Diane Hampton spent last Thursday night sleeping on the sidewalk in front of Denver’s St. Francis Center. She slept on her stomach because that position works best for her. Beneath her and on top of her were several blankets to ward off the cold of the concrete, the night and another bout of pneumonia that put her in the emergency room once before.
She has learned to refuse giving in to the smell of the smoke wafting toward her from other homeless lighting up their crack pipes nearby. If she gives in, she knows she might end up in the county jail again.
Hampton’s determination to stay clean brought her to PHC Friday. She spent the day seeking medical care, employment and housing.
With chronic back pain, arthritis in both knees, asthma and high blood pressure, medical assistance was her first priority. At a prior examination by a doctor she was told she was at risk for a stroke or heart attack.
“I haven’t smoked yesterday or this morning, not one cig,” she said with a grin that stretched from one ear to the other. Smoking a pack or more per day, this was the first of several victories Hampton would win Friday.
After filling out seemingly endless paperwork and waiting in almost interminable lines, Hampton was examined by Vanessa Page, a nursing student volunteer from Regis University. When Page told Hampton that her blood pressure was high but not dangerously so, Hampton’s face lit up with joy.
“Did you hear that?” Hampton asked with a big grin.
Next, Hampton stood in line in front of the employment table. Hampton has worked over 20 years for airline companies, as a restaurant employee and wheelchair assistant, until her back pain disabled her from pushing wheelchairs. She was laid off and has been out of work for seven years. Yet she was in line to get a job lead. “I love to work,” she said. “I’m gonna find me a job ’cause I can’t be like everyone else and sit around and smoke.”
Once at the employment table, a volunteer helped her create a resume. Next, she interviewed with several employers for kitchen and customer service positions.
But the line for housing was so long, and Hampton never made it to the housing table. She had to catch the bus that would take her back to St. Francis shelter.
