When Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness invited me to speak at their event, it started into motion a mini road trip around Michigan.
It’s been a few years since I traveled through Detroit so I posted on social media asking folks what organizations I should visit. Dr. Jim Whithers, my friend and true hero (just ask CNN) who makes house calls to Pittsburgh’s homeless and founder of the Street Medicine Institute, connected me to Dean Carpenter and Street Medicine Detroit.
My day with Street Medicine Detroit started at the Neighborhood Service Organization’s Tumani Center. After meeting all the students we went to a homeless shelter for women and children.
While the students were meeting with clients I went for a walk. A homeless man I met flying a sign shared with me a nugget of wisdom on life that really puts things in perspective.
Dean then gave me a Narcan kit and training on how to use it in case I happen to run into someone overdosing on opioids.
After that, we take off driving around Detroit looking for homeless people to help, which is where we met Greg and Latisha. I could not help but add a few of the fun moments of Latisha picking on me.
There is a very serious lack of education and awareness on the topic of homelessness and solutions to end it. People these days consume video more than any other content. It’s always been my goal to produce more educational content like this webisode on Housing First, but finding support continues to be a challenge.
I have been running Invisible People for almost a decade now. Although the lack of funding limits our potential and impact in ending homelessness, not having money has never stopped me.
These stories need to be told, so I am making a commitment to start vlogging more. I am not sure how far I can take this production just by myself, but my hope and prayer is that people will continue to support our important work on Patreon and I’ll be able to travel more, do more, reach more, and have more impact in ending homelessness.
For more information on Street Medicine Detroit
visit:streetmedicinedetroit.org
