Several evenings ago I made a late night pickup at the Greyhound station. As I was waiting for my friend to arrive on the bus, a woman approached my car. It was 1 am so I wasn’t real happy about opening my window to a stranger. The woman came to my car, put her face up to my partially rolled down window and asked me for some money.

I hesitated and she continued talking. She and several of her friends were sleeping in a parking garage.  She was banned from the community women’s shelter for another week because she was fighting with a resident. She had a variety of needs, all of which she seemed confident I was capable of meeting and continued to wait and talk. She wanted me to give her something.

I talked with her, through the crack in my window and listened. She knew about Laura’s Home, The City Mission’s facility for women and children but didn’t seem too interested in pursuing that option. In fact, she didn’t seem too concerned that she was sleeping in a parking garage at all. She just wanted me to give her something. 

She seemed to know her way around the Greyhound station. She even greeted the cab driver who pulled in shortly after I did – they knew each other. I had the feeling that she knew the schedule and probably showed up with each incoming bus. 

I was troubled by how comfortable she seemed in the situation. It was 1 am, she was alone on the streets, sleeping in a garage and all she wanted was for me to give her something. Finally, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a handful of change and gave it to her. She got what she wanted and left.

It is estimated that there are approximately 2,500 people on the streets of Cleveland each and every night. Some sleep in parking garages, some under bridges, some in shelters, and others in abandoned houses. To help provide what these dear people really need, contact The City Mission at http://www.thecitymission.org/.