Fighting for Their Lives

Red Door Newsletter - February 2011

 

Homeless winterAs winter hits, the City's homeless go into survival mode

What does it take to survive a New York City winter when you’re homeless? “Dedication. Willpower. Every day is different,” James says.
He should know.
James has been living on the streets on and off for the past 10 years.
Survival, he says, is a combination of knowing where to eat, making yourself as comfortable as you can at night (despite the elements), and appreciating the generosity of the good people of New York.
“Some people just have a heart to give,” James says, explaining that people would just come up to him and offer him money. “I think that’s unique to New York."
When the money wasn’t enough, he ate by rummaging through restaurant dumpsters in the “more ritzy areas” (which he defines as Broadway and 86th Street) and slept where he could, although his favorite place was Central Park at the boathouse on 110th Street.
Of course, that was before James came to The Bowery Mission, a decision he said might have saved his life after he was diagnosed with a blood clot the first week he was here.
“That was a wake-up call,” James says. “Thank God for the Mission.”
Today, he says his goal is to get closer to God, graduate from the Mission’s residential recovery program, and perhaps even go on to the seminary.
“I’ve done everything under the sun,” he says. “God has spared my life more than once, and I can’t take it for granted.”
This winter, hundreds of homeless people are going to come to The Bowery Mission and discover God’s love, along with food, shelter and guidance that can help them rebuild their lives

 

What does it take to survive a New York City winter when you’re homeless? “Dedication. Willpower. Every day is different,” James says.

He should know.

James has been living on the streets on and off for the past 10 years.

Survival, he says, is a combination of knowing where to eat, making yourself as comfortable as you can at night (despite the elements), and appreciating the generosity of the good people of New York.

“Some people just have a heart to give,” James says, explaining that people would just come up to him and offer him money. “I think that’s unique to New York."

When the money wasn’t enough, he ate by rummaging through restaurant dumpsters in the “more ritzy areas” (which he defines as Broadway and 86th Street) and slept where he could, although his favorite place was Central Park at the boathouse on 110th Street.

Of course, that was before James came to The Bowery Mission, a decision he said might have saved his life after he was diagnosed with a blood clot the first week he was here.

Even routine tasks have taken on new meaning for James“That was a wake-up call,” James says. “Thank God for the Mission.”

Today, he says his goal is to get closer to God, graduate from the Mission’s residential recovery program, and perhaps even go on to the seminary.

“I’ve done everything under the sun,” he says. “God has spared my life more than once, and I can’t take it for granted.”

This winter, hundreds of homeless people are going to come to The Bowery Mission and discover God’s love, along with food, shelter and guidance that can help them rebuild their lives.

Thank you for being one of those good-hearted people James is talking about. Thank you for bringing the homeless in from the cold. In some cases, you probably saved their lives.

God bless you!