How Do You Survive In A Homeless Shelter?
The stir of people and cots in perfect row formation scattered across a few square feet. All homeless shelters display this web of activity. There are the morning wake up calls and the evening lights-out. For those used to controlling their habitat, it can push one to the verge of sanity. I called a dozen homeless shelters asking for quick tips. Some were eager, while most were reluctant. It’s disconcerting to know workers can’t take a break to offer advice. Salvation Army captains and directors were more than willing to spare a moment while publicly funded shelters requested an in-person meeting. Perhaps this is a media clause in their contracts but it shows that bureaucracy, doesn’t stop, even for those who are homeless. A worker from Lancaster Community Shelter, offered three key rules that sounded like a mission statement: respect yourself, respect the staff, respect residents. When I misspoke and asked how to ‘live’ transitional housing, he paused. I rephrased with “stay” and he f
