Unknown Stories
R.O.C. Member: “Hey, it’s (Client’s Name), right?”
Client: “Yeah. How’d you remember that?”
R.O.C. Member: “My brain just works like that. Also, I feel like that’s a part of what it means to be human, to be worthy enough to be remembered by others.”
“I can’t give him up. Although he would have a better life if I did, I just can’t do it. I saved him, and he has saved me.” (Person currently surviving on the streets talking about their dog.)
“We used to be locked up together. They have some real bad mental problems. I would look out for them because people would always be stealing their commissary. So when I ran into them on 11th Street, I invited them to come with me to my camp so they can be safer.”
(Client currently surviving in a tent in the woods speaking about another client that R.O.C. members transported to the Client’s camp.)
“When you are a woman on the streets, it can be easier just to say yes and give in to whatever a man is making or wanting you to do. When you do that, you don’t get beat up as much.” (A client who was formerly homeless speaking about the sexual, and other physical abuse they experienced while surviving on the streets.)
“We will be back at the camp at the end of this month. But that’s ok we have lived almost half our lives like that. We are used to it. But I have gained 35 pounds since we have been housed over this last year.” (Currently housed couple speaking about being evicted soon due to the property being managed by a new property management company.)
R.O.C. Member: “Your name is (Client’s Full Name), right?”
Client: “Yes! Thank you for remembering!”
“Cops came down here yesterday and said we all have 24 hrs. to get out of here. And it wasn’t even any of us that live here that are causing this to happen.” (Person currently surviving in a camper in the woods.)
“Hey, it’s your dad. You’re never going to believe what just happened! We are coming home! (starts to sob) Your mom and I were sitting in the grass on the side of the road sorting and organizing all our stuff. And we have both just been feeling lately like we just aren’t ever going to be able to get there. Well, these nice folks walked up, gave us some coffee, and ended up getting us bus tickets to get home. We will be there tomorrow!” (Person who has been stranded on the streets of Chattanooga for the last two weeks, 700 miles away from home, speaking to their daughter on the phone.) *It was discovered the next day via an email from Greyhound that their trip was cancelled less than halfway to their home, and the money for the tickets was refunded to the source that paid for the tickets. And the clients have not contacted the ROC member to try to find another bus ticket home.*
During outreach this week, one of our R.O.C. members was asked by one of our R.O.C. volunteers:
“Whatever happened to (Client) who stayed in the red tent behind the church? I always think about and worry about them.”
Often when these questions are asked, the only answer that can be given is “I don’t know. They were there then, but they are not there now.” The story of what happened goes untold.
This is a common theme in doing homeless outreach. As pointed out in last week’s post, there are far more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness than there are outreach workers, 169 (which is a lower than average number) encountered this week by a total of 10 individuals conducting outreach. This proportion, combined with the proportion of time available each day for outreach, leads to people falling through the cracks and their stories being untold, or people’s stories only being revealed 5 to 10 minutes at a time. At times people experience barriers and circumstances that are beyond their control that strip them of their position of being the one who is in control of writing their own stories. They become a victim of their story rather than the author of it. There is also the reality that people experiencing homelessness’ life stories are shorter than those not experiencing homelessness, on average 25-35 years shorter.
Given these different circumstances and realities, how are R.O.C. members to respond?
When people seemingly disappear. R.O.C. members hope for an opportunity to connect with them again soon and hope that only the best has happened to them.
When people are only able to share their stories 5 to 10 minutes at a time. R.O.C. members remain patient in knowing that the full story will develop over time. They also operate under the understanding that no matter what the story is that led to them experiencing homelessness, it will not be the ultimate determinant that will keep them there. We practice grace no matter the specifics of the story. A person’s past shouldn’t have complete control over someone’s future.
When people experience barriers and circumstances that control their ability to write their own story. R.O.C. members work to see what barriers can be navigated over and what circumstances can be advocated to change. This was evident in the situation quoted above, where an entire encampment was about to be displaced by law enforcement. R.O.C. members were able to leverage their relationship with local law enforcement. They gave them the full true story of how those within the encampment were not creating the current issues, but rather unwanted guests visiting the encampment. This advocacy led to law enforcement changing their original plan of eviction.
We want to be in the midst of people’s lives in order to give the hope that this experience of homelessness won’t be their concluding life sentence but rather a chapter in their continued life story.
And for those whose life stories have tragically concluded while experiencing homelessness. R.O.C. members grieve, they weep, they mourn, and they experience deep feelings of loss, but they also remember their names and who they were. Because everyone is worthy of being remembered.
📸 Pictured below on the left is a chair that a client, who passed away from congestive heart failure in 2020, used to sit in at their encampment. Their fellow camp member and friend now has this chair facing downward, with one of their favorite hats hanging on the leg, as a memorial to them. Also, it just so happened that the client’s sweet cat, Rosco, was under the chair as the picture was taken.
📸 Pictured below on the right is a heartbreaking note that was found under an overpass that is regularly visited by R.O.C. members. It reads:
“This is an urgent cry for help. I am homeless, sick (not contagious), and dying because someone has done me wrong. And I do not deserve to be a beggar and suffer every everyday because someone has done this to me. Until God brings me the person who has done this to me, or an angel of mercy from above to help me, I will not beg anymore. If God wants me to continue to exist on this planet, He will direct someone to give me food and water. But I do not deserve to beg anymore. If you are a person of spirituality (not religion, spirituality). Please help, because I need advice. If God is truly love, He will not let me die this way. But if I do, thank you to everyone who has helped me these past 2 years.”
We left a bag with food and water beside this. We hope that this person found it. And we hope for an opportunity to meet and help empower this person to continue on in their story.
#ROCAndRoll
#UnknownStories
#ROCRetrospective
