A LITTLE LOVE GOES A LONG WAY Homelessness is a lonely and isolating experience for many, and even the smallest act of love can be transformational. MOST PEOPLE CAN FALL IN LOVE, but they don’t have to overcome the challenges of homelessness while doing so. Living without a home forces people to prioritize more basic needs, such as finding food and a safe place to sleep. Stigmas and negative stereotypes of homelessness also contribute to the sense of isolation and loneliness that many people who are homeless feel. Homelessness can also place significant stress on romantic couples due to privacy concerns and limited shelter space. But that doesn’t mean homelessness is loveless. Love is a verb. It can take innumerable small acts to demonstrate to another person that they are loved; sometimes, it’s like building a mountain out of pebbles. THE POWER OF LOVE J.P. Hall, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Refuge, which provides end-of-life care for people who are homeless, said showing people who have lost their homes that they are lovable can have life-altering impacts. “We try to find ways of making this time as pleasant and safe as possible, and for people who haven’t had very many choices in their life, that can be quite a change,” Hall said. Showing love to people who are unhoused also can be personally transformative. Hall recalled a time in his life before he became a Gregorian friar, when he had a negative attitude about homelessness and the people who experience it. Then, he participated in an event serving meals to the unhoused and “just fell in love with them,” he said. Jess Wiederholt of Mutual Aid Monday (MAM) has seen that personal transformation firsthand. MAM hosts a weekly potluck dinner for people experiencing homelessness, typically held on Mondays outside the Denver municipal building. Hundreds of volunteers have helped MAM distribute Story by Robert Davis food, clothing, and other goods to their unhoused neighbors during the last five years. The group also will set up distributions at other locations as needed, she said. Wiederholt said that kind of selfless love can seem “radical” to some. But to her, this is what love looks 4 FEATURE
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