My name is Shelbi, and I’ve found myself in a unique position: not just as someone who volunteers to help the homeless, but as someone who has lived their struggles firsthand. I’m a veteran, and just as a law was passed criminalizing sleeping in public, I managed to secure housing—right when the encampment was being shut down. I know these people, not just from helping but because I was once in their shoes. I understand what they are going through.
When the law passed, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t just stand by as the situation grew more difficult for those without homes. I made sure to be there when they began closing down the encampment. It wasn’t just about watching it happen; it was about helping where I could. I came up with a temporary solution for some of the individuals, and I planned on making trips to gather their essential items and transport them to safety. My goal was to let them know to have their things ready for when I came back.
The first trip didn’t go as planned. I was transporting a woman who had suffered a broken back the previous year and was disabled. She had no way to get out on her own, and I was determined to help. But as I was heading out, city police pulled me over. I explained to them what I was doing—trying to assist people in need—but it didn’t matter. They impounded my van, the only transportation I had. Before the tow truck arrived, I grabbed all of the woman’s belongings and some of my own, leaving me with nothing but the sidewalk.
It was devastating. That van was my family’s only way to get around. But there was nothing I could do to change the situation. I couldn’t let it stop me from helping, so I made the decision to continue my mission. Thankfully, the woman I was helping knew someone who could pick us up, and with their help, I transported her to the temporary spot I had secured for her and others.
Determined not to let my van’s loss derail my efforts, I reached out to a friend for help. We returned with a truck and trailer, and managed to transport four more individuals, along with their belongings, to the temporary shelter. Afterward, we unloaded their things, leaving only one person behind who was supposed to join us but hadn’t been present at the time.
Despite the challenges, my mission is far from over. I’m not giving up on helping those who need it most, and I plan to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles in my way. I’ve learned a lot through this experience, and I would love the opportunity to share more of my story with the community. There’s so much more to this journey, and I believe it’s important for others to understand what it’s really like to fight for those without a place to call home.