Spring Break
Homeless does not equal hopeless
Kevin Kenealy/Pounce Editor
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: News
John Schwab is a Beatles fan. John Schwab is a rummy player. John Schwab is a guest at PADS in Mattoon, where he often stays overnight.
PADS is an overnight homeless shelter and Schwab is one of three people staying this night; eleven have come to just enjoy the salad and lasagna. Guests wait outside until about 6:50 p.m., then file in and set their IDs in one of two slots that read "Overnight" or "Meal Only."
But Schwab, 57, said he is not ashamed to come. In fact, Schwab comes voluntarily and said he has never considered himself homeless at any point in his life.
"A homeless person encompasses a variety of definitions. You can be homeless by choice, by force or by handicap," Schwab said. "Most people that come here are a lot of transients, they stay and they go. You have to look at the individual, the definition of why they're here."
According to John Heldman, executive director of PADS, the actual homeless person that comes into the shelter is an average of 42 years, has graduated high school, and earns about $800 a month. Heldman said that Schwab doesn't quite fit the mold at the shelter in that he is very aware of everything that is going on around him.
The full-time worker at a Mattoon Hardee's who has served in the military for 14 years said he has nothing bad to say about a place like PADS.
"The staff is very friendly, and is well-qualified to deal with all different types of people, people who are in transition, such as myself," he said.
One of the members of this staff is PADS worker Ron White, who has been at PADS for about four and a half years, or about two months after it opened. However, White has been helping the homeless before his time at PADS.
Ron and his wife, Debbie, have been feeding and letting the homeless stay at their home for a number of years, believing that if he shows them love it will be hard for people to take it out on them.
"They will try harder not to drink or take drugs when you show them your love," said White.
PADS is an overnight homeless shelter and Schwab is one of three people staying this night; eleven have come to just enjoy the salad and lasagna. Guests wait outside until about 6:50 p.m., then file in and set their IDs in one of two slots that read "Overnight" or "Meal Only."
But Schwab, 57, said he is not ashamed to come. In fact, Schwab comes voluntarily and said he has never considered himself homeless at any point in his life.
"A homeless person encompasses a variety of definitions. You can be homeless by choice, by force or by handicap," Schwab said. "Most people that come here are a lot of transients, they stay and they go. You have to look at the individual, the definition of why they're here."
According to John Heldman, executive director of PADS, the actual homeless person that comes into the shelter is an average of 42 years, has graduated high school, and earns about $800 a month. Heldman said that Schwab doesn't quite fit the mold at the shelter in that he is very aware of everything that is going on around him.
The full-time worker at a Mattoon Hardee's who has served in the military for 14 years said he has nothing bad to say about a place like PADS.
"The staff is very friendly, and is well-qualified to deal with all different types of people, people who are in transition, such as myself," he said.
One of the members of this staff is PADS worker Ron White, who has been at PADS for about four and a half years, or about two months after it opened. However, White has been helping the homeless before his time at PADS.
Ron and his wife, Debbie, have been feeding and letting the homeless stay at their home for a number of years, believing that if he shows them love it will be hard for people to take it out on them.
"They will try harder not to drink or take drugs when you show them your love," said White.
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