JKF
Well-Known Member
As you ALL know I'm dealing nonstop with a mentally ill difficult child who is now homeless. He was kicked out of the only emergency shelter in our county for being verbally abusive and breaking a curfew rule. I was told by the Office of Temp Assistance that they would not help him find housing for 6 months because he caused his own homelessness. It doesn't matter that he's mentally ill and that his homelessness is the result of the behaviors caused by his mental illness. All that matters is that he broke the rules. Ugggh!
I've been working with the Mental Health Association and they've been a godsend. He's up next for a bed at the Safe Haven shelter and hopefully that will open soon because he's been living at the train station and behind a stairwell. He hasn't showered or changed clothes in over a week. The social worker from the OTA urged me to contact the shelter he was kicked out of and explain to the director about difficult child's mental health issues and ask if they would be willing to let him stay until his bed opens up if he would promise to follow the rules and take his medication every day. She said they may not agree but it would be worth a try.
Ok, so I emailed the director of the shelter and explained the situation. He just called me back and said that they "do not have the capacity to deal with the mentally ill and that because of that they are turning mentally ill people away. So basically no, difficult child can't come back at all because he's mentally ill and they don't want mentally ill people there. Uhhh hello - half of the homeless population is MENTALLY ILL! He also told me I should at least feel better because the "weather's taking a turn" and difficult child probably won't freeze to death out on the streets.
This guy was a complete a**hole and I really wanted to pull a difficult child and tell him so. I bit my tongue and thanked him, but I am now considering taking this further. My friend who works in the mental health field suggested maybe contacting the newspaper.
I called the OTA social worker back and she confirmed that the shelter does not like to take people with mental health issues because most of the staff there are recovering addicts and alcoholics and they don't have the training to deal with mental health. Isn't that discrimination? Not allowing someone in because of a disability or illness?? I don't know - maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree but I feel like something is seriously wrong with this whole thing.
I expressed my disgust to the social worker. I said difficult child has been living under a stairwell and at the train station and he hasn't showered in over a week. I said he's deteriorating rapidly and needs HELP! She then put me on hold and went to her supervisor with the whole situation. When she came back on the line she asked if maybe I could take him to which I said no I can't so she said she's calling the MHA worker and would get back to me shortly. Maybe I'll get some kind of good news out of this but I'm not holding my breath. Uggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!
I've been working with the Mental Health Association and they've been a godsend. He's up next for a bed at the Safe Haven shelter and hopefully that will open soon because he's been living at the train station and behind a stairwell. He hasn't showered or changed clothes in over a week. The social worker from the OTA urged me to contact the shelter he was kicked out of and explain to the director about difficult child's mental health issues and ask if they would be willing to let him stay until his bed opens up if he would promise to follow the rules and take his medication every day. She said they may not agree but it would be worth a try.
Ok, so I emailed the director of the shelter and explained the situation. He just called me back and said that they "do not have the capacity to deal with the mentally ill and that because of that they are turning mentally ill people away. So basically no, difficult child can't come back at all because he's mentally ill and they don't want mentally ill people there. Uhhh hello - half of the homeless population is MENTALLY ILL! He also told me I should at least feel better because the "weather's taking a turn" and difficult child probably won't freeze to death out on the streets.
This guy was a complete a**hole and I really wanted to pull a difficult child and tell him so. I bit my tongue and thanked him, but I am now considering taking this further. My friend who works in the mental health field suggested maybe contacting the newspaper.
I called the OTA social worker back and she confirmed that the shelter does not like to take people with mental health issues because most of the staff there are recovering addicts and alcoholics and they don't have the training to deal with mental health. Isn't that discrimination? Not allowing someone in because of a disability or illness?? I don't know - maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree but I feel like something is seriously wrong with this whole thing.
I expressed my disgust to the social worker. I said difficult child has been living under a stairwell and at the train station and he hasn't showered in over a week. I said he's deteriorating rapidly and needs HELP! She then put me on hold and went to her supervisor with the whole situation. When she came back on the line she asked if maybe I could take him to which I said no I can't so she said she's calling the MHA worker and would get back to me shortly. Maybe I'll get some kind of good news out of this but I'm not holding my breath. Uggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!
I rinsed my hands and hurried out of the bathroom and didn't make eye contact so I have no idea who it was. They were probably in shock! lol And I'm pretty sure the MHA worker heard the toilet flush. But you know what? Oh well. If that's the worst thing that happens to me today I'll take it. 
