Leaving The Shelter

Leaving the Shelter

Rotating Emergency Shelter

Cecil County, MD

December 27, 2016

I turn the lights on at 6 AM. That leaves all our homeless guests an hour to get up, get dressed, have a cigarette, grab a cup of coffee and reorganize there bundle of belongings.  I check the weather temperature, it is 34°, just slightly above freezing. I poked my head outside to see that is sleeting rain. The wind is howling. The moment is absolutely miserable.

At 7 AM the van pulls up to pick everybody up and disperse them throughout town. They will spend the rest of the day in court ordered rehab classes, job skills workshops, the homeless house, department stores, public libraries, alleyways and any other place that might offer them a moment of reprieve from the elements.

I announce, “the van is here”.  They gather their belongings and saunter outside to the dark, cold, rainy, miserable day. I locked up the shelter and hurry to my car which take me home to my nice, warm, clean bed.