by Amy Kirkland
What does fall mean to you? – besides the obvious pumpkin spice everything! For me, it means counting down the days to see the leaves become glorious shades of yellow, red, and orange and then gracefully fall to the ground. Fall means evenings by the firepit enjoying some warm apple cider or mulled wine. Fall means pulling out my favorite long sleeve t-shirt or a puffy vest for those particularly chilly mornings.
But for many of our guests experiencing homelessness, the changing of the seasons means something very different. Initially, those cool nights give some relief from the sweltering heat of the summer. However, the chill in the air soon gives way to a need for many things – many things our guests experiencing homelessness do not have the means to hold onto from season to season. Most of us take for granted the cedar chests, hall closets, and storage tubs we use to hold all the warm things we need. We just have to remember where we put those thick socks, gloves, scarves, hats, hoodies, and extra blankets in order to stay nice and cozy. Our guests, though, are in search of all of these items as each season changes. And it’s not just about gathering up all of the items to stay warm; they are also burdened with hauling them around as the cool nights give way to warm afternoons (like the one we’re having today) as they wait for the next cool night. Getting all of the things they need takes time and patience. Often, all that they can do is hope that there will be folks offering up all the items necessary to stay warm. Even if they find the right clothing closet or church, will there be enough? Will they be in the right place at the right time to receive these necessities?
In my house, fall also brings about the debate as to when it’s the right time to turn off the AC and turn on the heat. We can always choose and adjust day by day to meet our desires. For guests experiencing homelessness, though, AC and heat only exist at places they receive a meal, get services, or sleep for a night. A shelter can seem like a simple solution to us, right? As fall turns to winter, many places open up cold weather shelters and warming stations. However, COVID caused many winter shelters to stay closed last year. Things seem to be getting better, but what will be available this season is still up in the air at many places. The weather and the elements are mostly bearable right now, but it’s certainly weighing heavily on our guests, if the places that were open in 2019 will all re-open for 2021.
So, as you wait in line for your favorite warm fall beverage or debate over hot caramel apple cider vs. pumpkin spiced latte, practice gratitude for all of the choices you can make. Take a few moments to think about what you can do to help those experiencing homelessness feel some relief this fall.