Daybreak, DePaul USA: Homelessness Has No Place In Macon
“The people change, but the numbers stay the same.” Martel said. “Homelessness isn’t a group of 200 people. We see about 1,500 people a year at Daybreak. There’s not a lot of variation, but it kind of proves the point that poverty in Macon is a big issue.”
Close your eyes. It’s 2 AM. Sirens are blaring. You try to lay down and rest on the concrete, but you can’t. You try to close your eyes again. You can’t. You’re alone. Imagine you are in a temporary shelter and are surrounded while you sleep by many others, with nowhere to go during the daytime. Picture yourself in a hotel that is just as loud and unsettling. One you can only afford for a night or a week. You’re just trying to feel stable. You’re homeless.
Now open your eyes. The truth is, unless you’ve faced homelessness, you will never truly understand what it is like. Reading about the struggles is not a justifiable or relatable reality. You can, however, make a difference. One which could very well be life changing for someone facing homelessness, which is considered any type of living instability. That includes living day to day in a hotel, staying on a friend’s couch, or sleeping on the street. According to the 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, on a single night, 549,928 people experienced homelessness in America.
Homelessness is not a new phenomenon. It’s certainly never been subject to solely being in the United States either. The Depaul Group was created to address homelessness in London in 1989. The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and others aimed to aid and care for those without a reliable roof over their head. St Vincent de Paul is the namesake for Depaul International and the charities’ inspiration. He was a priest who dedicated his life to serving the poor. Depaul USA was then opened in 2008 and now serves cities all over the country including Philadelphia, St. Louis, Little Rock, New Orleans, Chicago, and Macon. The worldwide charity sees them as people and respects their humanity.
That’s what Gaye Martel, Volunteer Coordinator at Daybreak, wants you to know. Yes, they are homeless. But first, they are people. Daybreak, a Project of Depaul USA, provides a safe haven during the day for those who do not have a place to call home. Daybreak opened its doors in 2012 and has made a substantial impact on those facing unstable living situations. “The people change, but the numbers stay the same.” Martel said. “Homelessness isn’t a group of 200 people. We see about 1,500 people a year at Daybreak. There’s not a lot of variation, but it kind of proves the point that poverty in Macon is a big issue.”
Daybreak is more than just a resource center. The humbly innovative facility is filled with warmth and opportunity. There are showers, phones and a technology center to help with job searching, a laundry room, a medical clinic, and access to case managers. There’s also a large room with books, couches, and where coffee and a hot morning meal is served. The individual first approach makes Daybreak so special. People can find refuge and rest while receiving resources for their future. The staff and volunteers make each and every person feel valued.
According to Martel, Daybreak sees about 80-120 people a day. “We have a lot of people who move on from us” she said. They even have people who will come back and support the charity by donating supplies or their time. “One of our principles is that the only way to help people heal themselves is building relationships with them. Being homeless is very isolating. You live very defensively. You’re very untrusting out of self-preservation and that destroys your ability to consider yourself a part of the community. That’s what we need people to remember. They belong here in Macon. They have people that care about them and that can really be life changing.” Martel said.
Daybreak is supported by 13 churches and synagogues in Macon but there is no specific religious affiliation with the charity. Martel says they solely strive to help others. “You deserve help no matter what you believe.”
Source: 11th Hour Online Website, Author: Hannah Jett Moore
I love that last paragraph. The collaboration of so many people is what makes Daybreak work! Thanks for your service.