In spite of all the optimism in the economists’ reports, the bad news just keeps right on coming to the homeless of central Florida. "We have a hiring freeze right now." "No, we’re not hiring. Sorry!" "We are out of funds," from the primary charity organizations. "No." "No." "No." Every question gets a flat no, it seems before even being considered. No one is accepting resumes. Very few have applications available. Funding is near or below zero for facilities. And there is no end in sight as more and more people turn to the streets for a place to lay their heads.
The Employment Guides and JobFinders papers are compiled of about 90% advertisements for schooling and education. "Go back to school." Oh man, that line just burns me up. Folks have already went to school. They have learned. They do not turn to employment guides for educational opportunities that will land them in debt for the next quarter of a century. They turn to employment guides for, um….JOBS. It’s a very demeaning, damning psychological warfare on those in need of work, because it does tend to make us question our worthiness to society as a whole.
In an interview with "Mary" (name changed to protect her privacy), I asked some basic questions about her current situation as a homeless person in the Orlando metroplex. She seems to be beaten down, embittered by her position, and I find that my heart goes out to her as she struggles to pave a better life for herself and her future.
1. Me: How long have you been homeless?
Mary: off and on since I was 16, and I’m 20 years old now
2. Me: Do you have advice for someone who is facing or enduring homelessness?
Mary: not really….I don’t know what to say to them, because I wouldn’t want to give the wrong advice
3. Me: How long have you been a resident of this state?
Mary: all my life
4. Me: How many hours each week do you work? How long have you been working for the company you are with?
Mary: I’ve been with them for 2 years, and I work from 20-35 hours per week for $7.21hr. That’s enough to pay rent, but I wouldn’t be able to pay my utilities or buy food and toiletries and pay for any other expenses that come up, like bus fare or a doctor bill.
5. Me: What do you think of the organizations in place to help central Florida’s homeless?
Mary: They really don’t care about the people they are helping. They look down on us, and treat us like we are nobodies. I think the people responsible for these organizations should have to throw away all their possessions and live a life of true homelessness and really know what it’s like to be out on the streets.
6. Me: Do you have family?
Mary: Yes. My mom is on state assistance, and can’t have anyone living in her home. I have a brother who I haven’t seen or heard from in 2-3 years. My father left my mother when she was 8 months pregnant with me. I’ve never met him. I would love to find him, meet him, and ask if he ever thinks of us. I don’t know to find him, though. The last we heard he had went to New York.
7. Me: Do you see an end in sight?
Mary: Yes. I am waiting to hear back right now for another job that help me bring in enough money to pay my way and be out on my own. I really hope I get the job. It will mean that I’m working 7 days a week, but it also gets me a place to live and away from the streets and shelters. I don’t know what to do if they don’t hire me, ’cause the shelter will only let me stay so long. Just keep looking for something else, I guess. It’s scary.
8. Me: What is the one single thing that you hate the most about being homeless?
Mary: being looked down on….getting looked down on by people who think they are better than me
Central Florida has an intriguing system in place for aiding their people who are in need, one that I still do not fully understand. I have learned that it is entirely possible to live on the streets here for a full three months before you can get a single organization to ever take your name and even consider helping you. I have learned that intake officers here think it is perfectly acceptable to call someone a "-whore-" for the way they are dressed, instead of using the resources available to take her shopping for something more appropriate. I was fortunate enough to meet that same intake officer and be a part of her list of things to do this past couple of weeks. I can honestly say that she is overloaded, overworked, and needs to be relieved of her duties. She has done a very poor job of representing God and the Christianity that the organization is founded on. Some people would recommend that I see her superior within the organization, and frankly, from what I’ve seen, she, also, should be relieved of her duties. That simply cannot be the image of Christianity that the churches here would want to spread.
Leave Your Comments