Staying Safe

Of the three talks concerning homeless issues (staying safe, staying sane, and meeting basic needs), we thought starting with how to stay safe was a good idea.

Presented by Dustin and Sam, it outlined ten basic things to keep in mind when trying to stay safe. Many of the points were backed up with stories.

Tips included:
1.) Stay prepared
2.) Stay sober
3.) Have a weapon or come in numbers
4.) Carry some form of light
5.) Keep something warm
6.) Keep a phone nearby
7.) Change sleeping spots
8.) Sleep somewhere quiet
9.) Keep yourself fed
10.) Darkness can be friend or foe; it's all in how you use it



Following reflections on staying safe, all three of our homeless youth began telling stories. While I don't feel quite right publishing them here, they included foster care abuse, tragically lost love, corrupted shelter bureaucracy, and facing down harsh elemental conditions. Laced through the tales of darkness and struggle were glimmering threads of camaraderie, fortitude, hope, and humorous antics.

I was struck by how smoothly their storytelling went. Generally, homeless youth are somewhat guarded with their pasts. While some have a talent drawing them out, most volunteers never get the full story. Yet here in the park by the library, the stories came.



Why do you suppose that is? Did we finally ask in the right way? Was it the activities? Was it the fact that we had shown a willingness to learn their world? Or was it our willingness to sleep out in the city? Was it the receptivity? Or the fact that the context allowed for one story after another to be told, each drawing another to follow? Or perhaps is it something more primal? Do humans just tell stories when out under the stars?