We all need a place to call home. When I think of home I reflect on a place that provides comfort and security. The security home provides is not only from the weather, but home is also a place that buffers the impact of the outside world. Home is a place to regroup.
Yet many do not have a home. Imagine one of your most stressful days during the past month. Imagine not being able to have any privacy while facing the weight of that day. When families were recently housed in their new apartments at Vision 1505 I asked families what they most enjoyed about their new home. Many cited having a place of quiet. I decided to Google “a place of quiet”. It’s interesting that the first page is filled with references that have spiritual themes. Our lives are holistic. We do not usually deal with one area on its own, but each area of our lives affects the others. A lack of home affects so much more than just a secure spot to keep your belongings.
Vision 1505, a new permanent supportive housing project for 32 homeless families
Me, age 12 in my bedroom at pretending to study
This space is so important that one local shelter that recently moved locations included a room for quiet reflection. The room is available for the homeless to sign up for half hour slots without being disturbed by others. I called the shelter to check on whether the room was being utilized. The response from the program director was that the meditation room was being “worn out”. Men are signing up continuously for a half hour of solitude. Understanding that a shelter is not a home makes it understandable that the room would be “worn out”. Some shelters provide more privacy than others but noise, other families conversations, rules that must be followed intrude on families in the shelter who are facing the crisis of homelessness.
My home when I was in Paraguay during my time in Peace Corps… when I had hair
Home is not a one dimensional concept. Home brings together many facets of our life. When someone gets involved to end homelessness in our community or in one families or individuals life they are taking part in creating an environment for someone else to live more wholly.
Ken Scheller, MSW, LCSW, Program Director
Ken serves as Aurora’s Program Director since April, 2011. Prior to his employment at Aurora Ken served as a therapist working with families dealing with issues of abuse and neglect. Ken has been a Peace Corps volunteer in South America and has had prior intensive experience working with the homeless in New York City. Ken has two children.
Ken received his BA in Philosophy and BS in Psychology from the University of Evansville. He received his MSW from the University of Southern Indiana. Ken is recognized by the State of Indiana as Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
