{"id":2333,"date":"2018-09-26T17:22:16","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=2329"},"modified":"2019-09-17T11:12:18","modified_gmt":"2019-09-17T16:12:18","slug":"sixth-annual-walk-for-the-homeless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/26\/sixth-annual-walk-for-the-homeless\/","title":{"rendered":"Sixth-Annual Walk for the Homeless"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Chase Merwin\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>hey are more than common, but oftentimes go unnoticed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forced to survive in their own world, many homeless men and women across America live without so much as a passing thought from the more-fortunate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this common thread was broken on Nov. 3, when community members had the chance to walk in the shoes of St. Joseph\u2019s homeless. 2017\u2019s \u201cWalk for the Homeless<\/a>\u201d was the city\u2019s sixth annual event. The walk took participants around downtown St. Joseph on the path that the homeless ordinarily take to receive services from local welfare organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The event was hosted by these local organizations, alongside Missouri Western\u2019s Organization of Student Social Workers<\/a>, Student Government Association<\/a> and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Geornesha Jefferson, historian for the Organization of Student Social Workers, the walk was meant to raise awareness of the true meaning of homelessness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think people think of homelessness as people, obviously, on the street. But homelessness is as simple as not having a stable home environment,\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Jefferson said. \u201cIf you\u2019re sleeping on someone\u2019s couch or going from house-to-house, technically that is homelessness.\u201dJefferson also said that homelessness was a universal issue, not an esoteric one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHomelessness is something that affects over 40 million Americans,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a poor issue or just a certain population issue\u2026 It\u2019s an \u2018everyone\u2019 issue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Along the walk, 10 stops were made at the various organizations who serve the homeless in downtown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering the number of shelters in downtown St. Joseph, one shelter being at full capacity at all times is astonishing and speaks to the volume of homelessness in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later on during the walk, the 8th Street Drop-In Center was visited. Event participants met a former homeless man who greatly owed his success to the help of this business.<\/span><\/p>\n

John Williams, who had been homeless for five years early in his life, shared his experiences from growing up homeless.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was a former drug addict and I started at eight-years-old because my stepfather forcibly injected me,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI actually quit doing that stuff here about ten months ago. I haven\u2019t touched it since.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams did not go into detail about his past drug-addiction; however, the sentiment earned great applause from walkers. To sweeten his story further, Williams also shared with participants his current situation to demonstrate how far he has come.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, I have a home, I have a beautiful wife, a beautiful step-son and I have a 4.5-month-old little girl,\u201d Williams said. \u201cMe and my family survive off of $335 a month. We don\u2019t really have a lot of bus money so I come down here and do whatever I can to help them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams had major advice for every selfless participant who embarked on the \u201cWalk for the Homeless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of homeless people out there who don\u2019t<\/span> even have a shower or even a warm meal,\u201d Williams said. \u201cJust understand that it is hard to be out there. Try and do something, okay? Do your part.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t