My first week at The Haven

For those of you who don't know, I've taken a full-time position at The Haven. A day-shelter that serves the homeless and under-served in the Charlottesville area.

I have been serving there in a volunteer capacity since they opened their doors in January of last year, along with my family and our extended community.
I couldn't be more happy about the opportunity.

I began my week with getting acquainted with my new digs.
Desk, office-mates, duties, talking over the philosophies that drive the work there and the need for a safe place to process with each other as staff.

I have been most impressed with the level of compassion, true care, that under-girds the whole affair. The staff is made up of truly caring people.

"Before the Haven I had nowhere to go. I couldn't get a shower, or take a simple nap. There was nowhere to go that was safe for me".
From one of the many conversations I've had this week with my new friends.

I have had a dozen or so conversations this week, that have marked the start of deeper friendships, and found myself thinking: I can't believe this is valued!
I'm learning so much.

I've had the privilege of knowing many members of the homeless community for 2-3 years, from conversations we've had around town.

Aptly named, there is this overriding understanding that The Haven is a safe place where there is no judgment, no glaring eye or sense of being the "other".
It is ours. We are a community. We are all in need.

At every turn I've found that the philosophies adopted at The Haven, reflect my own approach to healing.
Time, patience, facilitating safety to allow deep, natural, healthy growth. To begin a process that is not easily lost or destroyed, a path to real health.

It is a place where anyone can come and get their physical needs met, their personal stuff and rhythms sorted out, and then begin to cultivate hope for the future.

This approach is difficult to quantify as far as results are concerned, but that's the mysterious working of love. Hard to track and ultimately affecting.