Homeless Shelter

Recently I have volunteered, in my home town, to help at the homeless shelter (men only)
It sleeps 17, when full and they can stay a while, leave their possessions, the purpose is to assist them using all the agencies and social services, to progress towards, permanent residence, jobs and get their lives back to some semblance of “normalcy”. It doesn’t work for all and many don’t stay or leave and maybe come back two or three times. They have to fill in a questionnaire before entry and if the break the rules, they are excluded, temporarily or if serious for good. No alcohol, no drugs.
I have done a few evenings and one morning (they aren’t allowed in before 9pm and have to leave by 9am), generally it’s a calm place, relatively quiet and the residents are very appreciative of the volunteers. We do basic stuff, serve food and drink, wash up, clean. They can charge their phones, shower, clean clothes etc and everything is donated and free.
The residents are young and old, the reasons for their situation are as varied as they are. Job loss, relationships breakdown, drugs, drink both, bereavement, being kicked out of home, all of the above and many more stories besides.
The overriding impression, is one of, complete lack of confidence, life has beaten them down and they find it difficult to trust anyone or anything. They’ve been let down many times, of course they have contributed to their own problems but society has not treated them well. Don’t get me wrong, there is humour, kindness, love and the spark of determination,  to get themselves out of their current situation. It’s not a sad place, though there is sadness present. There is the presence of how substances have affected many of them, how their character has been altered by this abuse.
It humbles one to understand how some are trying to rebuild their lives. Many will never achieve it, some don’t really want to or are to entrenched in their homelessness.
If one person can be helped then that’s enough.