a night on the streets

As our time in San Diego learning about homelessness and working with the Stand Up For Kids Center has gone on, we have realized that we still don't know much about what it actually means to be homeless on a day-to-day basis. In order to further our understanding, the SUFK Executive Director set up an optional opportunity for members of our team to spend a few hours on the street at night with some of the kids from the center.

We split into two groups of about seven students led by one or two kids from the center and set out after the center closed at 8 PM. My group rode the trolley down to Old City, and it was still raining for the 5th day in a row. When we got off the trolley, we ran into a few other kids that we know from the center and they joined us. We then walked to an old building that our leaders called "Witch's Tower". One said that this spot used to be a popular squat with his friends and that the tower is rumored to be haunted. I was expecting some place abandoned as we walked towards this place, but it turned out to be a San Diego Historical site. It was well lit but fairly deserted. The view from the balcony was incredible! It looked over the highway into downtown and it was nice to step back and watch the cars go by for a while.

After spending about an hour there, we walked back to the trolley station. Many of us were already tired, cold, and/or bored. Honestly, I felt all of the above but also felt guilty for feeling so because I know that this is what the kids from the center go through everyday. We ended up cutting our night short and going back to the center as a group to have hot chocolate and snacks. It was fun to talk to our two leaders, share stories, and get to know them better. I admittedly still do not understand what it means to be homeless and for this I am lucky. However, I was grateful for this opportunity to get a further glimpse into the lives of the kids we have been working with and getting to know here in San Diego.