Hello Friends!
We've been hearing the news, just like you, about funds going to the remedy for homelessness. Sometimes we even OVERHEAR this talk all around us. What it comes down to is that rents are so high people can't move like they used to in Southern California. Building tear downs put people on the street. PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR SECTION 8 VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY STILL CAN'T FIND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE before time runs out. The millions in homeless related services and the construction of new buildings sounds impressive, until you realize that the numbers of people waiting for these is so high, well, it was once said that if tomorrow housing was provided for the HOMELESS, an entire new town would have to be built.
It's is NO LONGER TRUE that homeless people are "all" mentally ill, or disabled, or on drugs, or addicts, or criminals, or just out of prison. IT IS TRUE THAT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY, homeless in shelters are pressured to "go mental." when their other medical issues won't do it.
So called "Advocacy," lawyers seem to be chasing ambulances around homeless shelters and services. Programs see applying for and getting SSI as the key to income and housing. Don't be fooled by those who say it is only a matter of months. It can take years and many tries.
THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY is supposed to be about helping you get well, not condemning you to the mental illness stigma. So many of those working for county mental health and other facilities are pressured by shelters. If you have a client and you really care and they come to you and say that they are going to be thrown out onto the street if they are not "compliant" with a shelter director's command that they "go mental," what does this "professional" do?
As a matter of HEALTH, no one should be homeless. So what do the nurse practitioners and doctors in the system do when someone is or is going to become street homeless? Help them find a job?
We just want all of you HOMELESS to know that WE KNOW, WE CARE. We hope this blog can help you! We know there is a lot to sort through.
