Freezing.
Harassment.
Being stolen from by the police.
Being cold is a big thing. Food is another. Being dry is hard when it’s nasty outside.
Hauling things ’cause it’s unsafe to leave to it if have it, like sleeping bags and tents.
Other things are food that your allergic to when going to feeds. You’re great full, but it’s a waste at the same time. The worse day for that Sunday ’cause there’re two feeds that day.

The dangers for me were:

• other people who were on drugs or alcohol
• peer pressure to use drugs or alcohol
• fear of being hurt or jumped
• hypothermia in the winter from lack of proper clothing or proper sleeping arrangements
• sometimes shelters are full
• being raped or taken advantage of
• having your stuff stolen
• gang activity: sometimes you end up joining a gang to find a family or have a place to stay.

Sometimes you don’t eat or have water or drinks and that can be dangerous, not knowing when your gonna eat. And making bad choices to get food or water. I felt like I always had to watch my back and didn’t know who I could trust or rely on.

Adding a kid to it can make it worse. I knew a few people who had kids. I remember one time we had to squat in a drainpipe on Platte River to sleep and there was a fire in the warehouse above where that one kid died in. We had to immediately grab our stuff and get out or we could have been crushed from the water.

Some people that I knew got HIV and Hep C from sharing drug needles. There’s danger of being seen as a danger to the normal public because they fear and judge you instead of being understanding. Sometimes we had to steal from other people’s cars and sell their stuff for money to get food or we had to hustle and sell drugs.

I removed I had to strip and I hated it but was just trying to make money so me and my crew could pay rent to live and the home we could afford had asbestos in it and there was black mold as well but it was all we could afford.

Sometimes people fearing you was the only way to survive so if you couldn’t fight or fight dirty or if you wasn’t in a gang like gutterpunks or Crips or Bloods or Juggalos you didn’t make it far on your own. You’re in flight or fight mode most of the time.

Had to walk everywhere even in the snow or in a blizzard.

A lot of things:

• depending on drugs to keep you moving
• being harassed and arrested by the police
• hypothermia during the winter
• stuff constantly getting stolen
• I had a couple friends get gruesomely murdered
• lots of different contagious diseases like cellulitis
• being harassed by men

• death
• bodily harm
• freezing
• sickness
• overdose
• getting raped if your a single female

• the weather
• being subjected to drugs
• violence
• depression

There are a lot of dangers. It sucks honestly

All I can say is that every step that led me here just felt right. It felt like God knew exactly where He could use my skills and passions for His purposes – and He dropped Sox Place right in front of me.

I brought my wife with me the first time I met Jordan and Doyle at the drop-in center. As soon as we stepped out of our car we were confronted with the reality of the Mission. We could immediately sense the good character of the team and their desire to make the love of God known in the streets. I didn’t come from off the streets. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have grown up in a home with my family – as dysfunctional as it may have been – but I left that day with a new heart toward the street community and I hope that everything I do supports this ministry and helps Sox Place continue to make a difference. 

The reason why I worked at Sox Place is this: after being on the streets myself for some time Jordan and Doyle took the chance to help me get myself motivated, cleaned up, and off the streets away from the negative influence of drugs and what we call “the streets”.

I honestly believe I could relate and make a difference to these (street kids) on another level and truly connect in a way that they so badly needed and I only know this because I myself have been there and have needed the help myself.

So I try to set the best example of “if I can do it you can do it”.

When I started working here is was originally to give back to an organization that gave so much to me when I needed them the most.

I’ve always known I was supposed to help people so to be given an opportunity to help others and maybe change their lives was a life changer for me. Over time I realized that this is where I’m supposed to be, I can’t see myself working anywhere else.

Helping people, having conversations with the street youth and really getting to know them is what keeps me here. Being here, building bonds with individuals is really important to the street kids as well. On top of it all, the staff I work with is amazing we have a great bond and team. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

When reflecting on that statement I realize that there are a lot of things that play together to make it true. The biggest factor playing into that would have to be the great sense of family that Jordan and Doyle have sought to create. Even though Jordan and Doyle are the two main faces that come to mind when referring to Sox Place., the “Sox Place Family” consists of every person that walks thru the doors of Sox Place, whether patron, volunteer, or staff.

Even those that have never been to Sox Place physically but that donated time, money, or prayer in some way or another to Sox Place, all of these people are what help to make up the “Sox Place Family”.

The thought and feeling behind the “Sox Place Family” is a huge part of why I enjoyed my time at Sox Place.

• scared
• hurt
• broken
• addicted
• thrown away
• forgotten
• judged
• mistreated
• abused
• angry
• disturbed
• alone

• misjudged
• misunderstood
• cut off

• unheard
• a burden

• despair
• lazy
• addicts
• dirty
• dangerous
• gutter punk
• tweeker
• junkie
• travelers