Health Education at a Homeless Shelter by
Pat King, BSN, MA, MS

Teaching at a homeless shelter is challenging. A young man asked me, "As a homeless person, how can I make friends with others I desire to be with who are not homeless?" A woman in class asked, "How can I learn to say no when I have never been able to do it?" Another girl, age 19, said to the class, "I have never been able to tell myself anything good." Another woman, during the class on depression, cried softly.

These are some of the questions/situations that I have experienced during my presentation at the Salvation Army's Hospitality House, one of the homeless shelters in the city of Tucson. The classes are part of The Health Education for At-Risk,Populations (THE Project) directed by Gay Evans, RN, FNP. (pager:2911837). Classes are presented by volunteers who share needed health information with persons who, for various reasons--like losing a job, being abandoned, having an addiction, or being abused--come to the shelter in crisis.

Residents come to the classes voluntarily. Often times they arrive greatly fatigued after a day of job hunting, of hearing "no, no, no," but they are still willing to attend a session. You are motivated to do your best.

The rewards are many. I leave class with a sense of fulfillment, and a feeling that I have received more from these people than I have given. Often, during class discussions, the residents' comments are enlightening and uplifting. One'woman described how she deals with anger. I sit down and write, 'Dear God,' and write and write until I feel good." Another woman described what she does to bolster her self-esteem. I look in the mirror and say, 'Dang, you look so good."' A young man described to the group his way of coping with stress. I write poetry," and proceeded to share some of his poems with us with passion and enthusiasm. His sharing made a more powerful statement about ways to cope than I could with the poem I had brought.

One of the best times for me comes after class when there are opportunities for a one-on-one with those who have further questions. For example, one woman came to me asking how she could deal with a power play by another resident. Another came to talk about her way of coping, explicating Bible passages. Later, she brought some of them to me to read, asking, "Do these make sense?"

The participants are grateful for attention and health information. Their gratitude is exhibited in many ways, such as when the man with the laryngectomy blew me a kiss as he left class. Other ways are the handshakes and the expressions of thanks they give.

I leave Hospitality House with many unanswered questions, with a desire to do more. Sadness, joy, and hope are all part of the experience of teaching the homeless. I highly recommend it.