Home Page A Better Way My People On The Streets Project
Hey, it’s so
good to see you! Say it verbally, say it with your eyes, and mean it with your
soul. It is the best tool for reaching anyone. Twenty-five degrees out, most,
hunkered down and asleep in their sleeping bag; when I announce “coming at you
with food” to not startle them or invade their space, 80% of them, (drug
addicts, mentally ill, or just people in a strange spot going through things
they’ve never imagined they’d go through,) fight through their sleep and open
their eyes, just to hear me say “So good to see you; do you need anything?”.
Almost always the response is just a sleepy genuine smile, that says “thank you
for being glad to see me” and a verbal “I’m ok thanks”.
That’s where everything has to start and that’s the way it has to stay. We can’t
manage something that is not ours; we can’t help someone get back on their feet,
without knowing them and including them in their process. They are my brothers
and sisters and they are your brothers and sisters and they need a welcoming
community to belong to.
Presently the only meet and greet community on the streets to welcome new
residents and say “come with us, I got you” are the drug dealers and they are
very proficient at it and there is much to be learned from their successful
approach.
We need
to have beautifully, humane outreach workers on the streets constantly, earning
trust from the homeless community, offering direction, a place where the
community is as welcoming but more productive, safer and more enjoyable than
what the drug community is offering. And we need to get there first.
This community base should be a large welcoming area that
exudes “We’re so glad to see you!” and gently welcomes all who come in, and lets
them get comfortable and share themselves and their needs with people that have
the time and ability to listen and are genuinely interested in walking with
them, until they are steady on their own feet.
This
space should be a one stop shop, where they can receive as needed, or directed
and easily referred to physical and mental health care, drug counseling or
treatment, legal aide, housing and financial counseling, work training and
counseling etc.…
This
space should offer a safe place to sleep both inside and outside, devoid of drug
dealers, with a place to secure belongings and retrieve them as needed, showers
and laundry for all without having to share any personal info. Away to integrate
residents and graduates as they are able and capable of, to help with the daily
operations of running the community facility and to mentor others.
This
place should be overly staffed with well-paid and qualified, passionate social
workers, mentors and counselors that are supposed to enjoy their day. Have time
to stop and talk. And have the energy to celebrate all of the small and big
successes and to help people back up when they slip.
Religious services should be available, but optional. Yoga and meditation should
be taught and practiced, as well as self-empowerment classes. All of the staff
(from maintenance, kitchen, and security etc.) should be treated well and paid
fairly and should be trained or able to converse happily and freely with the
clients and residents and be a natural part of the healing and empowerment
process.
Government should have as little influence on this community as possible, as our
community end game is to empower and not control.
There
should be a check and balance system, to ensure that no one is steeling, that
there are no egos to work around, all staff is happily and productively applying
their craft and achieving their goals. And through experiences and evaluations
we create the most efficient and humane ways to empower our clients to be
strong, kind, independent, happy humans!