Before our visit to Capitol Hall, I hadn’t known that there was such a staggering difference between a homeless residence and a homeless shelter. The two are synonymous literarily, but as one of our guest speakers pointed out, a shelter is not a home. Capitol Hall, on the other hand, was indeed a home for the homeless. The building itself is beautiful and clean, but the most impactful part of Capitol Hall for me was the psychological impact it has on its residents. To go from living on the streets to having a solid place to go to every night, something to call your own, is so invaluable. More than a home, a bed, a kitchen , or a bathroom, Capitol Hall gives it’s residents a new lease on life with their room and a support system to help them get back on their feet.
Capitol Hall also turns the stigma of homelessness on its head by removing the element of blame and shame that adds salt to the already open wound of losing everything after falling on hard times. That’s another thing– sometimes life gets tough and being homeless doesn’t mean you’re too lazy to get a job or you’re a drug addict. The residence hall and the residents in the hall challenge these prejudiced notions and serve as a shining beacon of progress for the city that never stops. Maybe now, people will stop long enough to see that homeless doesn’t mean hopeless.
– Sindi
