Day 119- December 6, 2010

A current topic of interest in the Mobile JV house is the use of heat during these (almost) freezing nights.

Tonight the lows will be below freezing.  The cost of turning on the heat at 50 degrees for the night is upwards of $50.  We have a big old southern house, which means there is no insulation.  

We called one of our support people, David, and asked his opinion.  David lives simply and it is very intentional.  He lives below his means because other people have needs they cannot meet.  He meets his family's most basic needs and then gives what he can to those who cannot meet their own most basic needs.  It is inspirational the way he lives his life with his wife and three children.  David rarely uses the heat in his home, so his advice on the nights it is cold, is to keep your faucet dripping to prevent any pipes from freezing.  We also asked him to let us know when, if ever, he turns his heat on and we will do the same.

My feelings on using the heat:

People die on the streets.  In the winter people freeze to death because they do not have a warm place to sleep.  We have a home.  We have multiple clothing options to layer up with and stay warm.  We have blankets to sleep under in our own beds.  We have so much and we are so blessed.  

I know that keeping the heat off does not keep people from dying in the streets.  But keeping the heat off allows us, in some small way, to live in solidarity with population we serve.  Every single one of Megan's clients is homeless.  Some may find a place to sleep in the five shelters, two of which are abuse shelters, in all of Mobile and Baldwin County, but most will not find shelter and they will sleep on the streets, in the cold, without a bed, or warm blankets.  My goal is not to complain I am cold because there are so many things I have that are beyond my basic needs.  I do not keep a space heater in my room and do not plan to use one in my room.  Yes it is cold at night and it is damn cold in the morning when I get up for work, but is my warmth a basic need? I am not going to freeze, I may catch a cold, but I hope to be able to maintain our house goal of not using the heat throughout this cold period in Mobile.