Travelling home from work this week, I was struck by this sight. The owner of these items (not in the photograph) was travelling on the same train as me. I observed him sitting away from his goods, which I assumed were all his material possessions, on a bench, about 3-4 metres from the trolley.
While we were waiting, a railway attendant walked passed the trolley and paused. He appeared baffled. He looked curiously around to see why it was there, before he spotted the owner. They engaged in a conversation, which I didn’t hear, but what was plain was that the owner made it clear that these were his possessions and that they wouldn’t be staying there permanently. The attendant at first didn’t seem pleased in his interaction, or perhaps assured that these items would be moved from the platform. After some discussion, the attendant moved on. Within a few moments the train arrived.
I entered the same doorway with my travelling companion. He politely allowed other commuters to get on before lugging his trolley onto the train. One woman paused and asked if he needed any assistance. He quietly declined. But getting it over the step proved to be tricky. He attempted the ledge to the train three times without success. I grabbed one part of the handle to help him over the step, as a railway attendant ran toward us to also help. With a simple heave, he was in the train. He quietly thanked me.
My friend stepped off the train at the next stop, Martin Place - perhaps his home for the next little while.
Sleeping or living rough is not fun. The stories that bring people to this place in their lives are many and varied. It is clear that rough sleeping is on the rise in the City of Sydney from the latest stats. Yet behind each number is a person, who thinks, feels and interacts with others just like I do. I don’t have to explain to anyone about my backpack when I get on a train. But, for someone who is homeless, they have to deal with more than just carrying their goods around. It can be quite a socially isolating dynamic.
Rough Edges exists so that we can provide a place of safety and acceptance for people whose resources are worn pretty thin. I’m convinced more than ever of how important our work is.