At First Glance...

When first arriving at Skid Row, it’s hard to know how you should feel about the people surrounding you. It’s a place that many people would never want to go unless they had to. But to others Skid Row is their home; it’s the only place they have that they can call home. They not only live in Skid Row, but they also sleep, eat and use the bathroom all in the same little space they have to call their own.

The people in Skid Row will surprise you; they all have such different personalities and they’re all there for different reasons. Everyone living in what seems to be their own story book just waiting for someone to come by and open the front cover to uncover the incredible, yet heart wrenching story. I personally was able to hear and see some of these unique stories; it was a privilege to be invited into the past lives of some of the residents of Skid Row.

I was able to meet the sweetest of ladies named Alice, whose heart was so big, she had an infectious smile, and a truly genuine personality. In Alice’s story nothing more than a series of unfortunate events landed her in Skid Row. She hasn’t abused drugs or alcohol for years now; she was clean in hopes of getting out of Skid Row. But as many residents of Skid Row find out, it’s much easier to get into the streets than it is to get out. Alice’s want and need to get out of the streets nearly broke my heart. We prayed over Alice and gave her the Dream Center’s number in hopes she would call and enroll in discipleship.

We understand that so many people in Skid Row want to get off the streets and turn their lives around, but we also understand that it’s not always easy. The strongholds are so thick in Skid Row. As soon as someone decides that they want to leave within the next hour, the next day, the next week the enemy will attack them and try to hold them in his prison; he won’t easily let them walk out of his grip.

There’s a cycle in Skid Row that makes it nearly impossible to leave once you’re in. But I believe we serve a God not of the impossible but of the possible. And with the persistent effort of the Dream Center, and all the outreaches that go out on a weekly basis to Skid Row bringing the hope and love of God, that those who want to leave will be enabled to do so. We believe that in stories like those similar to Alice’s will have happy endings due to the Dream Center’s constant visits that build relationships, so that each day brings Alice closer to her dream of leaving the streets.

-Briana-Leigh