I was one of them

Our community is currently engaged in a lot of discussion about opening a sleep center for people who don't have a place to live. There are many who 100% are in support of this and there are others who are 100% not in support of this and there are some who are in between and can see both sides.  I read all and I listen to all of the conversations surrounding this sensitive issue. 

It makes me think of a statement I give when I give lectures on helping people find a path to recovery from addiction.......I was one of "them"....I am "them". When I read comments about this current situation with the sleep center I see a lot use of terms like "them" or "those people"....and I think to myself I was one of those people. I remember well wandering the streets without a roof over my head. I was completely strung out on drugs and I had significant untreated mental health issues. I was one of "them"........"Those people" that we talk about was who I was at a point in my own life. 

It can be difficult to hear when we completely dehumanize people in a way that it feels like it is "us" vs "them".......why?  Well, because I AM THEM.  That WAS me. I think if I could wave a magic wand for our community it would be for us all to try, just for a moment or two, to imagine for a second or two what it might be like to be in their shoes.  

Are all of those "those people" people who want to cause harm to others?  Are all of "those people" those who are wanting to cause some kind harm to children?  Are all of "those people" those who commit crimes?  Are all of "those people" people who will cause some type of problem in our community?   

I think most will easily say no to real blanket generalized questions. It isn't all people who are homeless who will do those things. Will some, sure. Wouldn't that be true for any group of people?  Some will cause no harm to other and a few might?  

If you look at my life and you see the success I have know that I didn't just magically start out this way. I didn't go from being on the streets and strung out on drugs to being successful. Not even close. It took a lot of time, a lot of resources, and, a lot of effort. Literally, years worth of it all. 

In my early days, having a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in was huge.....massive.  A safe place to sleep at night where I could feel safe. For me, I also had access to resources through treatment, job opportunities, health care, and many other layers of support that I first gained access to when I had a roof over my head.  

Is a sleep center going to solve all the problems one might have? No, for sure it will not.  A sleep center will provide someone a place to sleep, a spot to clean up, and a reboot that could 100% be an opportunity for someone to start down their own path to changing their lives like myself and many others who have followed my same trajectory have.

It should be known that we have a community full of people who have stories just like mine who were also once homeless and now are integral parts of our community as a whole.  

My ask from you is this......to think about it when you talk about "them".  Is it a them vs us thing?  Or, are they humans just like we are and we should consider doing all we can to help lift them up? 

I was them and I am them.