Boston's Homeless Census - In reflection

Tuesday night (December 18th), nineteen United Way volunteers joined hundreds who conducted the 28th annual city-wide census of our neighbors who are homeless.  Our role was to identify folks who were homeless and on the streets; others tallied individuals and families who were in shelters.  Last year, the total count was 6,636, with a 13% increase in families who were homeless from the previous year.  Within the week, we should have a preliminary report on this year’s Census.    As I reflect on my experience with the Census, I kept coming back to our asset building approach – not only financial assets, but also social assets.  For me, Tuesday night was a testament to social assets, including networks of folks to help us along, networks that we often take for granted.  Perhaps more accurately said, last night was a count of social networks gone awry – individually and communally.  The Census gives us information, however, to address the needs, to advocate for change, and to harness the resources to end homelessness.  As United Way moves full throttle into measuring outcomes, people moving to a better place, our direct involvement with people still suffering is grounding for our investing, convening, and advocating work.  I thank the Mayor and the City’s Emergency Shelter Commission for engaging us all.  So, there were 30+ teams out there last night.  United Way volunteers participated on three of the teams – in Kenmore Square, Faneuil Hall to the Waterfront, and South End.  Our three teams counted three homeless people – not as many as we might have anticipated. But really, the fewer we count the better, that is, if the alternative is that people are permanently housed.  Okay…a story from Tuesday night… Our team met up with a man who was on his way to the Veterans’ Shelter.  Actually, he reached out to us and asked us what was going on.  We told him about the Census.  In conversation, we learned that he had not been permanently housed since 2003.  There was a break in his social network, he lost his house, and it caused his lack of financial assets to this day.  He looked me in the eye, held his gaze, and said, “thank you for doing this.”    Yes, this is only one anecdote…but it has stayed with me.  Hopefully, it will stay with me for the rest of the 364 days of the year.  Hopefully, those of us with social networks will engage those networks to make this a better place for everyone to live and thrive.  Day in and day out, United Way works for social well-being, mentoring relationships, housing folks first with supportive services, and dignified work that supports families.  To me, last night was about those connections – those social assets.  To my colleagues, I look each of you in the eye, not just those who participated in the Census, and say thank you for – from the man on the streets.