Together on the Streets: The Strength of Community in Homelessness

I’ve had the honor to meet the homeless and have a better understanding of how things are. I got in contact with Helen, a little lady physically but has a huge heart who is the founder of love2hope, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated specifically to helping the homeless and their pets. It is hosted every Sunday downtown Bellingham where I met her in person.

She introduced me to her volunteers who informed me “She has given people the literal shoes off her feet” and some of the people who are homeless to help me better understand their story and the atmosphere they deal with. Which is truly tragedy and sadness, some haven’t taken showers in months. Women have to look over their shoulder to not get sexually assaulted. My hope is by the end of this article you can look at them a little differently and have some faith in humanity. When you think of homelessness you think of thieves or drug addicts, when in the mix, some people have never been taught differently so they go to all they know.

I was introduced to Marius a caring, humble man, and his dog Angel who brought joy to the scene around them. People were stopping every five seconds to touch this dog during the interview. He has become homeless due to taking care of his ex-wife and her medical issues. Marius grew up in group homes and wished he had the financial resources and support to start again. He goes on to tell me “If any of us had someone to put us in a group home and supervise us and show us a better path we wouldn’t come back to the streets but for some people that’s all they know.” Marius went on to tell me that if he was able to get back on his feet he would just want to give back to help the others find their way. Crazy…someone who has nothing still tries to help his peers out and wants to help them even if he is doing better.

After my discussion Helen wanted me to meet someone else, I walked over and introduced myself to Anthony, and man who is full of laughter and jokes even though he has been homeless his whole life. He explained to me that he works full time and lives in his car because he just can’t save up money to get into a place or afford half of these places. He went on to tell me how he has lived all over America and he thinks Washington doesn’t do much for the homeless or their low income, “I have had more help from the people around me than the people sitting with the money to fix it.”

After talking to Marius and Anthony I took a browse through the event to meet the faces behind the event. THE VOLUNTEERS. I was informed that they pay out of their pocket and make food out of their pantry to bring to these people. I even was told a story about how a volunteer paid out of pocket for a homeless individual’s vet expenses because they had a terrible ear infection. It ended up repeating over and over and the volunteer continued to take the animal back, and finally ended up walking into the woods and giving the pet the meds when the homeless individual couldn’t.

Helen informed me they get help from local rescues, Whatcom thrift store, Snip Snip Hooray, Bellingham Food Bank, Bellingham Veterinary Clinic, Walmart, Embrace a Discarded Animal Society, and the Grand Avenue Ale House. “Through these collaborations, we’re able to provide critical resources to those in need.” When you looked around at this event you just saw the definition of community. People eat, laugh, and enjoyment of each other’s company, sharing resources amongst others. My heart felt full and restored my faith in humanity.

If you take anything from these words just be kind to each other. This could happen to anyone and you truly never know what is going on in the person that might be sitting next to you on the bus; the person standing in front of you in line might need or be going through. Be kind.

Thank you, Helen, Marius, Anthony, and the Volunteers of Love2Hope for showing your community and your love. You have restored my faith in humanity.

-Chloe Anne Volunteer News Reporter for Bellingham Metro News