Bethany's Blog ~ Day 2

Today (Monday) consisted of a Civil Rights scavenger hunt, a visit with Sharon at the wellness center, and a blood pressure clinic at N Street Village. During the scavenger hunt we walked to several different sites in DC and learned why each site is important in addressing civil rights issues. Some of the places we visited were the African-American Civil War Memorial which is dedicated to the African American Union army, Ben's Chili Bowl (the only building that survived the riots following the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.), Bus Boys and Poets (a coffee shop/library that attracts a diverse population of people who believe in social justice and peace), and house where Lincoln died, and more. During the walk we passed through neighborhoods that I wouldn't dare walk at night.

There was graffiti, broken windows, and run-down homes and buildings. Other areas, often only a block away, there were beautiful buildings and renovated businesses and homes. We also picked up a book listing apartments for rent in the city. It was the size of the entire phone book in Eau Claire. The least expensive apartment was almost $900/ month for a small 1 bedroom. Compared to housing in the Midwest, I was appalled by the cost of housing in DC. It is no wonder people can't afford housing here, considering minimum wage is the same nationwide.

Later we were given a tour and learned the history of N Street Village and Luther Place. These places provide shelter and homes for homeless women without children. Here we met with Sharon, a nurse in the Wellness Center. This meeting really opened my eyes to how to interact and communicate with the women in the shelter, and homeless in general. Many of the women are eager to tell their stories to those who ask. Some are untrusting and have come from very difficult situations; sometimes traumatic situations (65%). Sharon pointed out the importance of the community to be trauma informed and learn how the homeless have experienced life. 80% of the women are African American. While many homeless people do suffer from addictions and/or mental health issues, many have had difficult life circumstances that brought them to where they are now. Many have jobs and work hard to improve their situations. One thing that really struck me about N Street Village is the level of respect that is shown to the women; respect for freedom of choice as well as self-respect. They are specific with their donations so they are able to give the women new items. Showing this respect to the women improves their level of self-respect, which is important in their long-term success. I was pleased to learn there is no time limit for the amount of time the women can stay; they stay until they are well prepared to be on their own. They offer a very low-barrier service. One floor of the building is specifically for women with drug and alcohol addictions, and treatment is a large part of their programing. Sharon taught us to be aware of the internal, external, and physical aspects of working with the homeless population. Internal includes things such as personal biases, stereotypes, perceptions, and the need to ask "what happened". External includes access to services, and physical aspects can include mental illness, addictions, and abuse. This learning session with Sharon was one of the most beneficial interactions of the week. Much insight was learned today!

Learning about the programs offered in DC brought to light things that could be brought/advocated for in my own community. Shelters in my community are much different and only allow people to stay for a limited amount of time, regardless if they are back on their feet and ready to be on their own.