This is a fire hydrant that I walk by every day on the way out and back, and it triggers a lot of emotions for me.
A few months ago, this fire hydrant was leaking, and it didn’t stop for a couple of days. On one of those days, I walked passed it and saw this homeless lady staring at the hydrant. Moments later, she began to take her coat off and belongings to put it on the side. Then she approached the fire hydrant, took out a bar of soap from her pocket, then began to cleanse herself.
After passing her, I felt so much distress and so much shame. So I just circled around a few blocks and even walked past her again, hoping maybe I’d muster enough courage to go speak to her. But I couldn’t. And I realized it’s because I was overwhelmed with shame- shame that I live this privileged life, in this affluent city, knowing there are people on the streets without a shower.
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Some of the feedback I’ve received about Showered with Hope is “Why do you need mobile showers? There are drop-in centers and homeless shelters available.” But from my experience referring individuals and families to these services, the reality is that shelters and drop-in centers are in dire condition while in high demand, so there are just way too many individuals without assistance. That’s why individuals turn to desperate measures, like that lady had. Also, their energy is often geared towards surviving and coping with stressful circumstances that they don't have the energy or money to go all the way to a shelter for a shower. And when they do get there, there are already 100 people waiting for their turn.
So we believe in meeting them on their level, meeting them on where their needs are. It’s not about a hand out, but a hand UP. We want to provide a service that empowers them to develop confidence in becoming self-sufficient. To them, a shower can mean a job interview- a chance to get out of the cycle of homelessness.
I really want to make a difference for the homeless community, and I realized in order to make Showered With Hope a reality, I need to be as shameless as I can be about raising awareness. Because this isn’t about me. This isn’t about self-acknowldgement. This is bigger than me. Raising awareness and doing everything I can to get my community involved is my way to honor that lady, and everyone else I’ve worked with that have faced issues of homelessness.
I want to ask you all to join me in trying to have a transformative presence in our community, by supporting Showered with Hope, and registering for our UNY RUN 5k 8/29/2015.
All registrations go towards hygiene kits and showers for the homeless community. Please register now, and if it is the case that you can’t make it, we will refund you 100%. Or you can just choose to donate.
-- Elisa Kim, director of Showered With Hope
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