Photo by Martijn Crowe
In several cities all over the world, some measures are taken for remove homeless from the street. We are not talking about helping them but chase them from the streets. Like spikes appeared in China and England, discover a resume of inhuman acts here.
Clifford Johnson
Resiliency Instructor
Operation Sacred Trust
What inspires you to serve Veterans?
The fact that Veterans are selfless people who put their own lives on the line for our country.
What is a story/experience serving a Veteran family that stands out for you?
What stands out for me the most is a woman who came to Resiliency class several months ago who seemed to be at the edge of life. The tears that flowed out of her during the PAIRS Emptying the Emotional Jug exercise felt like they’d been there for years, maybe longer. Before the exercise, she told me that she felt that her pain was too much to express and that she had no one to confide in. Afterwards, it was as if a thousand pounds had been lifted from her body and spirit.
She had such a sense of relief, gratitude, and her despair became hope. I’ll never forget the appreciation in her hug, eyes or the smile that I suspect was her first in quite a long time. I was so grateful to have been able to serve her as a Veteran who had given so much of her life to serve our country.
What’s your hope for the impact your work at Operation Sacred Trust has on the lives of the Veterans you serve?
My hope is that no matter what a Veteran may be feeling and going through, they know there is someone who cares and that help is just a phone call away.
Beyond your work serving Veterans, what personal connections do you have with the military/VA community?
My father was a Korean War Veteran and my own experience with homelessness through drug abuse and overcoming addictions helps me have enormous empathy for the men and women we serve. My life experiences and all that I’ve overcome give me a personal connection with the emotional stress and feelings of despair many of our Veterans are going through when they reach Operation Sacred Trust. I love being of help.
What’s one of the lessons you’ve learned from your work helping end homelessness for Veterans?
I learned that we, the American people, owe each of them our very best when they come home. Those who returned home many years ago from past wars need us too.
Just as the weather turns colder, the thought of sleeping out in the open may not actually be an attractive one, but an Edinburgh based charity hopes that hundreds of individuals will come together to support homeless and vulnerable young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians in Sleep Out 2012.
The Rock Trust will host Sleep Out 2012 on 8 November 2012 at Edinburgh’s Festival Square, when people will sleep rough on the streets for one night only.
We would like to invite you to participate in our forum at www.homeless-oftheworld.com/?page_id=206