I saw bunk bed No. 1313 above No. 1312 with empty plastic bags hanging from its crossbeams. I saw men with pajamas on and towels slung across their necks. I saw people carrying Styrofoam containers of Chinese food packing into the dining room where everyone ate and watched game shows. I heard the radio beat from a distant room. One of the directors guides me through the halls.
Younger inhabitants do the same, only in six month periods.
I learned that CCNV combats the darker aspects of homelessness with job training, computer literacy and art tutorials. Walking and talking, I see their paintings, the pool table and the weight bench. We stop at the front doors. And with a shake and a smile, I m gone. Walking away from the shelter bustling with bedtime preparations, I realize it was almost as typical and everyday as my home.