Gimme shelter:
McCarthy, Abigail
rassment, the error of her ways. "Now," she says, "I am pleased progress and I'm glad that they seem to do their homework, if a grandchild calls long distance and asks, `Who was ...
...families among its members...
...Well, one of versely insisted on personally writing, rewriting, typing, and these self-congratulatory essays brought a cold response from mailing the entry that was awarded first prize...
...Now and then," she tells us, "I would manage to pub- a trip to East Coast historical shrines, all expenses paid, plus a lish a modest thing of my own, often a sharp piece with a Rose Garden photo opportunity with the president of the United let-me-out-of-here theme, but sometimes a pious defense of my States...
...She said, `My children get around under myself to interested observation and friendly encouragement...
...haven for young, unwed mothers with their task, but I managed...
...Working two babies she was turned away because she ter...
...surmise what dangers a young and preg- the military has to do Perhaps instead we could try a "custody nant woman braves when she must wan- mainly with showers...
...I gave my child over to the pre- able them to achieve independence...
...All this was won by the other child, the one who perlife, a glorification of wifedom and mothering...
...off her feet...
...After The success of the Washington Hebrew much...
...OF SEVERAL MINDS Abigail McCarthy I started feeling hopeful again...
...Isn't start for fourteen young mothers and a she said...
...bruch from Luther Place, Jubilee's Bob 10: 9 April 1993 Commonweal counselors, social workers, teachers, etc...
...Night shelters are better than nothing, of course, but even the best exacerbate the SEARCHING FOR THE SOAP homeless person's difficulties...
...he or she has trouble receiving s far as I can tell from if we let every sailor have a private showwelfare, Social Security, or unemployment news reports, the nation- er and dressing room, we'll have to douchecks...
...I was seventeen and alone here allowed there...
...small shelters...
...Now," she says, "I am pleased progress and I'm glad that they seem to do their homework, if a grandchild calls long distance and asks, `Who was but they have their assignments and I have mine...
...It brought good news about diction...
...and Sharon Murphy, a Catholic-Jewish couple, and the parents of four children...
...she came to Washington to attend Howard Mt...
...here in Washington...
...By helping -A with Carrie Simon House they learn how 4 to give...
...ing the priests who were with us to find couple they assisted had lived in a car for Four years after it was decided upon, homes for the homeless in each parish...
...But not for long, because first wife?' But I don't respond to anything more demanding...
...No words can express congregation consulted with others workEverything started going downhill be- the hurt from the pain that I felt...
...At shelters for mothers with less, says Mrs...
...It is tion each year plus hours and hours of ded- many volunteer their help...
...After all, if nuns were der city streets all day...
...It numbers 2,000 made homeless by the local joblessness one...
...These do not threaten neigh- Chiefs snapping towels at him...
...It may seem a However, as Jacqueline Dorfmann points to enforce a law requiring families to leave small solution to the nation's problem out, Washington Hebrew, a Reform con- shelters after ninety days...
...what I know about the Harlem Renaissance (which isn't much, "There were literally thousands of essayists in the contest, from by the way...
...It is worth remembering that not all the homeless need as much care as do the halfformed, half-educated young women at Carne Simon...
...Organized Problem, we'll be able to let gays in...
...And the in- are multiplying in the rural counties of the Large shelters, especially night shelters, vestment in time, money, and effort is very surrounding area...
...El less prefer sleeping on heating grates, in packing boxes, under elevated highways, or in culverts...
...The day that I was interviewed and acGIMME SHELTER cepted at Carrie Simon House was one of A HOUSE CAN BE A HOME the happiest days of my life...
...Now settled, McIntosh is working on her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing...
...That is, until the The only option left to her, it seemed, was babies, a place where they could receive major company I was working for decid- to give up her baby for adoption...
...The wonderful people at Mary House" mentioned earlier are Bill "Some secretary of housing and urban development you turned out to be...
...they make all the difference in Independently they bought a home, where House, our neighbors from Saint Colum- the lives of those they take in because they they have taken in 170 different homeless ba's, our friends from the Anne Frank are homes...
...could best provide for only four mothers House would seem to bear her out...
...I went and got my baby back...
...If of the eyes" solution...
...The world felt as if it was caving in on me...
...Boulter, the wonderful founders of Mary borhoods...
...Carmel House because babies weren't They decided on a place for the homeUniversity...
...the first year it was found that the house Congregation in supporting Carrie Simon As I write this the Washington, D.C...
...Colin Powell doesn't have to shower with ing all sailors and soldiers to look straight There is more hope for the homeless and the rest of the guys...
...Many of us make condo little for the homeless except shield them significant-it takes a $45,000 contribu- tributions of money, food, and clothing...
...After When it was time for McIntosh to have lish something-something tangible to graduation from high school in New York, her baby she knew she could not return to benefit the needy, the homeless, the poor...
...I was left "The day I left the hospital was most have an opportunity to learn skills to enwithout a job in a recession...
...Department of Human Services has begun and their babies at a time...
...at this time two of her children were entering a national essay A child may call me from college or send a fax to my place of contest of patriotic significance...
...Ernestine explains that two events combined to cure her ad- Next day, another mail delivery...
...less unwed mothers and their children Because Mt...
...Mrs...
...House, a shelter for home- months, but that seemed like an eternity...
...reach out into the community and estabcomplishing the `American Dream...
...The last listened....We learned...
...They feel safer, and when OF SEVERAL MINDS David R. Carlin, Jr...
...very temporarily from the elements...
...Dorfthe letter shared with me by enough, I had just received my last evic- mann," she concludes, "once again I'd like Jacqueline Dorfmann, chair tion notice....1 stayed at Mt...
...constructive guidance, where "they would ed to relocate to another state...
...She will work and save money until There was a quiet dignity to six weeks pregnant, and if that wasn't she can live independently...
...I can't imagine carting a KATHARINE BYRNE troop of Brownies to a museum...
...I'm interested in my children's Katharine Byrne is a bagger at her church's food pantry...
...they return to the same place night after night there is at least a place that is theirs...
...turies whenever they went out in public, charities like those sponsored by the arch- The most obvious solution is to provide why can't soldiers do the same for a few diocese here are, because of this, gradu- everyone with top-of-the-line bathing fa- minutes in the shower...
...I'll bet he never has ahead on the horizontal plane while showthose who care for them in the success of to worry about one of the other Joint ering, just as they do on the parade ground...
...Then ing in the community: "Reverend Steincause a month later I found out that I was I was told about the Carrie Simon House...
...Words simply cannot express my gratitude...
...Dorfmann, "but not a shelwith no friends or relatives...
...I stayed with a friend for a week until my interview...
...Or when an old and we can only solve the Great Shower able to keep custody of the eyes for cenfrail man or woman must do so...
...I remember that when I saw families in the last twelve years and helped House, the Sisters from Saint Anne's....We Dorothy Day for the last time, she was urg- them break the cycle of poverty...
...Of course, The trouble with this solution is that acCommonweal 9 April 1993: 11...
...The commander ally changing their sponsored temporary cilities, just like the generals have...
...We were all proud and happy," Ernestine admitted...
...Carmel House to thank you for giving me the break I so of the board of Carrie Simon [a night shelter for women] for seven badly needed to get my life back on track...
...Carmel House is a night My baby thanks you, too...
...adoptive parents...
...The effect on our young people, though, is worth it," says Dorfmann...
...ten weeks after losing jobs and home Carrie Simon House has provided a new Every parish could support such an effort, (Catholic Standard, March 4,1993...
...their own power, on foot or by bus...
...The letter was from shelter, during the days McIntosh had to The members of the Washington Sharon McIntosh, one of the young women find places where she could stay and get Hebrew Congregation were moved to eswho has found a home there...
...it possible that each parish could do as caring environment for their babies...
...It had to be a home, a comfortable jobs and going to school was not an easy was not addicted and had not been abused...
...Persephone's mother?' Or, `What was the name of Orwell's Her words gave Ernestine pause...
...tablish Carrie Simon House in response "A few years ago," McIntosh writes, "I "Being in the streets all day and being to a challenge posed by their rabbi, Joseph was sent here to the States from Jamaica pregnant are some of the days I'd like to Weinberg: "What action can we take to in the hopes of going to school and ac- forget...
...And it takes little imagination to al debate about gays in ble the size of aircraft carriers...
...My whole painful...
...She was at hand with encourbusiness from hers-the restaurant where she ekes out a poor agement, advice, and the ultimate offer it was hard for one of student's living by making sandwiches between classes-but them to refuse...
...a reader, a newspaper editor who was a woman...
...And families with homelessness but it is an invaluable gregation, is very large...
...Happily, this entry received an honorable menshe's not going to get me to reread The Great Gatsby or tell tion...
...But we are very for this reason that so many of the home- icated volunteer time from lawyers, far from doing what must be done...
...all over the country...
...They limit COMING CLEAN ON GAYS IN THE MILITARY the person's stays and turn him or her back into the streets each day...
...A man or woman without a fixed address is not likely to qualify for a job...
...I'll bet in chief could issue a strict order requirshelters into transitional ones...
...I remember "And from that day," Ernestine concluded, "I have confined the letter pretty well...
Vol. 120 • April 1993 • No. 7
