By: Teelia Lowery
HOUSTON - A Texas Southern University Journalism student hopes to enlighten the world on the growing problem in the Homeless community by shining a bright light on our United States Veterans through her developing documentary, "Beyond The Smoke."
In Houston, Texas it’s 5 o’clock and the sun is going down on Commerce Street’s Tent City, not far from Houston’s Astros ballpark.
The residents have pitched their tents under Highway 59, the sounds heavy traffic overhead, minutes away from Minute Maid Park, Stars of Hope Shelter, and a Halfway house resting on the corner.
“No one understands our mindset out here,” a Tent City resident said. “It’s survival of the fittest, man.”
Who are they?
Michael, a 40-year-old, Army veteran holds a sign that reads “Homeless Veteran.”
Serving in the Army as a truck driver during Operation Desert Storm, Michael succumbed to the survival of the fittest syndrome, drawing out the idea that reentering into a normal society wouldn’t be promising at all.
“I like it better out here,” Michael said. “You don’t understand.”
Around 200-hundred homeless residents are scattered around, many with scars of America’s endless wars. In the minds of the residents, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the silent undetected remnants of war have made its bed as a permanent resting place.
A Vietnamese man in his late 60s, wears the scars of his suffering, holding on to sharp edge handle of a broken broom. He watchfully sweeps away what appears to be his troubles as his eyes shift left and right in fear.
A woman in her a mid-thirties look on in curiosity as student journalists canvas the area for answers into their current situation.
And then there were the two friends sitting, chatting carelessly about their day, in a gray, torn pop-up tent with ragged blankets covering their fragile shoulders, shielding them from the cold night ahead.
“It’s a community here and everybody pretty much stays to themselves,” one resident said. “It get pretty dangerous at night.”
What are their problems?
Many of the Homeless Veterans aren’t aware of their benefits and others feel the help handing is a stage show. This has become a smoke grenade that never seems to clear this community.
“People come out here to take a picture and we don’t see them anymore,” a Tent City resident said.
What is our responsibility?
The Houston community have shown that it does take a village to pull through and tackle a visible issue. A dozen of cars show up to the residents of Tent City on a daily basis with various supplies including, food, clothes, tents, and even books. But lending a helping hand isn’t an easy process.
“This is what I have a heart for you know, giving back,” an Unnamed woman said.
But, is this really enough? About 95% of the homeless population here are comfortable where they are, meanwhile the other 5% struggle with gaining adequate resources to meet their needs.
“Public housing isn’t an option because there are too many rules to adhere to,” a Tent City resident expressed. “Most of us have served and done our time in this country, no more rules.”
Serving in the Armed Forces comes with a lifelong price, losing family, a limb, more so your sanity.
Where do they go from here?
Many residents of Tent City have no clue what's next but they hold on to faith and hope that tomorrow will bring a better solution.
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