Hello Yow-Yow enthusiasts!

I hail all the way from Baltimore, MD where I am currently a full-time volunteer through Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I am a caseworker at a homeless day shelter where I meet daily with an average of 10 clients. The services I aid with through casework include financial assistance in obtaining identification, shelter referrals, mental health and substance abuse referrals, handing out needed clothing, and helping clients find housing along with many other things that situations call forth. I’ve done something as simple as stick a band-aid on a cut of a man’s forehead to as complicated as finding assistance for a woman and her two children who were living in an “abondominuim”.

This work is tough and emotionally demanding, especially since there is a huge need from the homeless population and Baltimore City doesn’t offer enough resources. It’s especially tough as stories of homelessness are personalized for me; I see it in the faces, emotions, mannerisms, personalities, and hearts of each one of my clients.

I’ve come to dislike the term “homeless.” It lacks human dignity for a population that most needs it. With that term comes impressions of what that person is like- alcoholic, drug-ridden, mentally ill, dirty, lazy or even simply just out of luck. Yes, there are clients I see who are “chronically homeless” and may encompass one or more of these features, but the majority of my clients have potential for obtaining housing and simply need a leg up. They need someone who will advocate for them, assist with their needs when they don’t have the finances or spirit, or simply listen to them. Instead of “homeless”, and although it might not be the best solution for defining this population, I’ve thought of “without a house/apartment/a place to stay.” For me, this phrase indicates more of a transitional period in a person’s life when times are tough. It signifies that there is hope for that individual in moving forward in reclaiming stable housing, even if it might take a while. Moreover, “without a house/apartment/a place to stay” also signifies a lack of owning something tangible that society sees as almost necessary to being a “quality” citizen; something also defined by having a valid ID, a clean record, and able-bodied enough to work, all of which many of my clients do not possess.

I want to share this picture with you:

This is a client of mine who came in to casework everyday for a month. His only request was simple: to get off the streets.  He actually had a place about 5 months ago, but it was an apartment complex infiltrated with drugs. He up and left the place because he was constantly in a state of fear and discomfort, but this left him on the streets and riding the buses all night, barely sleeping. With the help of another social worker, his befriended grad student, and the financial support of his church, we were able to find an apartment for him. Since then, he has slept very well all of those nights and has reclaimed a sense of peace for himself. It goes to show that getting people off the streets takes a community effort.

Apart from my casework position, I also live in an intentional community with 4 other volunteers, I regularly explore the quirky city of Baltimore, and am enjoying my first time living on the east coast. I’ve been communicating through snail mail and limited internet access (we don’t have it in our house,) I take public transit, and it’s intriguing for me to delve into the social justice issues of Baltimore City. I miss the wonderful community I experienced the past 4 years back in Seattle, but I’m also surprisingly somewhat infatuated and fascinated with Baltimore. And I can’t stop staring at Natty Boh’s face, because I don’t know what happened to his other eye.

Cheers from Baltimore, and peace to you for this new year!

Megz

(or Balto-megz, as my dad has nicknamed me)

I am so lucky to have a wonderful person like Megan in my life. This young woman is one classy lady. I have always admired her wisdom, carefree way of living, and passion for everything important to her life. She is also an incredible graphic designer. The work that she has done for me in the last two years as well as her current work continues to blow me away every time. The most important lesson that Megan has ever taught me was simply to never take life too seriously. While the silly outings have been on hold for now due to Megan being across the country, I would like her to know that I am looking forward to a time when we can have “spring date nights” again!