Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
Parent Emeritus
Homelessness & Hearts
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="BusynMember" data-source="post: 649282" data-attributes="member: 1550"><p>This is hard to type.</p><p></p><p>I worked (volunteered) at a local homeless shelter in a basically affluent area. I learned tons working there, although the clients were not very forthcoming in their stories and we didn't ask them. We just sat down and enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal with them (the church ladies really outdid themselves). If we stayed all night, we were available to talk to anyone who needed it. A few times a man who lived in a car with his dog was able to bring his dog in. We didn't ask the church if that was ok...lol. He was a very nice dog and we'd feed him too. We had lots of warm clothes for the people there and they got to sleep and stay until 6am. We packed them bagged lunches then gave them free train tickets so that they could get to the next church that would have this service. The churches switched every night. We also set up job interviews, social workers would come in to help with benefits, and there were counselors for drug problems too.</p><p></p><p>The saddest part is that almost all of the residents who came and left, when they did give a little away about their lives, were addicts who had burned their bridges with all family and friends. They did not seem to want to quit the drugs or the lifestyle because they usually did not go to the job interviews or follow up with social services for the benefits and I don't know what happened with the drug counselor...if they were able to talk some into going into rehab. I would have babysat that dog if the man had wanted to go into rehab. Most of the people were men and very secretive about their lives, but they cried a lot. They knew. </p><p></p><p>This was before I told Bart to leave and, in fact, locked him out. </p><p></p><p>I was not yet good at really detaching when Bart first left. Ex used to pay for him to go to seedy hotels, but I was really glad that he was out of my house due to his scary behaviors, but also glad he was not on the streets. Still, those hotels were nothing to be excited about. Lots of seedy creatures walking around and lots of drugs and police visits. Bart did not do drugs and was sad and scared. I used to visit often and bring food and talk to him. My ex asked me if he should buy a condo up here so Bart would have a place to live. He wasn't afraid to live with Bart. I told him yes!!! Once it happened and Bart moved in, I was very relieved. Ex had a very hard time with him, but I felt relieved that he had a roof over his head.</p><p></p><p>None of us want our adult kids to end up in the street and it broke my heart to see the horrid conditions Bart was living in. But at least he wasn't cold, even if he was scared. And, really, I couldn't have him with me since he regularly bullied me and came so close to assaulting me and he was so big and strong. And I had Princess there and he terrified her.</p><p></p><p>These days when I see a person holding up a sign that says "Homeless, anything helps" I almost always stop and buy dinner or hand over a blanket. One guy, who had a car, turned out to be a con artist who had a house and kids and a job and did this little show in a lot of places before the cops would find out and chase him away. This was a guy I had spoken to about places to get help and I'd given him a big camp blanket I kept in my backseat that was probably worth something. But...you know...I wasn't angry at myself...I meant well.</p><p></p><p>The truly homeless break my heart, no matter why they are there. Mental illness is a huge reason. Addiction is a mental illness. And many have mental illness plus drug addiction. I hope every homeless person I hugged felt a little better after that, when I volunteered at the shelter.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BusynMember, post: 649282, member: 1550"] This is hard to type. I worked (volunteered) at a local homeless shelter in a basically affluent area. I learned tons working there, although the clients were not very forthcoming in their stories and we didn't ask them. We just sat down and enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal with them (the church ladies really outdid themselves). If we stayed all night, we were available to talk to anyone who needed it. A few times a man who lived in a car with his dog was able to bring his dog in. We didn't ask the church if that was ok...lol. He was a very nice dog and we'd feed him too. We had lots of warm clothes for the people there and they got to sleep and stay until 6am. We packed them bagged lunches then gave them free train tickets so that they could get to the next church that would have this service. The churches switched every night. We also set up job interviews, social workers would come in to help with benefits, and there were counselors for drug problems too. The saddest part is that almost all of the residents who came and left, when they did give a little away about their lives, were addicts who had burned their bridges with all family and friends. They did not seem to want to quit the drugs or the lifestyle because they usually did not go to the job interviews or follow up with social services for the benefits and I don't know what happened with the drug counselor...if they were able to talk some into going into rehab. I would have babysat that dog if the man had wanted to go into rehab. Most of the people were men and very secretive about their lives, but they cried a lot. They knew. This was before I told Bart to leave and, in fact, locked him out. I was not yet good at really detaching when Bart first left. Ex used to pay for him to go to seedy hotels, but I was really glad that he was out of my house due to his scary behaviors, but also glad he was not on the streets. Still, those hotels were nothing to be excited about. Lots of seedy creatures walking around and lots of drugs and police visits. Bart did not do drugs and was sad and scared. I used to visit often and bring food and talk to him. My ex asked me if he should buy a condo up here so Bart would have a place to live. He wasn't afraid to live with Bart. I told him yes!!! Once it happened and Bart moved in, I was very relieved. Ex had a very hard time with him, but I felt relieved that he had a roof over his head. None of us want our adult kids to end up in the street and it broke my heart to see the horrid conditions Bart was living in. But at least he wasn't cold, even if he was scared. And, really, I couldn't have him with me since he regularly bullied me and came so close to assaulting me and he was so big and strong. And I had Princess there and he terrified her. These days when I see a person holding up a sign that says "Homeless, anything helps" I almost always stop and buy dinner or hand over a blanket. One guy, who had a car, turned out to be a con artist who had a house and kids and a job and did this little show in a lot of places before the cops would find out and chase him away. This was a guy I had spoken to about places to get help and I'd given him a big camp blanket I kept in my backseat that was probably worth something. But...you know...I wasn't angry at myself...I meant well. The truly homeless break my heart, no matter why they are there. Mental illness is a huge reason. Addiction is a mental illness. And many have mental illness plus drug addiction. I hope every homeless person I hugged felt a little better after that, when I volunteered at the shelter. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
Parent Emeritus
Homelessness & Hearts
Top