Day 1 Hope Community Vis

I went to Hope Community Transitional Housing. When we got there we listened to what this organization is about. We learned that this a place where single homeless women go with their children to get back on their feet. They stay at Hope for six months and learn the skills it takes to live on your own and not have to rely on the government. Even though Hope helps these women get on their feet, they still have to make an effort, earn money, and pay rent. These women learn to cook, clean, take care of their children, maintain a job, and several other things they need to know to raise a family in their own apartment. Today we got to meet a few of these mothers and their children. One little girl ran around with the excitement trying to impress us, and there were three babies with wide eyes trying to see what was going on. There is a total of 22 families at Hope right now. We had the privilege to meet three families today, and I cant wait to meet more. 

Today a woman asked us what we were doing this through and why. We told her it was a "Winterim" course. The next question caught us off guard. She asked what the course was. Nobody wanted to tell her it was about homelessness in Grand Rapids because it made us feel like we were insulting her. So we all said what the course was about (helping people, learning about our community, and volunteering.) I never realized how offensive that word could be until I was put face to face with a woman who was homeless.