My homeless organization, DO Foundation, has an office in Detroit thats been unofficially open for 5 months now. Unofficial means we’re there and functioning but have not advertised to the world (Metro Detroit) that our doors are OFFICIALLY open. With that said, we get many people that walk in for help on a daily basis.

Meet Roger. Roger is homeless. He wanders the streets near my office. He squats in an abandoned house just behind our offices (if you saw a picture of this house you’d be upset, angry and sad all at once). There are no windows. No doors. No lights or running water. Half of it is boarded up. The other half is severly burned.

Roger is complacent. He’s ok, or seems to be, with being without a home. He has no immediate family. No friends. Roger panhandles at the gas station next to our office. He only asks for a couple of dollars a day for food. There is a McDonalds across from the gas station that he sometimes goes to for food because there is a cashier there with a big heart that gives him extra food whenever he purchases anything.

I met Roger one day while he was walking by the office. I said hello. He barely responded (probably because I was wearing a business suit standing in front of the office admiring our accomplishment on obtaining a building). His pace didnt slow as he slightly looked my way and mumbled a hello back to me. After taking a dozen more steps he stopped, turned around, and asked “what is this place?”. My first reaction was a smile and my first thought was “man, I’m so happy you stopped and asked me that. This is both our lucky day!”

He was surprised and puzzled to find out that we (DO Foundation) was in existance to help people just like him. He asked a few more non-related questions then without me answering any of his yet asked me for a dollar. This was one of the rare times I said no. Instead I offered to buy him anything he wanted. I invited him into the office (which wasnt completely setup at the time). He declined and said he only wanted enough money to get food and buy a single cigarette. I told him that we’re always here and he can stop in anytime he wanted. I wasnt quite sure I should’ve said that but rolling with my gut I insisted he made it a priority to come see me again. “Ok. My name is Brian. Next time I see you I want you to come in so we can talk. We want to help you with whatever you need no matter what it is”. Seems I had to say something to get him to promise me to return. He said “I’ll come back. My name is Roger”.

A few days later Roger shows up in the lobby. I had that feeling of being given a big chance to prove myself to someone. Probably because from the looks of Roger (worn, tired, desparate) I knew he’d be a challange (and our first in-office client).

We talked. He told me his situation. Nothing I havent heard before expect that he didnt want housing. He was ok where he was and has no interest in getting off the streets. I found out that reason much later in our relationship. His only challange and concern was eating everyday. Nothing else.

I handed Roger $5 then asked for it back. “I wanna do something better” I said. He looked puzzled and said “Ok”. I grabbed my jacket and we hopped in my car. As we drove I told him we’re going to eat whatever he wants then we’ll go to a store and get whatever he wants. For some of you my actions may sound a little dangerous – not knowing Roger that well, where’s he’s been or if he’s connected to drugs, crime etc…

It was in the car when Roger began looking at me and saying things like “There really is a God. I cant beleive you’re helping someone like me man. People usually dont even look at me or cuss me out or chase me away. You must be a really good man. Thank you my brotha”. Roger had just FED MY SOUL with those statements. He confirmed why I do what I do and why its soooo important to acknowledge, talk and listen to people that are homeless on the streets – no matter what condition they’re in. Little did he know I felt love for him before he made any of those statements. He’s a human being.

After our little shopping spree we returned to the office and Roger thanked me again before strolling off into the dilapedated neighborhood behind our offices.

Roger has become my friend now. He’s now friends with all of our staff and volunteers at the office. He comes in every few days to have coffee with us and to ask us all for change (its a habit for him). Since then one of our office volunteers compiled a list of all the soup kitchens and food banks in the area (none are in walking distance). I now purchase monthly bus cards for Roger to get to these places where he eats 2 healthy meals a day (thanks to those who donate $ to us we’re able to purchase his bus cards every month). Roger is happy.

A week ago Roger stumbles into the office (he always asks for me even though the girls in office greet him with smiles & open arms). We sat in our lobby as he began to break down in tears. The only family he was close to was his 6 yr old niece (someone he’s never mentioned but says a few times a month he sneaks up to a local park to play with her.) He said “She calls me uncle Rog and now she’s passed away from an illness from birth…”. MY HEART SANK as I looked at a HOMELESS MAN WITH A BROKEN HEART. He confessed that his neice was the only reason why he hadnt give up all together on his life years ago. The emotions became so much for me that I called our case manager Michelle Brown- King and director Kelly Adolph in with me. We encouraged Roger to be as strong as possible since he started making statements of not wanting to live any more. I asked him if he was going to attend her funeral services and he said “I dont know if I should. Look at me man.”. I told him we would get him all fixed up and take him to the services. Shower, shave, haircut, new suit, real shoes, etc (things he hasnt had in many years).

Today is that day for Rogers make-over. Services are Saturday, July 2, 2011. DO Foundation may not get Roger housed (he doesnt want that) but we have helped to mend his broken heart.

The photos below are by Carlos O’Banion (DO Foundation staff) was taken the day he gave us the news about his neice. The picture explains it all. I’ll be sure to post a picture of Rogers transformation after he’s all cleaned up. Our goal is to keep this man happy even if he insists on living on the streets. He had lunch with us yesterday and actually laughed and joked. He requested we put cartoons on the tv for him while eating. I saw his heart smiling!!!

ps: When you donate to DO Foundation your monies go DIRECTLY to us helping people like Roger. I cant stress that enough. When I or a staffer from DO Foundation posts anything about donations or fundraisers its all to raise money to help the many Rogers of the world. Donating $ and/or simply spreading our links really does help.

Our mission continues!

-Brian

Tags: Roger homeless heart broken