What I Learned As An Americorps VISTA Volunteer

Posted on December 9, 2011. Filed under: Homelessness |

by Kate Towson

Tell me: what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~Mary Oliver

I’ve written about this before, but I truly thought working on the cause of ending homelessness would be “easy”. I really did. Of all the causes I had ever cared about or advocated for, I thought homelessness would be a piece of cake. How could a neighborhood, community or government be against providing homes for people? How could an individual tell me folks who are homeless don’t deserve housing?

I had to learn fast because, and this is the truth, although homelessness is a tragic, deadly, grave and heinous violation of human rights and dignity, people do not want to end it. People do not care to end it. People do not want to admit that it is there. And that has broken my heart.

I guess I didn’t realize how much blame we carry in our hearts and minds, how much judgment. Being a homeless advocate opens your eyes to the number of times people say “bum”, “transient”, “drunk” freely, without realizing those are derogatory words; the number of times homeless people are used as gags or jokes in movies; the number of times I’m told my job is a waste of time because “those bums like living outside.”

For whatever reason, people often tell me that folks who are homeless “deserve it” and “enjoy it”. For whatever reason, our society looks at aspects of a person’s life and uses that to pass a grand judgment on how they deserve homelessness. I could ramble on and on about how and why folks lose their homes, but I’ve done that before. Suffice it to say: no one deserves homelessness. Not a single person.

VISTA has taught me to believe in and work for a world that has kind hearts and open minds. VISTA has taught me that I believe in a giant safety-net that supports all members of our great community. I believe that everyone should take better care of everyone else; help your neighbors, do nice deeds for a stranger, volunteer when you can and give graciously. Spend less money on Starbucks coffee and give more money to people. Donate your time, give away your clothes, share your food, judge less and love more.

As a VISTA I have born witness to how a community can work together to make great, long-lasting change. I have seen one individual rally a thousand, and a thousand change the life of one. As a VISTA I have seen so much hatred, discrimination and things that are just plain unfair. But I have seen people give who have nothing, open their doors when they couldn’t, and work hard for no money because they have believed in a radical idea: that “the homeless” are people. People. Human beings. And the next time you walk past a human being sleeping outside, I hope you begin to believe in this idea too.

I came out to California knowing next-to-nothing about homelessness. I am staying in California because I am a homeless advocate now, and I’ll continue to work in this beautiful community to make the change I know we have to make.

As a VISTA I have worked with four amazing staff: Shannon Stevens (my VISTA partner-in-crime), Paul Hicks, Michele Watts and Tim Brown. They inspire me every day, and they have served as mentors and friends during times of great frustration and great joy.

Tim Brown once gave a speech to a graduating class of social workers, and it is only fitting to end with part of his speech:

To change things for the better we must have hope and turn desperation into innovation and action. We have to immerse ourselves in the great problems of our time, try to understand all sides and move ahead one small step at a time. This is how leaders come forward. Each of you has that potential within you.

I am on my way.