Jesuit Volunteer grateful for year at Spokane’s House of Charity
One of my favorite things about working at the House of Charity is that whenever I walk downtown I feel like the most popular guy in Spokane. I run into patrons who recognize me. Strolling through the park, I receive a friendly nod or someone asks how I’m doing. At the library I once overheard, “Hey, it’s that dude from the House of Charity.”
I love that I have gotten to know the people I serve and they have gotten to know me. I cherish the moments I see people away from the shelter setting, which allows a more human connection with those at the House of Charity.
It seems everywhere I go in this town I see homeless people. Sure, I work at a homeless shelter and this might be expected, but this year I can’t escape noticing the people who are so often ignored by society.
I have a penchant for spotting the man carrying a bedroll or the woman lugging around a large plastic bag. More often than not, in Spokane, I probably know the people carrying these heavy loads.
I am grateful for the people I have met. Instead of seeing a faceless huddled mass, I see individual people. Everyone at the House of Charity has a story and I have been fortunate enough to hear some of them.
Too often the homeless population is ignored in society. At the margins, homelessness is stereotyped and discounted, but I have learned it is too diverse to be pigeonholed like this. Appearances are deceiving: The man in the old ragged clothes is actually sweet and charming, the well-dressed woman is in fact living on the streets, and the guy behind the counter with the messy hair and funny clothes is really a Jesuit Volunteer.
Everyday the House of Charity serves such a variety of people. And through them I have learned that homelessness is a reality that cannot (and should not) be ignored.
A great example is the recent painting of the Browne Street Bridge. For a week in May the homeless community expressed itself through art. Covering the walls with color, the bridge has now been transformed from a dark and dreary place into a bright and hopeful pathway. It was amazing to witness this project, seeing the people work together and take great pride in their work. It was also a blessing to see these artistic talents come out of people. It truly is a beautiful site and is something to take notice of.
As my year winds to an end, I am thankful to have met so many people through the House of Charity. It is because of these people I am here. This year I had wanted to leave my mark on the House of Charity, but I found that more than anything a mark has been left on me. I am grateful.