I’d been teaching all day, but when I met Walt I realized I had quite a bit to learn.
________
“Excuse me, sir.”
God, what now? I’ve been teaching all day. I’m tired. Not really in the mood to talk to a stranger.
“I’m from One Step Away, and I chose to do this instead of begging and holding a sign. You see, I’m homeless, and what I do is, I go around selling these papers, written by homeless individuals like me.”
I want to help, I really do, but I can’t help every homeless individual who asks me for money.
“The recommended donation is $1.00. My name is Walt, and here’s my name tag. I do this each day in order to work my way toward affording my own housing.”
Sure, he seems like a nice enough guy. Should I just tell him he can just keep the paper, though?
“Thank you, young man. And besides enjoying your paper, I have one other thing to ask.”
Here we go. Knew it was a set up.
“I have a little homework assignment for you. Tell as many others as you can about what we’re doing here.”
◊♦◊
Hmm … let’s see if this paper is worth what it’s printed on.
One Step Away has a twofold purpose. One, to offer those without shelter meaningful income opportunities and personal growth, and, two, to backlight the scourge of homelessness and lack of affordable housing in the Philadelphia area to bring forward solutions and changes so that everyone enjoys the shelter they deserve.
Seventy-five cents goes directly to the homeless vendor. Twenty-five cents goes toward newspaper production.
Today homeless men and women are increasingly the victims of violence, to the point where Congress held hearings on whether violence against people experiencing homelessness should be labeled a hate crime. According to a report by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), Americans who experienced homelessness saw a 23 percent increase in violence last year–even though the homeless population declined during that time.
◊♦◊
We’re all one step away from homelessness. One terrible accident. One lost job.
Walt, you are one step away from a shelter of your own. A place where, when a man approaches you and assigns you homework, you’ll truly have a home in which to complete it.
I judged you too quickly, Walt. I mentally brushed aside your efforts too casually because I simply didn’t want to be bothered that day. For that I am truly sorry.
My hope is that by completing your homework assignment in this way, I am able to earn your forgiveness.
Seems we’re both working to become better men.
Blessings and good luck to you.
________
Image credit: rick/flickr
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