photos by OK Connett Dec 2010 -Brenda/Panhandle

ITS DECEMBER IN UTAH,

SALT LAKE CITY UTAH

A week ago it was only 18 degrees !

Remember taking out the garbage?

Walking to your... Car, twenty feet away?

So cold, you started your car to warm it up !

AND RAN BACK INTO THE HOUSE...

WHERE IT WAS WARM !

The are people outside in that COLD !

They can't run back into the house...

THEY DONT HAVE ONE...

They are HOMELESS !

Can you imagine sitting on a Cold, Cold sidewalk?

To beg for money? To Panhandle ?

On November 16th the City Council was ready to vote on Anti Panhandling Laws !

Luckily, citizens spoke against the law as written.

The vote is postponed until after the first of 2011

Wrap your Brain Around that...

Homeless...

...No Money

Panhandling...

...Against the Law ?

...Can ...You... Say... ...Absurd?

Let me Introduce Brenda

Brenda is homeless and pregnant

Brenda's sign LITERALLY says;

Homeles

Pregnet

Trying to geta warm and dry plac to stay

Thanks and god bless you

What else does her sign say?

That she is not well educated.

That being COLD AND WET SUCKS!

Warm and Dry is the most important thing!

Notice food isn't mentioned?

After speaking to Brenda for a few minutes I had a better understanding of Brenda and of the homeless.

Brenda has been homeless for the last 4 or 5 months.

She says she has been homeless off and on for the last 2 or 3 years.

When asked why she is homeless she states the economy.

Previously she has worked in fast food and with the carnival.

Her family can't help, they have no room.

I asked if she frequented or couldn't go to the shelters?

she said rather emphatically,

"I don't do shelters anymore"

I politely inquired why since she was so adamant?

After only a slight hesitation she said,

"I have been clean the last 2-3 years, even though I have been homeless"

"When I first became homeless, I went to the shelter"

"That is where I got into drugs"

"I will never go back to the shelters, too many chances for drugs"

"I am clean and I want to stay that way"

I asked how people treated her since she was homeless.

She said,

"Most are nice and try to help"

"Other act like you don't exist"

Before I left I asked if she had any advice for others?

Again she stated with some passion;

"It can happen to anyone"

"Drugs will do it to you quick"

and "Watch out if you go to the shelters, it's easy to get into drugs"

I wished Brenda the best for the holidays and asked if she was going to be okay. She nodded and looked a little ashamed. I thanked her for sharing and gave her the six dollars I had in my wallet. I hoped she would be okay as I left.

I couldn't imagine being Brenda. Forty-seven years old, female, pregnant and homeless.

As I drove home in my 2002 ford ranger, I examined how fortunate I am.

I continue to be convinced that education is still one of our nations best investments for many of our country's problems and many of our less fortunate people.