TEMPLE, TX — We have faced obstacles this election year such as socially-distant voting, long lines at the polls and a delayed postal system for mail-in ballots. Those hardships are even greater for the homeless community.
The first step for many in the homeless community may be the most intimidating, getting registered to vote. With no permanent address and in some cases no government identification, local organizations are making sure these individuals can still make their voices heard in November.
Feed My Sheep in Temple, a center that helps those battling homelessness or who just need some extra help, said voting in the upcoming election affects how everyone lives.
“These decisions, of course, affect us in our daily lives,” said Staci Masson, the executive director of the center. “Down the road, they have ripple effects, no matter how disconnected you may be from society.”
This is the first election Tammy Bowers has voted in while being homeless.
“It’s time consuming. You have to stand in that line, getting there is hard,” Bowers said as she reflected on her early voting experience. “But we know that our vote counts.”
Beyond time constraints and transportation, Masson believes education is a huge barrier for the homeless community.
“They’re worried about shelter and clothing and food,” Masson said. “Not understanding the outcome of an election affects your access to shelter and food and clothing.”
Then there’s mental health. In a study conducted by The National Institute of Mental Health, 45% of the homeless suffer from a history of mental illness. Masson said mental health is yet another reason preventing the homeless from getting out and voting.
“If they could walk in and get on out of there, but to stay in that environment is so uncomfortable, and feeling the pressure that may or may not be there, it’s perceived,” she said.
It’s a pressure Bowers knows all too well.
“I feel like I’m dirt,” she claimed. “Just because I may not smell like I should or my face may not be washed and there are people out there judging… I mean it’s hard but we deal with it.”
Feed My Sheep in Temple helped homeless voters get registered and the bus transportation, HOP, will be offering free transportation on election day.
