Many readers know that I serve as the Executive Director of The New Path, Inc.
New Path is the outreach ministry of Ginghamsburg Church. We are known for helping neighbors in need across the Miami Valley. We provide food, support, and hope to people facing hard times.
It is not often that my work at Civic Capacity meets my work at New Path so directly. But the City of Troy’s coming decision about homelessness brings these two parts of my life together.
It also brings to mind one of the most meaningful moments from my time at New Path.
A few years ago, I got a call from Miami Valley School. It is a small private school in the southern part of Dayton.
The woman on the phone invited me to an event. But she would not tell me much about it.
I asked if I was supposed to speak to students. I asked if I needed to bring anything.
Her answer was kind but simple: “No. Just please be here.”
A few weeks later, I drove through the tree-lined streets of south Dayton and arrived at the school. I introduced myself at the front desk.
“Oh, wonderful,” the school secretary said. “We have been waiting for you.”
A student led me to a large room. It could have been a cafeteria, a gym, or a place for school programs. About 500 students sat at tables around the room.
The student guided me to the stage. Another woman was already sitting there in a folding chair. We nodded at each other. Neither of us knew why we had been invited.
Then, a small student walked from the audience to the podium.
The room became quiet.
She began by thanking everyone for being there. Then she told her story.
“When I was five years old,” she said, “my mom lost her job. We had to live in our car for a while when we were in Tipp City.”
She paused.
“I remember a group called New Path. They gave us food. During that whole time, when we were homeless, they were the only people who really cared about us and loved us.”
Then she explained that she had chosen New Path for her school philanthropy project.
“I remember what my family went through,” she said. “I want to give them what they need so they can help other families like mine.”
She looked at me and handed me an oversized check for $500.
I was overcome.
It was not the size of the gift that moved me most, although every gift matters. It was her memory. She remembered a hard time in her family’s life. She also remembered the people who helped.
That moment has stayed with me.
It reminded me of an important truth: when we know one person’s story of homelessness, we know only one person’s story of homelessness.
There is no single story of homelessness.
One person may lose a job. Another may flee domestic violence. A veteran may carry the weight of military trauma. Someone may struggle with mental illness, addiction, family conflict, childhood abuse, or overwhelming debt.
Often, it is not just one problem. It may be two, three, or more problems happening at the same time.
For a family already living close to the edge, one lost paycheck, medical bill, car repair, or housing problem can change everything.
Finding a way out is hard. It can take time, trust, support, and a stable place to begin again.
This is also why public policy can be difficult.
Communities want safe parks, clean streets, healthy neighborhoods, and places where families feel secure. Those are fair and important goals. Local government has a real duty to protect public health and safety.
But we should be careful not to treat every person without housing as a criminal, a threat, or someone who does not belong in our community.
In my work, I often meet people on one of the worst days of their lives. That does not mean they lack values. It does not mean they do not care. It does not mean they should be pushed aside.
It usually means that a unique and painful set of events has left them without a home while they try to survive.
Troy can and should care about public safety, neighborhood quality, parks, businesses, and the shared spaces that make a city work. But caring about those things should not require us to stop caring about people who are living without a home.
The question is not whether Troy should respond to homelessness. It should. The question is whether our response will be broad enough, wise enough, and humane enough to help people move from surviving to rebuilding.
A healthy city protects its public spaces. A strong city also protects the dignity of its people. We can—and should—do both.
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There but for the Grace of God go I... in 2007, I was working a well paying job, including a lot of overtime, I lived in the Beavercreek Twp area in a lovely 2 bedroom, and I was enjoying life. And then I nearly died. I had blood clots leading to both pulmonary emboli and a heart attack. I was very very sick. I went on disability via my job, but my income was now less than a third of what it had been previously. Had I not had family who was always willing to help, who ensured I had food, clothing, shelter and anything I needed, I would have been on the streets. It can, and does, happen to anyone. So why must this lead to punishment instead of support and help?
I also have had the pleasure of working with a large portion of the Troy homeless population in a few different capacities. As you said, most have a story. They aren't bad people, they frankly aren't looking for a hand out. Some just would like to be left alone. Some would appreciate just being treated as human. Other's, just need that open heart to help them find themselves again.
I hate what Troy is becoming.
Somewhat like the older gentleman who was jailed for the pealing paint infraction, this seems to be a situation that only those directly involved know about until it gets to the stage where it becomes public knowledge. Thank you for keeping us informed.
As the experience you shared showed, this kind of situation can happen to anyone. For those who live check to check, it is often one financial disaster away. Once you can't afford a house payment or rent, trying to find a months' rent plus security deposit becomes a huge mountain to climb and takes time to accomplish. If there are any programs or assistance available for these situations, they aren't common knowledge.
Hopefully, any resolution for all involved will start from a place of compassion.