Shining a light on homelessness

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December 22, 2009

Advocates aim to raise awareness for homeless during vigil at Exit 0 in Jeffersonville

BY RICHARD GOOTEE The News and Tribune Tue Dec 22, 2009, 07:17 AM EST

During the longest night of the year, about 50 people gathered just off the Exit 0 ramp in Jeffersonville to shed a light on those living on the streets this holiday season.

As the temperature hovered near the freezing mark, several homeless individuals joined representatives from community organizations — including several area churches, Haven House, Jesus Cares at Exit 0 and a chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists of America — for a candlelight vigil to remember those who died while living on the streets. Though 14 names were read, Paul Stensrud, of Jesus Cares, reminded the crowd to remember not only them, but every John and Jane Doe who died while living without a home.

After the vigil, which included renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Silent Night,” JC’s Bunch, the New Albany chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists of America, handed out stockings full of necessities for the homeless.

“We all have warm homes; if we get cold, we just turn the heat up. I can’t imagine living out here; living under the bridges and just trying to survive,” said Pat Williams, of JC’s Bunch.

Tony Madrid received a hot beverage from JC’s Bunch before the vigil. Madrid said he’s been living on the streets of Jeffersonville off and on since 2001.

“I just find places [to sleep] where I feel safe,” he said.

He added the key to staying warm during the winter out on the streets is to be well-prepared.

Madrid said many on the street have similar stories as his own. He said he equates those who choose to help the homeless as guardian angles except for one thing: They don’t have wings.

“I think everybody is very grateful that these people are here because they’re a blessing, they really are a blessing,” he said.

Barbara Anderson, executive director of Haven House, which runs Jeffersonville’s Williams Emergency Shelter, reminded those on the streets that organizations such as hers and the others that attended the vigil want to assist them if they need anything, and also that they don’t look down on the homeless.

Anderson, who serves as the secretary of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said other cities have hosted similar vigils, including one in Louisville last week.

Anderson said the Williams shelter houses 67 people. Stensrud, whose organization coordinates the effort of several churches and other organizations to help the homeless, said about 50 people normally show up whenever he passes out aid near the ramp at Exit 0.

“Our shelters are full,” he said. “That’s why we come out here and outreach to these individuals, because the shelters are full and a lot of them don’t want to come to the shelter.

“This is there community and we have to respect that.”

He said he got involved with the homeless last year after feeling that God was calling him and his family to help those close to home by handing out bags full of toilet paper and food on a weekly basis.

“I know it sounds absolutely insane, but God led me down here. My family has done missions overseas: Haiti Africa, the Ukraine,” he said. “This year, we didn’t have that opportunity and we wanted God to lead us somewhere.”

Stensrud said he and other volunteers want to make sure the homeless know there is someone who cares for them.

“We want to try to reconnect the homeless back into the community because they are not all bad people, they really aren’t,” Stensrud said. “... We’ve got average Joes out here, all walks life are out here. We’re all a paycheck away from being put out on the streets.”

— Richard Gootee is a freelance journalist from Southern Indiana.

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YOU CAN HELP

• Jesus Cares at Exit 0 is looking for items to fill bags for the homeless. The organization puts seven or eight items in each bag. They include cookies, chips, any type of canned goods, meat with pull-tab containers, oatmeal, and Pop Tarts. For more information, contact Paul Stensrud at Paul@jesuscares.info.