Sophie Kligler

John Graham Emergency Homeless Shelter in Vergennes, Vermont

As the wettest June in Vermont history began this summer, I prepared for my first day of work at the John Graham Emergency Homeless Shelter. Soaked and apprehensive about what the internship would hold, I made my way to the shelter, out of the rain and into the cozy office.

Immediately I was struck by the discrepancy between how much I thought I knew and how much I actually knew. As much as I hated to admit it, I had subconsciously accepted many of the stereotypes and biases that surround homelessness in the United States. Within minutes, I realized I too was fueled by the subtle and overt prejudices in the media and government. I held certain assumptions about who the homeless were, where they came from, and why their lifestyle exists today.  After about an hour at the shelter those assumptions were thrown out the window.

Sophie Kligler John Graham Shelter

My responsibilities increased as I grew more comfortable with the organization and as I got to know more and more residents. In addition to answering the phone and filing papers, I helped residents to apply for food stamps and health care, subsidized housing and jobs, ReachUp, and other benefits.  I learned how to process new intakes, talk to landlords, advocate for clients, seek out job opportunities, and do more laundry than I thought possible.  I became the co-case manager for an elderly couple that moved into the shelter and worked with them to apply to multiple subsidized housing units, conversing with many landlords and management companies before happily placing them in an apartment in Vergennes. The patience and gratitude I received was beyond rewarding.

My time at the shelter taught me so much, but the most meaningful thing I have come to learn is how to meet new people without judgment.  Reflecting on my time at the shelter allows me to sense a definite change in how I interact with strangers.  I find myself less likely to jump to conclusions, less likely to presume I know other people’s stories, and much more aware of the advantages in my life I formerly took for granted.

I have had the honor of hearing personal and challenging stories.  The millions of reasons why people become homeless—health problems, job cuts, natural disasters, family circumstances, mental illness, domestic violence, and addiction to name a few— make each story entirely unique. The residents at the John Graham shelter, and the thousands of other temporary and permanent homeless individuals across the country are, like all of us, simply trying to deal as best they can with what life has dealt them.

Without a doubt, working at the John Graham Shelter is an experience that will resonate with me for a lifetime.

 

 

Sophie Kligler is a member of the class of 2015.

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