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On The Cutting Edge
Volume 31 Number 2 |
Spring 2010 |
Suddenly Homeless, In Search of the Next Meal Susan Yake, RD, CD, CDE, CLC Richard LeMieux is an activist and advocate for the homeless in Bremerton, Washington, and founder of the Willow Charitable Foundation which was created to fill gaps in funding for local service organizations that work with homeless people. Susan: How did you get involved advocating for the homeless? Richard: Seven years ago I lived out of my car for 3 years and I lived in a church for 1 year. Before I became homeless, I had a dream life: owning a home with a hot tub, three boats, and nice cars. I was a sports writer for 17 years and traveled the world. Then my once-thriving business had a downturn and I lost everything. I wrote about it in my book (1). In the past, I never looked the homeless in the eyes or saw their heart and soul. I did not think it could happen to me. I did not care. Only when I got there did I realize my own inadequacy and found out who I was. Now I do not view it as a problem, but an opportunity to help someone. Susan: What was it like being homeless? Richard: The first 6 months I lived like I was on some sort of vacation. I could get a meal at McDonalds for $3. I parked my car at the Clearwater Casino and waited until after 9:00 p.m. when the food was free. I was lost as to what to do. When you first become homeless, it is psychologically devastating and you are in a state of depression and shock causing chemical changes in your body. You lose your identity. Then you start looking for resources for help. I found those resources from other people on the street and from the group that would gather for breakfast at The Salvation Army. We shared a camaraderie hearing one another’s problems and helping where we could. I survived on daily miracles like finding a place to eat, to take a shower, or to keep warm. I would go to the library to read a book on cold days. Breakfast at Sally’s is the book I wrote about my experiences at the Salvation Army (1). Life begins with breakfast which is served at noon at the Salvation Army. It is hard to get any meals before then because Sally’s and the churches only serve lunch and dinner. The people who come for the meals here in Bremerton mostly live in their cars, out in the woods, at a homeless shelter for men called the Benedict House or the St. Vincent de Paul Women’s Shelter. The budget for the meals at the Salvation Army is 38¢ a meal so they rely on donations such as government commodity foods, day-old donuts, and newly expired sandwiches from vending machines. Sometimes we have oatmeal and cut-up apples. It is pretty much the same whether you are in Bremerton, Saint Louis, San Francisco or New York. The first time I went to a soup kitchen was to God’s Kitchen at the Family of God Lutheran Church. Chicken and mashed potatoes were served. I was so hungry and it was so good that I gulped it down and asked if I could get seconds. The woman serving the meal said, “Yes, if you eat your salad.” I learned fast. Mary Ann at God’s Kitchen cooks the best lasagna in the world, better than the meals I ate in the finest restaurants in Rome. The most wonderful and compassionate women fix these meals for us. Other foods served by the local churches are turkey, beef and spaghetti—a wide variety of food 5 days of the week. On the weekends some of the homeless have problems getting to the sites where meals are served because of cutbacks in the public transportation system. Susan: Did you know of anyone with diabetes living on the street? Table. What Dietetic Practitioners Can Do for the Homeless or Uninsured with Diabetes Richard: Yes, one of them did not take care of himself and he died. Another got help from the Kitsap Community Resource and Salvation Army who referred him to Peninsula Health, our local public clinic that serves the poor and underinsured. If he needed to keep his insulin cool, he would put ice in a bag. Susan: What are some of the barriers to getting health care? Richard: Barriers are transportation and the cost of co-pays which are usually $20. Homeless people generally get $333 per month here in Washington on the state welfare program, plus the support they get from food stamps. By the end of the month the money runs out. Many of the homeless have problems filling out paperwork to qualify for government programs. For instance, if they failed to complete a tax return they will not qualify for government assistance. I was one of the few who had a car. Some days I was the taxi and some days I was the ambulance ride to the hospital emergency room. The Willow Fund named after my dog was started to pay the co-pay for the Peninsula Health Clinic in an effort to cut back on the use of the emergency rooms. Susan: What are some of the changes you have seen in recent years? Richard: Twenty years ago most of the homeless were drug- or alcohol addicted men on the street who had lost their teeth. Now women with children are the fastest growing group of homeless, making up about 25% to 27%. When I speak about poverty at the schools, I ask the children who are homeless to raise their hands. I am always surprised to see how many there are. The last 4 years have brought an increased awareness of the needs for food and housing for the homeless. There are more new people becoming homeless every day—living in conditions like those in a Third-World country. Susan: How can we help? Richard: It takes a large support system with people acting like a mother and father to get someone off the streets. You have to love the person and find ways to help him or her. The good news is since the recession, people are more attuned and therefore more compassionate, and willing to help. They are pulling together to take steps to end homelessness as we know it. Next time you see a homeless person, look them in the eye and say a kind word. Whatever your talents are, try to use them at least 1 day a month to make a difference. We are at our best when we are helping other people. This simple act has the capacity to positively impact your town, state and country in many ways. I use my talent as a fundraiser for the Willow Foundation (2). We raised enough money to open the Willow Mission in Buffalo, NY, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen. You can donate food, clothing, money or your time. I also serve on the board of the local food bank. I remember that the first time I went to a food bank they gave me canned food. I did not have a can opener so I was unable to eat it. Now when a homeless person comes to the food bank, they are asked if they have a can opener. Some food banks, such as the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia, WA (3), offer special food packages for the homeless and for people who have diabetes. Registered dietitians can serve as advisers for the special nutritional needs of those with medical conditions. You can donate produce from your own yard or get involved in a gleaning program gathering fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. Our local Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition has a pamphlet called 56 Ways to Help the Homeless in Kitsap County (4) listing ideas from the homeless on the best ways to help them. Other localities have similar publications. Susan: Thank you, Richard, you have been most enlightening. I found a similar list from the National Coalition for the Homeless (5) online. Summary To help people in need, sometimes we need to go beyond our traditional scope of dietetic practice (Table). We stretch our imagination and seek creative solutions to problems. We become engaged. We become better people and practitioners. While helping others, we are transformed. References
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