Project Homeless Connect - 28th October 2009

Today I volunteered through One Brick, to be a 'client guide' at the Project Homeless Connect event. This is an annual event held at the Bill Graham Auditorium in the Civic Centre in San Francisco. Various organisations donate their time (and people/produce) to this project, such as legal advice, medical treatment, vets, hairdressers, opticians, dentists, food distribution etc. The homeless are invited to attend, and can visit as many of the organisations as they wish during the day, all for no charge. My job was to guide clients through the hall to visit the organisations they needed help from.

I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about attending, as I had the typical preconception that all the clients would be dirty, smelly and dumb ...... how wrong was I!!! I met loads of people who had just fallen on bad times, and had ended up without a home. It was a real 'eye-opener' to the plight of so many normal, average everyday people, who through bad luck and bad planning had fallen off the radar of American society.

Amongst others, I met a great guy called Brian. He was in a wheelchair, but had a cheerful attitude and was definitely game for a laugh! I helped him get is photo ID, his eyes checked, some reading glasses and a nice pack of food. He was lovely company, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with him.

It's hard not to draw comparisons with the UK, as (as far as I'm aware), most of the services being provided at this event would be free to those without a job and on benefits. America is currently debating the subject of health care and whether or not to provide it for all of it's citizens - not just those who can afford it!! I know what I think, but hey .... I'm biased ..

This volunteer event was hard work, but surprisingly rewarding. I will look at homeless people in a different light, but as Richard reminds me, you can't help all of them ..... (I will give Brian, a few bucks if I see him though!)

Sally