After having all my legal documents stolen in Portland right before the COVID-19 pandemic, I found my way back to Seattle, where I started my American life. They say everything happens for a reason and nothing made me believe this more than when having no phone led me to discovered Mary’s Place. The staff at Mary’s Place recommended Women’s Housing Equality and Enhancement League (WHEEL) Women’s Shelter as somewhere I could get some sleep.
Tired, dragging my little suitcase, I entered WHEEL’s shelter and was greeted by sweet staff like Jude, who luckily got me an open bunk bed. This began my new journey, and the folks at WHEEL became my family. After being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer, which has since spread to almost every part of my body, WHEEL and a majority of their sweet staff became my emotional support, encouraging me to not give up.
I am very grateful and indebted to WHEEL for being like a family and a warm safe haven for a lot of ladies who have been through traumatic incidents in life. Through living and interacting with these women, I got to hear some of their stories, their problems and even to provide them comfort. My heart weeps for all of them — I’ll never understand why women have to suffer so much.
I have been affiliated with WHEEL for almost two years and have witnessed a lot of 911 calls and ambulances come to the shelter, both for the ladies residing there and myself. The deaths of some of these ladies happened right in front of my eyes; others passed suddenly while I was away. The heartbreaking but all-too-common story is that a lot of these women who passed weren’t in contact with family who could claim their remains.
This is why places and organizations like WHEEL are so important. WHEEL not only gives literal shelter to these ladies, but also it has been honoring homeless people who have died while living outside, in public or due to violence, through monthly silent vigils. Additionally, since 2003, the organization has worked with the Homeless Remembrance Project to install bronze leaves in Seattle sidewalks as permanent public memorials for homeless people who lived and died on the streets.
There is a lot WHEEL does to advocate for our homeless community, including reaching out to the Seattle Chief of Police, the mayor or different organizations so that people do not die on the streets.
I really admire the strong ladies of WHEEL who are dedicated to helping people who are experiencing homelessness. Locally, they have been able to popularize the phrases “without shelter, people die” and “sweeps kill.”
Abraham Lincoln said that “united we stand, divided we fall.” I have taken that quote and made my own version: “united we stand, divided humanity may fall.” This conveys my belief that the U.S. is a rich and blessed country, and if the fortunate or super rich could only become more compassionate and spread their wealth to those less privileged, then slowly but surely we wouldn’t have to worry about homelessness. We wouldn’t have so many people suffering on the street if others were willing to share their resources.
I don’t consider myself misfortunate for having experienced homelessness; rather, it’s a blessing in disguise. Thanks to WHEEL, I have found my purpose in using my God-given talents to help people in need. Despite battling my stage 4 cancer, I can give others hope and bring a smile to their faces, just like WHEEL has done for me.
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Read more of the Aug. 28–Sept. 3, 2024 issue.