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This is Where We Keep Our Homeless

3/28/2015

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I wrote this piece about a year ago. I volunteered every week at a homeless shelter and below is my reaction to what I saw. At the time I wrote it I was angrier than I usually am because the city was trying to figure out ways to get rid of their homeless problem. The people down there were being treated unkindly and treated merely as a problem, not people. Though the poem seems coarse and sarcastic it was written from a place of grief because I felt like few were willing to treat these friends I made down there as people. Many people down there lost their families, homes, jobs, and everything else in this world that is considered important by society. In this piece I do not ask to solve Vancouver's homeless problem. All I ask is a change of perspective. East Hastings is full of people. Beautiful people. Don't identify them by their situation, their struggles, or their appearance. Try to identify them by who they are. 

Welcome to the city, oh how beautiful!

How the lights they shine from that twelve story building

We have restaurants and bars

We have a park where you can see the stars

Everything is perfect, everything

Now pretend this side is all we have here

Picture perfect, everything the best

Now close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings

Because this is where we keep our homeless


That girl she’s alone but she doesn’t need help

She has welfare to care for her unborn child

Just drive away live like she never happened

If you don’t you might erase your smile

And everyone should just be happy

And look out for their best

Don’t bother to give this place dignity

Because this is where we keep our homeless


There’s a stabbing down on Main

There’s a drug deal at the corner

There are thousands in the cold, cold rain

But we don’t want you to stop

Go on about your business

This place is our great city’s horrid shame

You see people don’t live here

Cuz they don’t have your success

Close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings

Because this is where we keep our homeless


Did God one day say

The rich were the ones we should impress?

You see I thought I heard him say

He was a friend to the homeless

When he said care for the poor

Did he mean ignore them and push them away?

Tell me I must have misheard, I was sure

I heard him say

His ears are open to their cry

He loves just like you and me

And beggars he didn’t just pass by

He was a friend to the weak

They are beautiful so valuable

Treasured by our God they’re precious

Pass by the place of the brightest faces

Is where we keep our homeless

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    I'm Emma Garriott. I feel a lot

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