I met JH while stopping to get gas one day. He was digging through the station’s dumpster. I was with a friend and we stopped and gave him $20. We invited him to go to church with us the next day and he said he would go if we would pick him up. The next day, he was not there.
Throughout the following days, weeks, months and years, I would occasionally see him outside the gas station, in Bojangles, or walking in the parking lot, and would wave or say hi. I noticed when it was cold outside, that there were many homeless sitting inside the Bojangles at night. It warmed my heart to see a business let them sit inside, and even bring them some food – instead of calling the police and having them removed. I decided to support this business for the work they were doing that few knew about.
I mentioned this to a wonderful person I met who also has an outreach for the homeless, Advocacy to Alleviate Homelessness. I was helping her with her business and we decided to have our next meeting at that Bojangles. JH was there and we started talking. That developed into a friendship that lasted several months, and was the start of our outreach.
We visited with JH every Saturday. At first, we brought him food from a local food pantry. After a few weeks, he and several others told us that although he enjoys receiving food, most of the food, clothing and other items that folks bring end up in the trash. They receive a lot of donated items – too much for them to consume, so they get rid of the extra. That stuck with me and over the next few weeks, we had conversations on what they need. The main need seemed to be shelter; however, what came up even stronger was the fact that we stopped to talk with them and the fact that we considered them a friend and not just some homeless person to ignore.
JH is in his 50’s and has been homeless since Katrina. He is from Louisiana and was brought to Raleigh after Katrina. When you talk with JH, his face lights up when he talks about his life in Louisiana, and his family. His family was split up following Katrina. In Louisiana, he had a house, a car and a job. His family would get together and share meals. He speaks of this often and that seems to be one of his fondest memories of growing up – spending time eating home cooked meals with family.
JH went with us a few times to Oak City Cares where he met with some wonderful people and was able to receive a phone and food stamps. Housing was next, and not too far away! We connected with someone who has a street outreach for those who are homeless and brought JH to him. He was not feeling well and said he would meet us the next day at the gas station where JH stayed. JH said that if he could not get in a home soon, that he would go back to doing and selling drugs. He was tired and just wanted a place to stay. I received a text the next day that the guy who was going to do the intake was still not feeling well and would not be able to make it. I went to find JH to relay the news and have not seen him since. We talked with the employees of the gas station who knew him very well and found out that he went to prison.
We are hoping to cross paths with JH again and finish the process we started – to get him in the home he desires.