by Travis Mateer

I stared at the (digital) blank page of this post for quite some time before writing the title, then I stared at the title for awhile trying to figure out what it meant.

I knew I was setting up a contrast between the significant increase in nights of shelter provided by the Poverello Center from 2020 to 2021, and a hug I got from an old homeless woman on Sunday evening, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure what I was actually trying to SAY about this contrast.

Some helpful context for the increasing homeless numbers can be found in this post of mine from December 14th, 2020, where I declare the PR charade of claiming homeless numbers are going DOWN is finally over. Should this post, then, be another I TOLD YOU SO post?

While the need is overwhelming and feels like it’s getting worse (because it is), the hug I got from a former client, and the help her friend gave me to NOT leave my phone behind (which I was about to do), helped remind me why I’m doing what I’m doing.

I needed the reminder because exposing the corruption at the level I’m attempting is sometimes a little stressful, but it’s what I’m called to do, so the encouragement from members of this lubricated street tribe helped stop the creeping doubt that sometimes invades my resolve.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned. Some serious stuff is cooking in Zoom Town.