Today I was invited to visit homeless camps with Urban Ministry, a large homeless service provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. After visiting a few tent encampments, the outreach team shared that they had someone special they’d like me to meet.
On the way, outreach started to tell fond stories of Anthony. Like with the homeless people we just met at the camp, the outreach team builds relationships to move people from the streets to housing.
It was easy to see Anthony from a distance. He was standing in an intersection with very long cardboard sign the reaches almost from his feet to his head.
I immediately liked Anthony. He has a kind and gentle way about him, and he likes to make people feel good. It’s a trait I wish more of us had.
Anthony says he made a couple of bad decisions. The past has a way of beating up on the present. When Anthony lost custody of his kids, it was too much for him to take. From that point on, Anthony’s life snowballed into homelessness.
The good news is Anthony is soon to go into housing. After three years of living in a tent on a sidewalk, Anthony will be able to have a place of his own that provides dignity. He can start the process of healing and hopefully get reunited with his children.
By the way, Anthony may have the best response to my three wishes question yet.
Special thanks to Urban Ministry.
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