(cont.)
Homelessness: A problem as old as the cave?
While prostitution may be called the ‘oldest profession’ by some, homelessness represents civilization’s ‘oldest social ill’. In the bedrock of civilization, it is possible – if one might make an educated guess – the root of homelessness lies in the eviction of the first man from his cave who, after painting on the walls, was shunned by a community which feared his art because they did not understand what it meant or where the creative urge came from within him. Propelled by what they perceived to be some inner ‘demon’, the caveman could not stop his painting. And his cave mates could not stop their fear. No matter how many caves he found to inhabit, someone always took exception to his art and he always ended up out in the cold.
For many homeless citizens, feeling excluded from, or outside the family circle or communities where they live, feeling misunderstood, lead them to search for belonging in alternative spaces.
Case Study #3 reflects the recidivistic nature of homelessness in an individual’s life.
For artist and DI client, Sam, his first stay at the DI was in October 2001. In conversation however, Sam admits that he has drifted in and out of homelessness since the mid-80s when after another failed relationship, gambling took precedence over everything else in his life. “They told me once I was an alcoholic, so I went to AA. But drinking isn’t my problem. I don’t crave drink. What I crave is to gamble away any money I have.”
A review of Sam’s database entries indicates that over the course of one thousand two hundred and sixty shelter nights, Sam has been under the influence of alcohol on four occasions. Sam attributes his addictive tendencies to a disruptive childhood (his mother married three times when he was a child) and to sexual abuse by his father when he was fourteen years old which he also indicates happened with other adult males in his life. His file states he suffers from bipolar disorder.
Over the course of his relationship with the DI, Sam has moved out twice to shared accommodation and fluctuated through euphoric and depressive states. An articulate and intelligent man, Sam began to find solid ground when he was able to express himself through his art work. An active member of the DI’s art program, Sam has taken significant steps towards establishing himself outside of the homeless sector. He has successfully re-opened his bank account after paying off accrued fines. He participates in a lifestyle/budgeting program where he is learning to be accountable for his finances and his personal situation.
In December 2008 Sam began working a permanent part time job and in April of this year, he moved into his own apartment in the Sundial building, a mixed market/affordable rent apartment building acquired in 2009 by the DI in downtown Calgary. Sam’s level of contentment with his life, and his commitment to maintaining his housed status has risen exponentially since acquiring a ‘place of his own’.
Sam continues to thrive, though he complains about loneliness and a lack of female companionship. Prior to claiming his housed status, Sam instituted several safeguards to create a framework for success. These safeguards included, having his rent automatically deducted from his pay cheque; limiting his withdrawal options on his bank account (No Interact withdrawals. Maximum $200 withdrawal from a teller per day); and automatically having money transferred from his chequing to savings account with every pay cheque.
His path out of homeless shelter to housed status has, in Sam’s words, “been a continuous struggle to become accountable.” In working with individuals to claim a ‘home of their own’, he suggests it is imperative to accept that
“the person will screw up at least once within the first two to three months. They will self-sabotage. They will fall. What is vital is that they can fall without losing the roof over their head. This will have a huge impact upon them – every other time when they’ve messed up, they’ve lost their housing. You’ve got to give them the rope to fall and have the net beneath them before they hang themselves. Let them hit the ground, don’t let them struggle. Then you get to say, “Okay. Hope you had a good time. Here are the next steps you have to take to fix your situation.” And make them some pretty stringent steps. Make it hard for them, but not so hard they give up and walk away.”
Always interesting to hear the different perspecitves of homelessness.
Thanks for giving me a well written description of how life is on the cold and wet streets of Calgary. It took me a long time to finally find an organisation who is doing exactly what our organisation is doing for the past 12 years
If you wish to compare organisations, please do not hesitate and check out the streetlife in the heart of Europe; namely Luxembourg.
I am a canadian who has resided in Luxembourg since 1980 and am an active volunteer in the redaction since the year 2000.
Keep up the good work you are doing in Calgary and try not to give another bald headed man a comb or a toothless man a nice juicy steak. You can help some people, some of the time, but you can’t help everybody, all of the time.
Heads up and I hope to hear from you in the near future.
Yours Truly,
George E. Nixon
Thank you George for your encouraging words! And thank you for what you do. I shall definitely check out the work in Luxembourg.
so true — you can help some of the people, some of the time, but you can’t help everybody, all of the time.
Cheers!
Louise