A Night at the Homeless Shelter

I read a very interesting report (journal) lately by Polk County Supervisor Bob Brownell. Bob wrote this report after attending the October 9th Des Moines City Council meeting. Although he was there to represent a new Civic Center initiative, the issue that really struck a chord with him was a discussion item relating to the relocation of the Central Iowa Homeless Shelter. Bob was aware of the issue because Polk County had been asked for financial support, but he was engaged by the number of people who came out to speak against the relocation.

The discussion raised several questions in Bob’s mind, and the most effective way he could see to answer those questions was to live in the shoes of someone at the shelter for a night. He referred to it as “a very imperfect human trying to understand what a homeless person sees."

Bob had several questions about the Central Iowa Shelter (CIS). What is it like to check in there? What’s the atmosphere like? Is it dangerous? Is it hopeless? What’s it like? What’s it like to be there and know that’s your new place? Are there any services? Do the homeless take them seriously? He knew he could not get those answers as a County Supervisor.

Although somewhat intimidated by the idea, which ran against the advice of several friends and colleagues, Bob was curious about the myths of homelessness. So he decided to spend a night at the Central Iowa Shelter, stopping at the Bethel Mission on 6th Avenue first. Dressed in an old San Francisco 49ers sweatshirt, a ragged beard, and a coat he received from West Des Moines Human Services, Bob was on his way.

I won’t go into significant detail about Bob’s experience with the food, the staff, the accommodations, or the procedures at these shelters. Bob’s report provides an interesting narrative that illustrates all of that (see bottom of entry for link). The most important things I took away from the report were his conclusions. He says, regarding shelter dwellers:

“These guys were not in the devil’s workshop…In looking at these guys, it occurred to me that I was worst looking guy in the place. My clothes were worse, my grooming was substantially worse and I’m sure I wasn’t as clean. Some of those guys had just showered, I imagined, after getting home from work. Maybe not, but in any event, they looked a lot less threatening than I did. So, how is that, I wondered? As I thought it through, it occurred to me that there are many outlets for clothes and a lot of drives, mainly by churches, for toothbrushes, clothing, shaving kits and the like for ‘the homeless.’”

“So, if your church has been conducting clothing drives for ‘the homeless,’ rest assured it’s getting to the right places. All those donations people have made through the years but maybe wondered, like me, what ever happens to it; was being made clear to me at that time. The homeless are apparently getting that stuff and it looks pretty good on them. They’re using it. That’s what you want, right? It’s one of life’s few examples, I think, where things are working just like we hoped they would.”

This issue is particularly salient to me as Human Services wraps up all of their holiday giving, auctions, Toyland, and other assistance programs for the year. They receive so many nice items from our generous residents, and they do get put to good use. I’ve seen it.

“Should we build a new shelter at Keo Way and I235? I don’t know the answer to that one…yet. I do know that the staff at CIS is not incompetent, lazy or just doesn’t get it. They are hard working honest people in a job that has got to be demanding and with a really high burn-out ratio. God bless them, they’re doing great work. As are the pastors and the Board at the Bethel. I also know that the homeless are not seeking out good citizens to harass or bother during the day. They are simply turned out of a too-small building and have literally no where else to go.”

“Some of them will never make it back to the mainstream. Not ever. But, some will and some want to and some are working hard to do that. We, as a society have to remember not to discourage those numbers of homeless. They have a pretty steep hill to climb even with people encouraging them.”

“And we have to remember that there are people out there trying to help. They’re donating money, lockers, TVs, books, clothing and tables and chairs. All kinds of things. They need to be encouraged, too.” The Central Iowa Shelter had an open house for the neighborhoods, and anyone else, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Nobody came. I think that attitude, among others, is something Bob is working to change. Thanks to Bob for this interesting perspective.

You can read the full report here.