UNREE DEEMD: SAMMY; HOMELESS AND LIVING ON THE STREET!

UNREE DEEMD: SAMANTHA (Sammy)

 "..Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation...” (Mark 16:15 KJV).

“... Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).

“...you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth...” (ACTS 1:8 NLT).

Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).

 “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).

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UnRee told Reginald about Samantha or Sammy as her homeless family called her. Sammy wasn’t a drug addict, or a criminal,  nor was she mentally ill, or a prostitute. What people didn’t know was that people, like Sammy, was on the streets because of educational reasons, or unemployment issues, or lack of housing, or inadequate government programs, or no transferable job skills.

Sammy was a hard worker, but she lacked the education and job training. The only jobs she could find were the kinds of jobs many illegal immigrants had for private corporations. Sammy couldn’t make a living off the peanuts (50 cent an hour) she was paid for those kinds of jobs.

All these years GREEDY leaders told the citizens of the United State that immigrants were taking their jobs. It is ALL a lie. The GREEDY leaders were guilty of abusing and exploiting immigrants, for profit, so they wouldn’t have to pay them or anybody else FAIR wages.

The corporation she was working for had netted 156 million dollars the year before. Sammy NEVER worked for them again, no matter how hungry she was.

Living on the streets was a hard reality for Sammy. People ignored her most of the time and many others wouldn’t even talk to her, especially if she was sitting on the ground, standing at a corner, or a resting on a park bench.

Then there were those who did talk to her or pay attention. They would often offer unsolicited advice that did nothing to help her or those who would give her useless lectures.

When she tried to explain her situation - and that she was a decent person, who wanted to be a productive citizen of the United States - they didn’t want to hear it.

Not only was Sammy experiencing homelessness, but she also felt like she was stereotyped and merely another statistic for the streets homeless population.

Sammy often cried when she talked about how she ended up homeless. She said it was  very, very painful process.

She lost her job, when the company she’d worked for was sold and moved to another state. After that she lost her apartment. She went to the government for help and they gave her a list of charities to contact. Sammy called every single one of them, in an attempt, NOT to lose her apartment, but GOT no help.

The process to homelessness is mind boggling, but one thing leads to another and before you know it you are sitting on a park bench without a stable job or a place to call home.

She had no transferable skills, gaps in her resume, and  college credits, but no degree. Her bank account slowly emptied and without a steady income her landlord finally gave her a final eviction notice.

Sammy said the most frequent question is “...are you hungry or do you have enough to eat...” Even though she needs food, most of the time, she prefers healthy food. She doesn’t want to be sick and on the streets too.

Sammy had many connections with people who worked in the food industries and they bought her leftovers. Sometimes, when she used to work with immigrants on a farm; she got vegetables and fruit.

If Sammy worked as a volunteer, soup kitchens would give her food and something to drink. During the holidays people were much more generous and she would receive homemade treats and special gifts.

Sometimes she  would get food stamps, but without a place to cook, especially in the cold months, she couldn’t make herself a hot meal. Sammy’s best meals came from the soup kitchens she’d volunteer with. They were not always nutritious or healthy, but at least she could enjoy a warm piece of bread, or some hot cereal, or pasta sometimes.

The problem with working at soup kitchens is transportation. They were located in different sections all over town. If she didn’t go as a volunteer she would have to stand in a ridiculously long line and may end up standing up to eat, because there was no seats left.

Sammy was health nut and poor table manners, bad hygiene habits, and blowing your nose, at the tables, were common occurrences. It grossed her out.

Unfortunately, most shelters or soup kitchens were unsanitary or unhealthy. Some people had bad attitudes too and were looking for a fight, which meant these places could be dangerous and risky too.

The most frequent problem, when standing in line for food, were that many soup kitchens didn’t always have enough to feed everybody. When they were out of food, that was it!

Sammy was generous with others. When she got food for herself she thought about those who were sick, elderly, and couldn’t get around like she did. If possible, she would get food for them too!

Many times Sammy would get reprimanded for taking extra food and stuff. Some shelters claimed the city paid for three meals a day and an evening snack, but it wasn’t being done. Often, the staff and social workers helped themselves, first.

Sammy knew some people came for “free” food, at the shelters, when they had a refrigerator full of food and let it go to waste. On the streets, Sammy was an eyewitness of the best of humanity and the worst.

Sammy became homeless during the recession. She felt frightened, vulnerable, and so unprotected on the streets, at first. She KNEW no one. She’d had her personal belongings stolen numerous times. The thieves were not just other homeless people, but she saw local residents, every day pedestrians, shelter workers, and religious people steal too!

Sammy got her identification and cell phone stolen too, which was very important information that was hard and expensive to replace when you’re on the street.

On top of those troubles, were problems with showers and shelters, particularly for women. Sammy had to deal with bathrooms that were not secure or private. The reason shelters did this is because of problems they had with smokers, drug addicts, and potential suicides.

There were places with private showers for women, but Sammy had to compete with over a 100 or more other females. Often Sammy would get into a shower and before she could get under the water good someone else was yelling at her to “hurry up” and would verbally complain until she finished.

There was a time limit too, for showers and shower monitors, which could be a man, would make you “get out.” There were times when the shower monitor, which was often a man, would open the door exposing her nude body so everyone could see and she would have to get dressed in front of strangers. It was absolutely embarrassing.

Once Sammy complained about privacy, but she was told she should be grateful and if she didn’t cooperate they would call the police. There was  very little compassion, but every now and then you would get a truly decent person, who listened and really tried to help.

One woman actually took her to the YMCA and paid for a whole year’s membership. Sammy took showers there, had the privacy she needed and could take all the time she wanted.

It was this kind of compassion that gave Sammy hope that life would eventually get better. It also restored her faith in human decency and that some people did have Christ-like character.

Sammy wanted to go back to school and get some tech skills. It seemed like such a pipe dream, but until then she knew she looked like a homeless, crazy person sometimes, or like a criminal.

Sammy thought, for a long time, she was better than everyone else on the street She was in denial and had to face her own stereotypes about the homeless. Like it or not, she was homeless and she wasn’t a stereotype or a statistic, she was a “real” person.

She never knew what a thin line it was between a last check, a layoff, or a drained bank account and homelessness. It could happen to anyone. Life on the streets made a woman face reality quicker than anything else.

Sammy learned fast that being a woman on the street was dangerous and full of risk. She was constantly faced with sexual violence and unnecessary cruelty. Every day was a fight for food and a safe place to sleep. Sammy had learned some harsh lessons.

Though she was ignored by the regular population, she wasn’t by the homeless population. It was better for Sammy to be invisible in the homeless community. She refused to be a rough sleeper, who didn’t like the rules and regulations of shelter life, and stayed outside most of the time. Sammy didn’t mind the shelters so much and she stayed indoors as much as she could.

Sammy told UnRee how to act like a crazy person, so others would leave her alone. All she had to do is cuss, scream, and act like she was “plum nuts.” It worked for Sammy.

Sammy also cut off her hair and tried to look more like a man than woman. It was another way to keep safe since there were more men on the streets than women.

Eventually, Sammy began wearing baggy clothes that were dark and masculine like a man’s just to protect herself. It was a survival mechanism for women and a safety strategy.

When Sammy couldn’t find shelter, she had to have a back-up plan for sleeping somewhere safe. Sammy was invited to join a women's group with a few other woman who make camp at a place called "Stews." They told no-one unless they could trust them and if they got permission from Stewart first.

Sammy’s group of women was also protected by an ex-military veteran named Stewart. He looked out for them. He was a little on the weird side, but overall he was a kind man and made sure their “little” group was kept safe. He treated them all like they were his family.

However, Sammy was not always with her group of woman or her ex-military protector. But Stewart taught them how to protect themselves when he wasn't with them. She could be tough as any man, but she had to be much smarter too!

Even though Sammy had a routine of survival on the streets she was worried that she’d never leave. There were people who have been homeless for years. Most of society saw the homeless as riff-raff and not as decent human beings who had simply fallen down on their luck.

Until homelessness happens to you; people really have no clue of this demographic of people. Ignoring the homeless will only make the problem worst.

Sammy saw the homeless EVERYWHERE now. They were sleeping on the street, in a doorway, inside the corridors, at the bus depots, under a bridge, in hostels, in obscured parking lots,  on a park bench, in someone’s back yard, or on someone’s couch or sofa.

In the richest country, supposedly, in the world, no one should ever have to face the harsh reality of homelessness.

Regardless of what happens, or whatever difficulties people face, or the choices they make homelessness is the harshest of consequences.

Sammy had no clue that she wouldn’t have the right support or that homelessness would be inevitable. She was a decent person who needed help. The way help is administered by the government agencies or the requirements needed didn’t help people like her.

That moment when you feel alone and the loss of everything you have is upon you...is frightening. Sammy didn’t have a clue what being homeless would mean. When she got BACK she would become part of an action plan to end homelessness.

Homelessness is HARD, but it is a community filled with decent human beings. Sammy knew, better than anyone, how everyone is one pay check, one lost job, one skill set too short of becoming homeless.

There is no security for decent folk who just need temporary assistance. So many people are barely scraping by and simply trying to make a comfortable living.

The homeless see very clearly the benefits of the private sectors and the country’s GREEDY leaders. They also see the injustices and imbalances that disadvantages the citizens of the United States of America.

The homeless demographic is growing and it is a brutal reality, that will eventually AWAKEN a sleeping giant and Sammy would be one of their soldiers.

Sammy had been the one who told UnRee Jesus was probably looking for her, but she walked away, that day, because someone had called her name. 

UnRee didn't know that Sammy hoped that Jesus was looking for her too! 

UnRee never saw her again. She didn’t know if Sammy was still on the streets or whether she gotten her life back. Yet, that one conversation, about Jesus, she’d had with Sammy had SAVED UnRee’s life on the streets and now for all eternity.

Sammy was a WITNESS. “...you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth...” (ACTS 1:8 NLT).

Sammy knew Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).

Sammy knew the POWER of the NAME of Jesus. “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).

Sammy told UnRee that Name and whenever UnRee had asked for his help, he’d help her. “…You can ask for anything in my name (the word of god), and I “will” do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT). “…You can ask for anything in my name (jesus, the word of god)...” (John 14:12-14 NLT). “….You may ask for anything you want…” (JOHN 15:7 NASB). “…Ask and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7 NIV). “…everyone who asks receives…” (Matthew 7:8 NIV).  “…God … is able, through his mighty power … to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think …” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT).

The streets had been hard, but looking back UnRee could see, even then, Jesus had helped her. She give thanks to God, Sammy, Benjamin, Stewart, Reginald, his GG, and the Bethesda Street Ministry! “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him…” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “…Blessed are those who wait for his help…” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT). “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You are my helper and my savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT “….Then you will know that I am the Lord your God…’” (Exodus 16:12 NLT).