and shelter.
My homeless friends and some recently housed, have been on the streets for fifteen years. Some have forgotten what is expected of them when living indoors, like not dropping cigarette ashes on the floor, not butting cigarettes on the floor. They are unable to climb any ladder, open a bank account, or handle bills.
I have seen their conditions improve over the past two years and for that I am grateful. It is still a precarious existence. ~ Dennis
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