Expanding Views on Homelessness
After battling cancer for several years and her fiancé experiencing a devastating stroke, Barbara found herself at risk of becoming homeless. Through her fiancé, a military veteran, she was connected with St. Patrick Center. Here, she began receiving housing assistance and was able to explore other programs St. Patrick Center offers. Shortly after joining St. Patrick Center as a client, she enrolled in the Roots of Success program—a workforce development program that prepares youth and adults for 100+ environmental jobs and career pathways and to improve conditions in their communities and build resilience to climate change.
Barbara graduated from Roots of Success and says the experience was eye-opening and helped educate her on important environmental issues, while training and connecting her to several leads for employment opportunities.
Barbara said, “Truly St. Patrick Center is ‘More Than A Soup Kitchen’ because there are times that people need more than just a meal. It is not just a handout, it is a hand up. People don’t need a handout all the time. Sometimes people need a hand up, meaning they need employment or a bus ticket to get where they need to go. All of these things are offered. St. Patrick Center gives it to them. All they have to do is ask.”
Barbara believes her own experience with housing instability and serious illness has helped her see homelessness and people in need differently. Before moving to St. Louis, she lived with her grandparents on a farm in Arkansas. “When I was growing up, homelessness is something I did not see very much of,” reflected Barbara, “I see a lot of homelessness now and I know these people are trying to live and things are hard for them.”
Barbara hopes that others can expand their view on homelessness as well. She would like to see more empathy for unhoused people in St. Louis. “There is no one sleeping outside on a bench who wants to be there,” said Barbara, “If they had another option of somewhere to be, they would be there instead.” She feels that people don’t realize, while they think it may be “easy” to get up and get a job, there are other barriers for unhoused individuals. Some people struggle with mental health issues or addiction, which can impact their day-to-day function. Just giving them a job is not enough, they need the wrap around support to help turn their life around. “Sometimes a person just needs a kind word or a smile. I can give them that,” Barbara added.