Mr. Fredrick

Mr. Fredrick doesn’t want to be one of those homeless men. 

The shelter he stays at (known for being one of the worst in town) brings 3 buses a day into the city. He and the other men are treated like cattle as they stuff in to each bus. Once the bus arrives at the soup kitchen, he stands in line with other people suffering from hunger. Again he feels like one in a line of cattle, weaving back and forth like at Disney World, except the attraction at the front of the line is a simple breakfast, graciously donated and prepared, but nonetheless, not a product of this man’s own hands.

It’s not for lack of trying. He wants desperately to work and show he can contribute to society. It’s more difficult now, since the accident a year ago that damaged his knees and sent glass into his eyes. He barely escaped having to get a glass eye to replace the one that had once served him well in his construction work. He keeps up with his physical therapy sessions despite his difficulty finding money for transportation and the pain it puts him through. 

He’s not the first person to turn to me with a look of deep disappointment and admit he cannot get his granddaughter a birthday gift. He knows she’s expecting something; an 8 year old doesn’t understand or forget just because their grandfather is homeless with no income. “Even something small would be nice,” he says. He says his granddaughter is a sign of hope. He believes she will make more of herself than he did because she's had opportunity and support.

This man, among many others at Samaritan Ministry, shows me that it's not all about your effort in life. Many times it's what we have been privileged to have access to – education, supportive and caring family, positive influences… Yes, determination and dedication matter, but we wouldn't tell a college educated individual who lost a high paying job that it’s his lack of effort that got him into his situation. We would blame it on the bad economy. On the other hand, it's easier to assume an African American male who is homeless is stuck there because he prefers to live as a bum off the Fed’s money and the working man’s taxes.

I see pure exhaustion in this man’s eyes. A night’s sleep in the shelter is never peaceful. Add the worry of finding money for transportation in an attempt to keep looking for jobs. And the never-ending rainstorms that cause the arthritis in his knees to act up.

This man’s been in to my office every day this week. You can't tell me he lacks determination and strength.