The Count
I was supposed to be part of a city-wide, San Francisco homeless count tonight. I brought great shoes (my 10 year old trainers - God bless them!), a warm scarf, my super wind-resistant, water-resistant, uber-warm ski-jacket, leg warmers and jeans so that I could be ready to face the cold SF streets tonight (sorry Ontario - it really isn't as cold as you have it).
Two friends from DHQ; Roger, Paul and I were off to the public health department of SF to get our training. Many from our 9 person volunteer group couldn't make it. That was ok, we were still ready and eager to get out and do our part so that the municipal government knew where and how they could help with their 18 million homeless budget.
We were trained and then found out that we didn't actually have to walk - there were more driving routes than walking routes. Well there went all the warm clothing - out the window and useless to someone sitting in a car really.
Then we waited at the end of a line to get our driving route. We were one of 2-3 teams left at the end of the group and just as we approached the desk, they announced that they had given away 2 routes to all the teams ahead of us and that there was only one more route left and that was it. The route was for the Baview District which is like the dock area of the SF south bay. This is one area none of us were familiar with at all.
We were offered data entry jobs but seriously, that wouldn't have really started until 10:30pm if lucky and would definitely go past midnight. So we were all pretty disappointed about it and ended up going home early.
Regardless - it was a good time. I got to know Roger better other than when Chris and I pose theologically crazy questions to him, and it is confirmed that Paul is nuts - that's right Paul! I said it - you're so Meedum! Just joking.
No really, we had a great time just chatting during dinner, on the way there, waiting in line, and on the way back. I also got to meet a new friend, Dave. Very nice guy - pretty funny too. Despite the disappointment of volunteering only to be turned away, I had fun.
My only question is, if all the homeless people in SF know that there is a homeless count happening tonight and are hiding due to the fact - how much of a margin will the numbers be off by? It's amazing to me that they would publicize something like this.
Two friends from DHQ; Roger, Paul and I were off to the public health department of SF to get our training. Many from our 9 person volunteer group couldn't make it. That was ok, we were still ready and eager to get out and do our part so that the municipal government knew where and how they could help with their 18 million homeless budget.
We were trained and then found out that we didn't actually have to walk - there were more driving routes than walking routes. Well there went all the warm clothing - out the window and useless to someone sitting in a car really.
Then we waited at the end of a line to get our driving route. We were one of 2-3 teams left at the end of the group and just as we approached the desk, they announced that they had given away 2 routes to all the teams ahead of us and that there was only one more route left and that was it. The route was for the Baview District which is like the dock area of the SF south bay. This is one area none of us were familiar with at all.
We were offered data entry jobs but seriously, that wouldn't have really started until 10:30pm if lucky and would definitely go past midnight. So we were all pretty disappointed about it and ended up going home early.
Regardless - it was a good time. I got to know Roger better other than when Chris and I pose theologically crazy questions to him, and it is confirmed that Paul is nuts - that's right Paul! I said it - you're so Meedum! Just joking.
No really, we had a great time just chatting during dinner, on the way there, waiting in line, and on the way back. I also got to meet a new friend, Dave. Very nice guy - pretty funny too. Despite the disappointment of volunteering only to be turned away, I had fun.
My only question is, if all the homeless people in SF know that there is a homeless count happening tonight and are hiding due to the fact - how much of a margin will the numbers be off by? It's amazing to me that they would publicize something like this.
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Matt Kean