A few days ago, Nicole Brodeur from the Seattle Times wrote an article about an increase in a certain type of woman ending up homeless: educated and recently very well-off financially. She depicts Jamee, an everyday woman, as a model for what the shelters and long-term housing facilities are starting to see. I currently volunteer at Jubilee‘s front desk for a few hours a week answering the phones. On these calls, I provide information for women, their family, friends, coworkers or concerned individuals who are seeking assistance with not only their housing situation, but also in finding food banks, clothing (Jubilee runs a clothing boutique not only for their residents, but for all homeless women), energy or rent assistance, and other essentials. I’ve only volunteered at Jubilee since this summer, but I’ve noticed an increase in people who are struggling to get by with the basics, those right on the edge. I can only imagine how many others there are who haven’t yet been able to call for help who are right on the precipice of losing everything.

The worst part of this article, in my opinion, are the comments left by judgmental, bitter people. The assumptions regarding all homeless men and women are sad and indicative of the stereotypes that are perpetuated about the type of people that end up on the streets. Sure, there are the drug addicts, the people who would rather take a government handout then work their way back into self-sufficiency, but that’s just a small percentage of the population. The women I see who come through Jubilee have the most amazing stories of how they ended up needing help. These stories include situations of domestic violence, company layoffs, middle-of-the-night escapes with $20 in a pocket and no where to go. They are thankful for the services Jubilee provides, and most of them move back to being fully productive members of society after their stay.

We need more places like Jubilee. Jubilee isn’t a shelter in the traditional sense. This non-profit provides a room for 1-2 years along with weekly meetings with a care manager, computer training, and a guide to becoming self-sufficient. 70% of the women who come to Jubilee end up supporting themselves when they leave, without ending up back on the streets.

Resource: 211.