 On The Line -- Issue 568 -- February 3, 2006  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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On The Line -- Issue 568 -- February 3, 2006 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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Among the persistent needs of San Benito County has been that of a shelter for homeless people, especially during the winter. Some efforts have been made in the past to establish one but for one reason or another have failed.
"Homeless people" is a phrase that has different meanings to different ears. Some residents, if they think of them at all, ignore them as if they were weeds growing in an unkempt lot. Others may view the homeless with uneasiness or even fear and hurry by them. Some resent or are even hostile to what they perceive as derelicts and mutter when seeing them as "those people." Those who use the terms "those people" or "you people" have a perception of being superior to the persons addressed. They often state things like "They should be run out of town" or "They would be better off dead." But the homeless are people and deserving of understanding and aid for that reason alone. Whatever brought them to their present state is unimportant compared to their needs and even hopes. Some of the homeless are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Some have had trouble fitting in with the rest of society for many reasons and more and more are the victims of economic fluctuations that have left them jobless. Some lack skills that would enable them to get jobs. Whatever the case, when the wind is keen or when it rains or when they have not had a meal for a long time, they need shelter and something nourishing. They also welcome an opportunity to get a hot shower and to change clothes. Another need not banished by shelter or food is to know that others regard them as fellow beings and want to help them. Hope can take root again and flourish with only a few kind words or a selfless act. People like Marland Holte and Peggy Kingman and many others who view the world's population as brothers and sisters have striven for years to help improve the lot of the homeless. Holte, who started the community dinners for Christmas and Thanksgiving, knows that hunger lasts beyond December 25th and the fourth Thursday in November. Many other people feel as they do and are willing to do something about it other than just shaking their heads and agreeing it is too bad that people are suffering. Some people who support the idea of a homeless shelter either cannot or will not spend the time it takes to bring it to fruition. One cannot just say, "Let's find a place to open and maintain it." A great deal of planning and clearance must go into it. After a place is found, in this instance a migrant camp that is not in use during the winter, one must clear it with health authorities, with the Fire Department and other agencies to determine that it does not present a health or safety hazard. People and agencies must be approached to help support it before it can hope to continue after it opens. Churches play a big part in that, as do other places like restaurants and bakeries. Holte and the others explained the goal, when explanation was necessary, and enlisted the aid of private citizens as well as the support of local government and institutions and the plan began taking shape. The shelter was hoped to be in operation before Thanksgiving but because of the lack of necessary building material to bring it in line with demands, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it did not open until December. A bus schedule was set up to pick up the applicants from downtown Hollister and take them to the shelter, then to take them downtown again the following morning, and the word spread. Not all 35 available beds were filled but at least a dozen people stayed there the first night of its operation. Some of the homeless did not take advantage of it because it does not allow men and women to share the same rooms. And many attachments were made on the streets. Smoking is not permitted within the rooms nor are alcohol and drugs allowed. Some were hesitant because an interview is made of each applicant before permission is granted, and it may be assumed that a few may have outstanding warrants against them. Other parts of the interview include the applicant's health needs, prescription drugs, special diet, etc. Counseling is offered for different problems, and professional advice is available to help those homeless people who want to improve their lot. Private citizens and organizations made donations of money, clean serviceable clothing, bed linen, toiletries and many other items. Many churches are contributing food on a specific day of the week so that the shelter will not have a surfeit of edibles one night and scarcity of them on another. Art Cantu has offered free services as an attorney and David Huboi has been part of the team planning the operation. Leigh Dietz sees to its management, and people like Mary Zanger, Kathy Ruiz and Pat Loe pitch in to help wherever needed. Its open house for the public was held on Jan. 21, ironically the same day, although at an earlier hour, as the county Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner/dance held at San Juan Oaks. Those two events might seem to mark the gulf between the homeless of the community and many of its affluent people. However, that gulf is not as wide as may be perceived because many of the people who attended the latter have been instrumental in the success of the former. Indeed, among those who signed up as volunteers at the shelter that very day were Cilly Fisher and Irene Agredano, who were among those decorating San Juan Oaks for the dinner/dance. Robert Scattini also attended the open house as did Jim and Monica Johnson, Don Marcus, Anthony Botelho, Franz and Mary Schneider, Kathy Flores and many others who have established good lives and who do not worry about having enough to eat or where they will sleep at any night but still give thought to others. Although the shelter has yet to reach its capacity level, more and more people in need are expected to be attracted to it. Unfortunately, it will close in March as the fieldworkers will return to plant, tend and reap crops until fall. But a start has been made, and when it reopens to them in late fall, the homeless will have a place to go. Those involved in it hope that some of them will have been returned to a better life by then but even if that turns out not to be so, some people in need will have been helped. That is the main reason. Whatever bad luck, wrong steps and economic misfortune has brought people to a state of homelessness, they are still people who require food, shelter and hope. As Marland Holte has so succinctly put it, "We're all brothers and sisters." |
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