My end of service is here! I am very sad to see me go! Doing my service at the South Oakland Shelter has opened my eyes, to the world. It has opened my eyes to homelessness, and the stereotypes that surround homelessness. So many individuals come from many walks of life and everybody has their own story, and why they had to turn to a shelter for help. I have seen individuals with bachelor degrees and master degrees from big ten and ivy league schools, and I have also seen one PH.D. I find that the world is very ignorant to what homelessness is about and if the world would just be more open to volunteering, and seeing how the other half lives, they would have a better understand. When I see the Chronic homeless coming in off the street asking us for bagged lunches, water, and clothes, and we can’t offer it because we are a small agency…. it saddens me. It saddens me, because I know that not everybody is going to go out their way to help these individuals on a daily basis. And if we deny them anything, they may not get it. I also wish we had more connections for jobs, or that more jobs were out there. The economy is not changing, at the rate, that homelessness is spreading. And homelessness is spreading due to the down fall of the economy. Our clients have transportation issues. The transportation in Oakland County and Wayne County is HORRIBLE! Clients get fired from jobs, or miss job opportunities because the bus was not on time, there was not a transfer, or they cannot afford bus tickets. Which I have to say, that the bus ticket prices are ridiculous as well! 2 dollars each way, then 25 cent for transfer. Most of our clients hardly have 1 dollar in their pocket alone. We always ask ourselves, could you imagine a perfect world? And if you could, what would that world look like? How would it be? After completing my service I know have an understanding to what homelessness is, and what can be done to help all those individuals that are in desperate need. I think that everyone should take one day out of their busy schedule if they can, and help volunteer!
