Maurice Martin, courtesy of Mike Copass at The Copass Report, http://copassreport.blogspot.com - Scroll down for more photos!

“Maurice is a veteran who lives at St. Vincent’s. He left the warmth there to get to our last distribution in the pouring rain. He helped load and schlep, and brought positivity and kinship to so many of the folks we saw huddled under bridges that night. He is amazing and we’re so proud to work with him and others who don’t have a lot but still give back to the community. Here is his account of our trip to the streets for last Wednesday night’s distribution.” – Rachel

Click here to see more of Maurice here on Mike Copass’ fantastic blog, The Copass Report
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There are 10,000 homeless persons in San Diego, (1/3 of those Identified as veterans) says San Diego’s Homeless Manager, Brian Maienschein, but many organizations working with Homeless persons in SD, believe there to be many more homeless persons living on the Streets

Last night January 20th, at 6pm once again; the Girls Think Tank, (GTT) ventured out in the rainy night that was so dark it looked blue, to help those living on the street endure, one of the worst nights of the season. GTT and their friends, guests, boyfriends, husbands, and Partners from Veterans for Peace, (12 to 13 people in all) brought to San Diego’s winter overflow Tent; (220 residents of the tent according to the tent staff) where GTT and friends, passed out winter needs, (gloves, knit hats, water, rain gear, shoes, socks personal hygiene needs, blankets, snacks, winter scarves), smiles, and much more. (Check out Mike Compass’s Photos below).

GTT and friends also passed out GTT petitions for support for access to clean and accessible water and access to restrooms, (Click here to sign or to learn more about the initiative and petition). We stayed over an hour passing out all we had, to a grateful and receptive crowd, where the staff were professional and accommodating and provided excellent security and crowd control for all.

Then our leader, Rachel Jensen (GTT founder and President), encouraged us to move on to the streets to see if we might help those not so fortunate to have shelter that rainy and cold night. (The thing about a leader I’m told, is that they show up on time and stay until the end – that is true here). A few of us without other pressing obligations pushed on to the streets and underpasses of SD, where we met, talked to, and passed out book bags, winter gear, plastic covers (to keep the rain out or to help keep sleeping areas dry) gloves, blankets, and Tents, to 178 Persons sleeping in doorways, underpasses, or where they could find open spaces to be safe. By this time (7:30pm) the rain had begun again, we were all wet, the last few few of us (GTT), an inconvenience to us to be sure, but a hardship to those who had no where else to go but where they were.

We were met with (believe it or not) smiles and graciousness. (They ask how we were doing and some asked us, what they could do for us). It was moving, the grace, endurance and forbearance of people, and that they could still muster enough to care about the needs of others is to be admired and respected on so many levels. Some of those experiencing homelessness asked for bags not for themselves but for those asleep and not able to move or were sick….. it was for me at times more than I could bear, not selfless but concern for others). Now I’m not saying that all are this way, but to see a shared experience binding people together, reminded me of another kind of brotherhood.

We saw people we knew (that was the hardest), but they were content, and we respected their rights as we moved and talked to many, old, young and those not so young, of all races and groups across the board, all huddled together for support and comfort, and maybe also security.

There are those who say that these efforts are pointless, and self serving, (as in a feel good thing) and changes nothing…. I don’t agree, we provide no housing, we did not take people home with us, there was no systemic change in their lives.. But tho we did not move mountains, we made an impact on people lives, we help make a difference between the rain and being wet and dry, drinks, blankets, tents made a difference in their lives, is what they reported (and that’s what i care about). It was not the solutions we were hoping for, but it was a beginning, and reaching out to another, for right then at that point in time it was enough, but a promise we would not forget or give up or retreat to better their lives along with our own, as ML King said (”How we treat the least of us, point the way to our own fate”).

As a Homeless Veteran, and a representative of Veterans for Peace, I thank GTT for the opportunity to provide a little comfort and a helping hand, and dry area until we could do better. We gave our word, that we would do our best, and sometimes that has to be enough.

Maurice Martin
Veterans for Peace
Veterans Homeless Outreach Lead
mauricemartin357@yahoo.com

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