Holliston Teens Get a Firsthand Look at Homelessness

The following is a press release issued from the Winter Walk Committee:

Most of us know what homelessness looks like. It’s the man sleeping on a park bench, the couple pushing a shopping cart of old cans, and the elderly woman using newspapers as blankets. But how many of us actually stop and think about what led to the situation these people are in today?

Recently, several members of the Winter Walk planning team, an event created to help raise money to end homelessness in the Boston area, went to the city to gain firsthand knowledge about their cause. The group went to the offices of HomeStart Inc., the organization that benefits from Winter Walk, to see their work in action. Throughout the day, they saw several examples of the ways in which HomeStart helps the homeless people of Boston.

One team member, Rachel Dinehart, said, "You may not think what we are doing counts, but it really makes a difference. We are directly affecting people's lives."

One of the most basic services that HomeStart provides is finding available homes and helping pay rent through the use of Section 8 vouchers. These are part of a federal program that provides rental assistance to low-income families in the form of a payment voucher. The vouchers are in such high demand that the waiting list to get one is 40,000 people long. During the trip to Boston, the Winter Walk team met with a man who had just received his Section 8 voucher. The man was so overjoyed that after leaving the HomeStart offices, he walked onto a bus and held it up for the passengers, who applauded and cheered.

The next man, after many months of waiting, had already found a home with HomeStart’s help. However, he had no furniture or job. He did not even have a bed to sleep in and was, at the time, sleeping on the floor. It would take even more time for HomeStart to get him just the basics like a bed and a couch. The employees at HomeStart were also helping him find a job, so that he could stay in his new house and become more self-sufficient.

"The service day was really an eye-opening experience," said team member Jamie Canavan. "It was really astounding that these people could be so happy just for a home even with nothing in it. These people treasure the smallest acts of kindness presented to them and I think that everyone could learn a lot from their outlook on life."

The last client that the group spoke to was in the final stages of his recovery from homelessness. With HomeStart’s help, this man’s life changed from a downward spiral to a success story. He had lived a normal life with a family, a job, and a home for over 20 years. Then he got sucked into a 5-year drug addiction, which cost him everything. He ended up in a homeless shelter, but after just one night he knew that he had to get out. Today, he has a new life working at Walmart and living in a house, both found through HomeStart’s services.

The Winter Walk team was deeply moved by these stories. “It showed how hard it is to get help when you’re homeless,” said Michelle Schefter.

Until then, they had known the goals of the event, but had never seen exactly how they would be helping. The whole team has been working very hard to make this year’s walk a success and it is good to see how all that work will pay off.

This year, the walk will be held on March 13 at 12:30 p.m. It is a five-mile route from the Unitarian Church in Sherborn to the in Holliston. For more information or to register please go to www.winterwalk.org.