Everyone deserves a place to call home

By Jessica Paradysz
November 5, 2014

Bethesda Project memembers William “Bill”  Podemic, Phil Martin (center) and  Dave Kopena share their harrowing stories and their love of photography. They now mentor children in the program. (Jessica Paradysz/Perspectives Editor)
Bethesda Project memembers William “Bill” Podemic, Phil Martin (center) and Dave Kopena share their harrowing stories and their love of photography. They now mentor children in the program. (Jessica Paradysz/Perspectives Editor)

Homeless. The word settles through the mind and brings up portraits of dirty, gray streets, sullen faces and despair.

Bethesda Project memembers William “Bill”  Podemic, Phil Martin (center) and  Dave Kopena share their harrowing stories and their love of photography. They now mentor children in the program. (Jessica Paradysz/Perspectives Editor)
Bethesda Project memembers William “Bill” Podemic, Phil Martin (center) and Dave Kopena share their harrowing stories and their love of photography. (Jessica Paradysz/Perspectives Editor)

Yet, these people are not just humans to condemn when walking past them while they are holding up battered cardboard signs.

They could have once lived in a beautiful stone house with a white picket fence. They might have needed to run away  from an abusive family, fleeing for their lives.

Maybe they came across tough times and their beloved home foreclosed.

Maybe they had nowhere to turn.

As stated in the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz,” there truly is no place like home.

I was bedazzled by the movie as a girl, coveting those shimmering deep ruby- red shoes.

I took the message of the film for granted.

Home is a place where a person can be safe.

It is comfortable and cozy, full of memories placed in frames that decorate the house.

A sense of a safe haven is  as sweet as the smell of a home-cooked meal.

Nonetheless, families are not perfect and there is no such thing as the ideal of living in the perfect home with a gorgeous landscape and fence.

Instead, home is defined more by the inherent sense of comfort and welcome that is deeply rooted in the family.

Yet, there are many who do not have the luxury of a home.

These people have nowhere to reside  or to  seek refuge.

Instead, the homeless sleep under graffiti bridges and make the harsh glow of lamplights their guiding light.

These people are hungry and starving for a chance of a better life.

Many people who are homeless did not receive the help that they needed.

Some are depressed or hurting and do not know how to heal their deep wounds.

Some turn to crime, drugs and alcohol hoping to rid themselves of the pain.

Unlike the financially well-off or celebrities, these people feel as though there are no resources for help and they find themselves in a difficult situation.

Maybe they were too ashamed to ask for help.

Homeless people have a story.

I was fortunate to meet with three men that are successfully involved in the Bethesda Project. The non-profit aids homeless men and women in the Philadelphia region.

The men were compelling, inspiring and charming.

Each had a vigor for life and learning that was evident in their stories.

I enjoyed interviewing them and having a glipse into their lives.

People assume that being homeless is a choice and that these people are just lazy.

It is the opposite and the offensive blanket statement is ignorant.

After speaking to Dave Kopena, Phil Martin  and William Podemic,  I was inspired by their stories.

I was also inspired by the help that teachers and students at Cabrini have provided through partnerships with Bethesda Project.

People need to understand that life is messy and a variety of circumstances can lead to homelessness.

There needs to be a better understanding about the causes and increased partnerships for programs that help empower people to regain their lives.

These men are success stories that see beauty and hope in life.

Everyone deserves a place to  call home.

In the end, home is what you need.

@Jessicaparadysz

Jessica Paradysz

Jessica is a junior communication major and Spanish minor. She currently is the Perspectives Editor for The Loquitur. Jessica is passionate about writing and believes that the paper is a great platform for students to showcase their creativity. She is one of the social media and marketing chairs for the Cavalier Dance Company. As a writer, she knows that dancing can tell a story. Everyone has a story to tell, and she is excited for the stories that will fill the pages of the paper this year.

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