What is needed the most?

I appreciate you wanting to help.

I think you may be making assumptions about what you think we, who live outdoors, lack.

I won't "get" a home because it is not worth it. Paying maximum rent to live in some crappy place is not worth it. Working at a job (or jobs) I hate in order to pay a mortgage (gauge of my death) on a crappily built house that I don't really want to live in is not worth it. Rent and mortgages are contracts of enslavement.

I won't "get" jobs because they are often harmful to my being and harmful to others. It seems to me that enormous amounts of fiat currency are rewarded for destructive deeds. I recently read a campaign on the web about preserving the small amount of old growth forest that remains on Vancouver Island. I think that this is a worthy cause, however on the same web page was an advertisement from stock broker encouraging people to invest in forestry. No one is paying me to grow food.

I won't "get" health services because the medical mafia slowly kills people for profit. The so-called ailments are merely labels to distract from source. The most basic health services I require are: food and shelter.

I won't "get" whatever help it is that I need most because this only serves to reinforce a false sense of neediness and desperation. And, I don't know what I need most. It isn't "whatever."

I think you are on the right track in asking questions, and relating to people in your community. Often the kindest deed is simply to listen.

Sometimes it was the wet and cold, I needed to be indoors. I slept wet in my wet sleeping bag -- perhaps a lack of suitable tools and equipment -- a waterproof tarp. But, more than that was the fact that I would hide to avoid assault and torture from so-called authorities because of unconstitutional manufactured by-laws that say that camping is not allowed in the city of Victoria.

A lack of enriched soil with a source of water. The distance between my sleep space(s) and my garden, often miles, if not further away. The encroachment of neighbouring gardeners, who may not agree with my "do nothing" approach to gardening. My lack of knowledge of even very basic gardening skills, but that hasn't stopped me so far.

If you want to help...

How much are you willing to do?

In my opinion, many services are not reaching people on the street or not reaching the low-income people where, when, and how they need it. You already wrote that you want to help where you are needed...

Are you willing to go have contact with people? Do a 'demo=crew' (training in a shelter that incorporates a 'homeless for a day/week' experience) or something and actually speak to the homeless/low-income people that you want to help?

There are so many different needs but mostly, I think that the homeless are NOT BEING HEARD and they are not being shown right in the media. The public, even if they want to help, cannot help until they start to ask the questions that you have - "Where can I help BEST?"

Poor people and marginalized people are hungry, that is true, so people jam them into shelters and feed them whatever fills their bellies, hundreds of people at a time...but once their bellies are fill all there is is some curfew, a mat on the floor, other people who also don't know how they're going to get out of their situation...and a long night of wondering what will come tomorrow when there's no money in the pocket.

Nobody REALLY listens to how many of the people got "there"...that 1 person got evicted because of this and that but another took too many drugs because he was having marital difficulties, that so and so had a fight with her parents and was kicked out of the house - that HE lost his job and She lost her child and went into a deep depression when the baby died and is still reeling...

These are real people with real situations just like other people have. Some people have more family and more money and do not end up on the streets, shelters, etc. It is the ones who lack supports that end up in shelters on on the streets for passersby to look pityingly at, saying "tsk tsk - that person must be at fault."

Not everyone on the street is a druggie, a con, or lazy...some people who have been very stable in the past have found themselves in housing, marital, relationship, job, and community situations that people should never have to cope with if our society weren't so messed up.

Some people recover very nicely when they are actually HEARD - when they are looked upon as a real person rather than a homeless vagrant.

Can you visit some people and just listen?

The 'broad solutions' aren't working...the shelters, the public aid, the welfare systems...they aren't working all that well. But if you can focus on one person...do you think you can find an individual way to help one person?

I couldn't tell you what each individual person needs in the way of assistance but I'm glad that you put a message up that you want to help...

Think for yourself - and do an individual thing - for one real person, and that might be a start... (Mentorship)

Allie,

Can I participate in your survey?

This was a really interesting perspective - somethings I ever expected to hear or ever really thought about. Thank you for sharing!

They have/had this in VAncouver when I was there last year, an outreach worker would wake you up and ask" do you want a place to live?' If you said yes the went and got you a cheap breakfast because it was going to be loing day indeed. From there they went to welfare with you, help you to fasttrack your application, and then worked all day until they had found a place with you, afterwhich abtaining you a rent report with which you can complete your welfare requirements to have housing, and then you get your check (usually same day), pay rent and procede to live indoors, in your place, where it is infinitly easier to find a job/schooling, etc...

Just an idea.

Terrance

Thank you!

I'll definitely think about that and look into the possibility.

hi ya wanted to answer this survey give you some insight i was homeless going to addiction etc i got good insights had 2 learn hard way thru hell there s DEFINITLY a RIGHT way and WRONG way to help cuz it is where u end up and the end result that matters most-where its all leading to, for BETTER or Wrose...there are waaaayyy too many poeple THINKING they are helping make the problem better but look around you and see it aint working and it really makes things worse- called "enabling" or "rescuing" or "learned helplessness"

I prefer the BEST

FRIST
we need people to care, not pills to make us "feel happy"
we need PEOPLE to care, NOT material things just handed out brainlessly to be left discarded for the city to clean up later
we need PEOPLE to care, not make a homeless person feel worse by ASSUMING, JUDGING, and ACTING LIKE YA KNOW WHEN U DONT KNOW!
We need PEOPLE to NOT put up with and tolerate dysfunctional, destructive, hurtful ("bad") behaviour such as lying, stealing, manipulating, bullying to instill fear/control, guilt etc...by ANYONE organizations OR the street people themselves
We need PEOPLE to STOP CORRUPTION, SELFISH MOTIVES and Take responsibility for their actions and be ACCOUNTABLE-INCLUDING the STREET PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

So many social workers and street people need to Swallow their Pride and ACCEPT sound correction and counsel and do the work to make it work and get out of DENIAL - HUGE problem with the "Stockholm Syndrome" (look it up and you will see what I mean). Also too many social workers have too much "unfinished business" in their own past childhoods and "issues/conflicts" etc that is projected personally onto their job and results in the same sick behavioural patterns and dysfunction that made the family life so screwed up in the 1st place! EXAMPLE: If a street person becomes violent and
angry at a social worker just to act like a spoiled brat and "get their way" and the social worker caves in and gives, 2 thing happen 1) it is like rewarding bad behaviour and sends message that being violent and angry is what it takes to get something outta some one, 2) if the social worker had a violent and angry parent in the PAST growing up and capitulated so they wouldnt get the parent mad, then the PRESENT street person whoever's behaviour will seem "acceptable" and "normal" and the Social worker will just do the same thing-like learned behaviour = comfort zone and familiar so feels "right" even though NOT. Just cuz its "accepted in family, accepted in culture, accepted in society DOESNT MEAN IT IS HEALTHY OR RIGHT! THATS like Stockholm Syndrome and being in denial-refuse to see its not ok and think it is-thats just dangerous.

DONT give street people too much help, so it promotes the learned helplessness or lazyness, but then don't give them too little support so they might give up by becoming overly sad. Balance.

Its all about learning healthy social and interactions with others including 1) safe BOUNDARIES
2) controlling and coping with negative emotions, cuz lottta street people including me have been so taken advantage of and abused etc that we got really screwed up boundaries dont know where u begin and I end and loads of frustration and ANGER...and sadness, grief, but mostly ANGER, and lots of FEAR which translates and shows itself as ANGER...am I wrong?! so many poeple on streets are so disconnected from people due to damage done with abuse and bad memories etc then use drugs to block out painful feelings and then more disconnected so then use more drugs...crime...feel worse about themselves...more drugs...get the cycle?

ASK WHY! DON'T ASSUME!

please contact me

returnedtoinnocence@yahoo.ca

thank u

Kira K

hi that is so perfect you have a really deep understanding of these issues it is so true if poeple just took the time to listen and get to know people then u could find out the Difference between who really wants/need lhelp and the "lazy, cons" like you said. Also Jody Patterson said same in this street article saying how hard to tell difference between victim of circumstance street people and "criminals and sociopaths in the mix" (those who truly just want to live and survive by sucking off society and using taking advantage of people).

Time tells all-and getting to know someone takes time...especially when so many poeple have so many things they wanna hide, shame, denial, lie to cover over...can reach these people too just gotta make it safe to do so!

also great point say we never shoulda had to deal with this horrors the way society so screwed up. Even Bible supports that. Ecclesiastes 7:7 "Opression ...make(s) a wise one act crazy and a gift can destroy the heart" also Death is called "the last enemy" Isaiah I think, so to show we never shoudla had to deal with death...cuz we're sposed to live forever ("to time indefinite, even forever He (God) has put in their (humans) hearts" .
Also Psalms chapter 72 and beginning of Habbakuk also show like-mindedness and agree with you.

Even the media agrees look up lyrics for song "We were meant to live for so much more" by Switchfoot. Says it all!

We all need hope, no matter how much poeple help us, there's still so much going on people dont have the mastery over, thats why some things are up to us, others up to God. I found many answers to lifes deepest and disturbing questions from the study of the Bible and even though Im not one, I studied with Jehovahs Witnesses, they do free personal Bible studies wherever, whenever-cuz like you said, the most important thing is getting to know...that is God's will too, having Accurate knowledge = Answers (1Timothy2:3,4)

thanx

Hi sorry forgot most important thing...
You wanna help homeless? DON'T make same mistakes as me!

KNOW WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH! These people (me included) are extremely emotionally damaged, especially with addictions. Its like explosives, you don't know how to handle them, even one little bump will set it off, then it is extemely dangerous for you. I am only now, after living with myself 26 years and allllll of the insight and experiences and crap I've gone thru and talking to counsellors and courses, and workshops and observing and talking to and "getting to know" addicts and travelling the "Low Income Loop" and theres still so much I dont get and I am just beginning to realize this is icecubes of icebergs and how little I really do know/understand and how warped some of these peoples mentalities are, and mine too from before-it is only AFTER I changed my sick dysfunctional ways and got healthy that I realized how sick I was! So you really need to educate YOURSELF First!

...I've never been addicted to an actual substance like shoot, snort, ingest but even then the person's experience is intensely individual and personal and you can't "categorize" but you can make safe predictions that there ARE different challenges to things like 1) what kind of drug the addict is hooked on, 2) the method of using, 3) the person themselves and the effect the drug has on them and reasons/denials for using - there are soooooo many variables and sooooo much unpredictabilities it is so hard to figure out-it is NOT simple but you can simplify it when you follow simple principles - cuz we are all still human underneith this all and respond to the same basic needs: all appreciate honesty, respect, love, caring-you gotta watch I've had people purposefully hurt me when I've tried to help-with appropriate boundaries to keep me safe-and the addict wants to take all offense and "punish" me since I've "refused" to do certain things etc or will just drive me away by hurting me cuz they are so used to being hated that they almost can't stand love and the fact that maybe someone cares, cant beleive honesty cuz have been lied to so much, can't see truth cuz surrounded by denial....know what I mean? Like state of shock...I did it too. Thought: "How can YOU like me when everyone else hates me? Who would want me...?"

like I said u really gotta know where these people are coming from and be extremely careful. One addict I talked to after I bemoaned getting ripped off by another for foolishly letting him stay at my home for a cold night said "You shouldnt have done that...I dont even trust myself!" What does that show? NO self control or inhibitiions...the drugs take away and alter permanently the brain function and chemicals, the personality is not who they really are, and the traumatic experience further alters the personality...so try to get to know someone like that-so much of what we do is based on our feelings/moods...so think if someone went and purposefully messed all that up and altered it....who has an idea? The person is at the mercy of their moods, which is being driven by the drugs or their negative emotions-its such a breeding ground...

anyways before I go on, here is what I found helps:

1) Get to know the PROBLEM: RESEARCH: good books from credible sources/go on internet/take courses
2) TALK: what u are doing excellent talk to people themselves who are on the streets. Also talk to "front line workers" especially psych nurses and medical staff-medical end most distressing cuz these people are killing themseleves and they know it and feel so outta control to stop it.
3) BOUNDARIES FOR HEALTHY INTERACTIONS: develop lots of patience and STRICT Boundaries , be prepared to Enforce them and NEVER let your answer "No" be changed or disrespected or your safety be put at risk-your safety is way more important than another persons feelings thats THEIR problem-dont be so "polite" and say it dont matter when it really does-dont give the impression if a person pushes hard enough, get mad enough, whines enough etc you will give in...honest, it IS like dealing with little spoiled brats and babies (even me - emotionally stunted)-just way more dangerous cuz u dont know how far a person will go to "get their way". Dont worry about if a person "feels bad" or how they take it - thats THEIR problem NOT Yours-you have the RIGHT to keep yourself safe and protected from anger/violence. Keep yourself protected and dont take abuse - walk away and AVOID. There is NO reasoning with psychosis and that is what these people are in and detached from reality if high or braindamaged on drugs... I've seen street people they are so desperate you give an inch as a "break" for them, they take MILES - kindness IS weakness to alot of them. Dont get sucked in/conned by being guilted or blamed (a favorite for addicts so they dont have to take responsibiity for their actions they'll just blame everything and everyone else-like I did). Theres a time to seek and a time to give up as lost - Ecclesiastes
4) Get to know the PEOPLE, and ya, treat us like everyone else, cuz dispite our mental health issues and addictions-we ARE like everyone else and have the SAME desires and SAME needs and SAME wishes, hopes and dreams as everyone else, we wanna be safe and healthy and successful just the SAME!

thanx

so no responsibility is taken for your life and what you are doing with it...everyone else is to blame for where you are like a puppet on a string? who is holding you back again?? Yourself maybe? Theres Ways and Means. Like many other people, I had subsidized housing and now am renting a great place with fantastic landlords I grow my own garden on the side of the house in summer and buy bulk and save and don't waste money on junk and spend wise so I got money leftover. I'm doing well cuz of the Choices I made, no one else controlled what I did-I did! You can look for an excuse for EVERYTHING if you wanted to. Or you can just get on with it and find what you are looking for-it IS out there!-your choice. If what you say is what is holding you back-then lets suppose None of the rest of us who were stuck like you (including me) would Ever have recovered or gotten a place or broken our addictions or healed from our medical problems or gotten better or made positive changes in our lives - whats so different between us? I'm no one special, I didnt even do it on my own- but I submitted and accepted the guidence to what would help me and so only then succeeded-believe me I have screwed up so many things in my life and felt trapped like a helpless victim, then realized how much I'm not! I just made excuses and put up walls to justify not doing what I needed to all along... not a baby elephant anymore, not a helpless child who needs it all done for me, I gotta do it myself

Thanx

Oh sweet Bird!

I hate to say it but you're totally right. And you word it perfectly. Yup, its cold, i'm sleeping in the red turtle truck that is parked outside of this library out of gas. Hell, opps, heck, I have to get the turtle truck a running push start to pop the clutch to get the stupid thin going. I'm hungry now because I gave my food to stupid people, only to find myself MORE stupid then they.

BUT I WILL make it out of here. Last weekend I would have been, was a wreck. This week I have a peace that so what, I need to loose some weight anyway but I will get a job soon. aww girl, I'm preaching to the choir girl, she knows the truth of life (Ms Bird that is knows)

We can't stop homelessness but we can help fight it.

FreddieCrazyThingCalledLove
Someone, somewhere, near Seattle

Hi allie!

Some who have houses may be homeless; some without houses are not homeless. A wealthy house can be a spiritual void. A shelter-less wasteland can be a loving oasis. I once had a well-to-do friend who laughed at the crack addicts as they scratched in the dirt looking for bits of crack. One morning before he went to his office to work I saw him scratching round his carpet looking for bits of crack. I saw skid row materialize before my eyes in his wealthy house. This is my understanding that living without shelter has taught. I think that understanding is what is most needed.

Hi Terrance we do that here in Kelowna, on the right track.

i Allie

Hey I willing to meet with you on either Monday morning or Tuesday afternoon to answer some of your questions. I personal think it would be a great idea if you post the questions. Then you will get a broader response.

Thats a supser cool way to get it done. It never happened to me in Van, but it's good to know that it happens.

...it's Tuesday afternoon and I just saw this! Darn it. You're right - I think I'll post the survey. :) Thanks again!

everyone else is to blame for where you are like a puppet on a string?

No. I didn't make the grandiose statement that "everyone else is to blame" even though it might be easier for me to write that. Perhaps as I read, I am like a puppet on a string. I see myself as a victim of circumstance, a joyful being of circumstance, maybe some other story-of-stance, and I let the story go. Things change.

who is holding you back again??

No one. Me back is not held. My strings are my own illusion. And mayhaps I dance within and without.

Yourself maybe?

Myself maybe. Yourself maybe?

If what you say is what is holding you back-then lets suppose None of the rest of us who were stuck like you (including me) would Ever have recovered or gotten a place or broken our addictions or healed from our medical problems or gotten better or made positive changes in our lives - whats so different between us?

I think that there is no difference between us. Even though our happenstance may differ, I think we are very much the same.