Shining light on homelessness
<p>Tarin Leach holds a battery-operated candle with about 40 in attendance of a homeless vigil Monday night at Independence Point in Coeur d’Alene. The event served as a kick-off to St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho’s participation in National Homeless Awareness Month.</p>
<p>Christine and her husband Ron listen to a presentation during the homeless vigil.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — When Ben Kiesbury was homeless in 2010, he described it as a dark and unfamiliar place.
"That was the first time for me, so it was shocking," Kiesbury said during Monday night's Vigil for the Homeless, organized by St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho at Independence Point.
“You don’t know where to go or how to act and you look for resources,” he said.
For Kiesbury, that resource was St. Vincent. These days, Kiesbury is the nonprofit's warming center coordinator.
"It makes me feel good to give back to the community after I was down and out," he said. "There are people who care and want you to be in a dry place. We try our hardest to make that happen."
The setting of the vigil, attended by about 40 people on a chilly but dry night, was symbolic of homelessness in the community. Independence Point was dark and quiet prior to the vigil, but city lights and the reflection of light on Lake Coeur d'Alene could've been a symbol for hope and life in the not-far-off distance.
One by one, attendees were given candlelights so once everyone had one, people's faces could be recognized. People were brought out of the darkness and into light — much of what the vigil was about.
Jon Hohnsbehn, who said he has been homeless off and on for the past 27 years and is living at a Trinity Group Home in Post Falls, said homelessness is recognized by some, but not everyone.
"It needs to be recognized that we are here and we are not moving," he said.
Hohnsbehn said events such as the vigil are necessary because they create awareness about homelessness, but the community needs to continue to support nonprofits such as St. Vincent because that is where food and housing is provided.
"There needs to be more that's done, but this is a start," he said.
Matt Hutchinson, St. Vincent's social services director, said there have been between 400 and 500 homeless people in the community each year in recent years.
"These people are our neighbors, and it's our responsibility to make sure that they're taken care of," Hutchinson said.
Father Mariusz Majewski read scriptures about helping those in need.
"It's our duty as citizens and Christians to answer the call of God to help," Majewski said. "The problem exists in this community, and we must not ignore it. We are tempted to close our eyes and not see those in need."
Bob Daugherty, who works at St. Vincent, said he became homeless as a contractor in 2009 during the recession. He said more homeless solutions, including building tiny houses, and what's working in other communities are being explored.
"I couldn't buy a job, lost my house and lived in a friend's basement," he said. "You can't experience that and not be changed. I'm grateful for every night I have a nice bed and warm house to go to."