I have been working here at the House of Charity for almost nine full months now, and I have learned so much during my time here. I have met many wonderful and amazing people, both among those who work and volunteer, and among those whom we serve. Here person leaves a memory with me that I will take with me when I leave in a few short months. As is the case with most such experiences I am often left wondering exactly what role I am playing in the lives of those I am serving. More often than not I feel that I am actually being served. The patrons here have taught me a great deal. Coming here, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I wanted to work with a homeless population as a part of JVC Northwest, but I had little idea of what I would be actually doing. On some level I honestly believed I could change the lives of people for the better, help lots of people no longer be homeless.
One of our volunteers once mentioned to me that working at the House of Charity allows us to see people as their truest selves, at their most raw. What the volunteer said was true. The House of Charity allows people to be at their most raw because of there constant need for basic necessities such as food and shelter. However, is this not simply human nature, to crave things that allow us to thrive? And further, is this not something that most everyone else takes for granted? I know that I certainly did coming up here straight out of college. Time and again I am caught explaining exactly what my position is to patrons who ask what it is I do. I always tend to forget that I have my housing provided for me, that I have a shared food budget with my community. I always try to play up my monthly stipend. I tend to forget that I have something those I am serving do not. I have shelter. However, I have learned we all share something in common: community.
I live with five others who work at various service sites around Spokane. The House of Charity acts as a hub for the homeless of the area. What shocked me most at first (still continues to shock me) is the community I see among patrons. I have seen one patron give another a pair of socks when we (the HoC) were out. I have seen people offer simple things like cigarettes, and great things like a sack lunch. When someone does not get a bed and appears lost, I have seen patrons step in and have the person follow them. The absolute last place I would have thought I would find anything remotely related to community would be a homeless shelter, but sure enough God wanted me to see things a bit differently than I was used to seeing them.
A lesson I once learned from a patron was the difference between homeless and houseless. When a person is houseless he or she lacks adequate shelter. When a person is homeless he or she lacks a place to feel wanted or normal. I have found that the House of Charity helps people to truly no longer be homeless. It acts as a place where all can come and belong.
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