Street youth work: What’s that? Really?
Posted by ken on January 5, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Very different indeed. A bit hard to process for some, so let’s paint a picture of the reality of kids on the street. Many issues certainly, here are a few:
Physical Abuse: most kids are fleeing domestic violence. Hard as street life is, it’s viewed as better than ‘home’.
Substance Abuse: if it hasn’t already started, it comes into the picture big time when the kids hit the streets. It begins as self-medication to try to deal with pain of whatever they are facing. Then it turns into a physiological thing and then the kids need to maintain so as not to go into withdrawal.
All alone: Even though they hang out in larger groups for safety, each of these ‘tough kids’ is just a kid, like the kid across the street from you, who has HAD to put on an image in order to survive. It is a mask, necessary for survival. No support, no one to help, none. None.
Violence: is a part of it all, along with ‘survival tactics’ that are less than pretty: prostitution, drug use with needles and prescriptions and whatever else comes to hand, even running drugs for the ‘boss’ man.
We deal with these issues, portrayed through kids who mostly never had a fair chance because of their background. So we love on them, encourage them in the smallest things you can imagine, build self-esteem whenever we can, and really, just try to hang on to them.
Statistics report that there are a few levels of socio-economic backgrounds of kids on the streets, but guess what? The pimps, dealers and other exploiters, really do NOT care. They see a source of income, a piece of meat to ‘sell’, a means to their own selfish ends.
They come to us. They come every week. They have no other place to go that is positive, encouraging and supportive.
Yea, it’s hard work, and it really hurts sometimes, but we believe in these kids with all of our hearts.
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, General Poverty, Homelessness, Injustice, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Passion for Youth art program, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, street youth art program, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, systemic poverty canada, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Recovery, Street Outreach, street youth outreach, walk the streets
No Where to Go
Posted by ken on January 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment
We were eating lunch when about twelve taps at the door came, softly, rhythmically and then stopped. We looked at each other and guessed it was the one of our guys that always came when we were closed. “Pete, for sure,” and we agreed.
We opened the door to find Rachel, a twenty something native Canadian with a three inch gash over her right temple, blood not fresh, but not old either. “I had no where to go. I couldn’t find anybody. I didn’t know what to do, so I came here.”
We ushered her in, sat her down and started to tend to her wound. There was more: a bicycle pedal imprint over her right knee where she had been thrown, sore ribs and bruises on her body where she had been kicked and punched.
“I don’t know why I get guys that beat me up,” she said softly, between tears. “I left my last boyfriend for this very reason. I just found out I am a month pregnant. What am I going to do?”
“You did the right thing to come to us,” we comforted her.
We cleaned the wound and bandaged it – thankfully it didn’t need stitches – this time. She spoke so softly, as if her every word, let alone her presence with us was, as she thought, was such an intrusion.
“I couldn’t find Benny or Smitty or Lally, or anybody. I had nowhere else to go. I didn’t know what to do,” she said again, and then broke into muffled sobs.
As I watched, Erin put down the towel, and wrapped her arms around Rachel, and held her. The sobs turned to a moaning and deep sobbing from areas of pain deep within. She melted into Erin’s embrace, now just a little girl, all alone, with some pretty big problems.
“There, there,” Erin whispered, “You’re Ok with us. You are safe here.” And she held her.
That’s it. That’s what OIM is all about – somewhere and someone to whom you can run when the bottom falls out of life. A safe place where someone who cares will hold you when the whole world is crashing around you. Where you have a name. Where you can share your pain, and know that another human being really does care. Where, for not-enough-minutes-at-a-time, you can have a family again.
Moments of time etched on our minds, some of which will not be soon forgotten. When something we do seems to make a whole lot of sense, in a world which doesn’t make sense at all. If we never did another single, solitary thing for the rest of forever, we were there – and we are here – for Rachel.
Filed under Addictions, Alcoholism, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, General Poverty, Homelessness, Justice, justice canada, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Respect, Social · Tagged with biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, help the poor, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, social justice, Street Youth
BIG day at the Drop In
Posted by ken on January 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment
We receive many donations of clothing at the drop in and we invite folks to help themselves to whatever they need. From time to time we are presented with genuine needs that go far beyond any donation.
Jimmy takes a size 15 boot and has difficulties finding this size anywhere in the city. Bill has a rather large circumference and has the same problem.
I approached Bill and told him we could help. If he would like, we could go to a big box store and he could get a couple pair of pants. He declined, saying that his sweat pants were serving their purpose quite well, and that there was no need – perhaps I could find someone who was really poor and who needed it. After some further conversation, he hesitantly admitted, well, he might be able to use some 52” waist trousers given that his other pair of pants were shorts (and he had been wearing them this winter!!) He was too shy to come with me, but if I went to the box store, he would need 52” a (not 50”) waist. I asked if we should do a measurement just in case, but we couldn’t find a measuring tape.
Final words, “Fifty-two.”
“No problem”, I replied, “You wait right here.”
South on Bank Street, and my two BIG questions (nice pun!) at the box store, “Do you have 52” waist pants and size 15 warm winter boots?” was answered in the affirmative. Back to the drop in.
I discretely passed Bill the inside out bag with two pairs of pants and suspenders, and encouraged him to go try them on for size. “Are they 52?” he asked.
“Yes, they are.”
“Then they will be fine, thank you very much. Fifty-two’s will be just fine. Thank you very much.”
“It might be good to try them, just in case. Sometimes store measurements can be a bit off,” I proposed, and, after receiving a somewhat hesitant affirmation, I went off to find Jimmy. Word got out that I had been looking for him, and he was waiting when I returned. Before I told him about the new boots he mentioned that his feet were wet and cold from the snow, and size 15 were not common. I told him that was just what I wanted to talk to him about. He welcomed the news and we went to the car, and he tried on the boots right there.
“Are these size 14?” he asked.
“No, these are size 15 – hey, here’s the tag,” and showed him the big ‘15’ on the box.
“Hmmm, nice.”
I passed him one of the boots and he asked for the other. “My left foot is bigger,” he explained.
Long story short, the left foot was a bit tight, but the right fit perfectly. He was very pleased and thanked me profusely.
Back downstairs to see how Bill made out. When I was only just in sight, he yelled, “Good one Ken! Thanks to Lord too,” and explained how the pants did not fit properly – maybe an inch and a half too short of buttoning up.
“Maybe get a 54 or 55 would be good. Don’t be shy. Sorry for the trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” I replied, “Better to find out now and make the exchange.”
South on Bank Street, and now just one BIG question, “Do you have 54” and Matt promptly searched for the right numbers. “Do you have 55?” I inquired, “that might be better.”
“If it’s just 1 ½ inch, then a 54 will fit just fine.”
Back again to the drop in – it was almost deserted by this time – and no Bill. Anybody seen Bill? He was upstairs getting his hair cut, so all was well.
“Got the 54’s,” I said, “No problem at all.”
“That will be great,” he replied. “Thanks so much. I am so sorry for your trouble. Thank you.”
“Maybe you should just try these on to be sure,” I offered, confident that I had achieved my goal.
“As soon as I’m done.”
Twenty minutes later he came out of the washroom with a concerned look on his face. “Ken, they only just fit. Will they shrink? What if I just hung them to dry? What if the woman that sometimes helps with my laundry forgets, and puts them in the dryer? They just barely fit now. And they’re 54’s (sigh).”
“That’s not so bad. One of our volunteers has a cousin that takes a 60.” He raised his eyebrows. I’ll take them back and get the next size up. Come to the office at noon tomorrow, and we’ll get the right size.”
“I’m so sorry about all this,” he said sadly, ”It is so much trouble.”
“Tomorrow you will have pants that fit properly. You will enjoy them for a long time to come. It’s worth it to do this right. “
“Around noon then. Thank you Ken. Thank you.”
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Assets Based Community Development, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, mental health, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with ABCD, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, drop in, drop in service, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ottawa, Recovery, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, street work, Street Youth, Volunteer
Youth Art Show II
Posted by ken on November 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The evening the kids have been preparing for had finally arrived. It was time for the ‘Passion for Youth’ art show at Dominion Chalmers. There was sufficient space for each artist to choose five pieces of their work to show, and it was a challenge for some to decide. Hustle, bustle, the staging of sofas and tables from the art room on the second floor, the preparation of the interactive art table where guests could be creative, coffee, tea and snacks set near the entrance all combined to accelerate the excitement and anticipation.
In the end, all was readied. The stage was set, the players were ready, last minute adjustments to the easels were complete, the live entertainment arrived ( Max and August), and the mood was set.
Guests enjoyed the ambiance, the artists and the art work. Ahh, the art work. For some of our guests, the time had finally come when the art work that was ‘for display only’ at our auction, was finally available for bidding. There were pieces of art work that captured hours and hours of devotion, had become a labour of love, and were now revealed to the public.
But there was something here far greater than what initially captured the senses. There was a clear demonstration of a Master Artist at work with figures of moving clay.
The real demonstration of art was that of the artists themselves.
Initially, many of these youth never had any idea that they could create anything beautiful at all. The images of childhood that are so familiar to us were either non-existent or so overshadowed with such painful memories that it would have been better not to have had them at all. Years of repeated abuse served to reinforce their belief and image they would never amount to anything. They were told as young children that they were losers, worthless and discarded and treated as less than animals. They had eaten from the garbage bins, slept in the bins or wherever they could, experienced cold and discomfort that are beyond description. They were survivors, despite it all.
Tonight was different. People they didn’t even know told them over and over again, that they had created something beautiful. So beautiful in fact that they would like to buy the items and remember the artists. The youth were the ones encouraging the younger guests and showing them how to hold a paint brush, how to mix the colors, how to ‘let themselves go’ and be creative. Photos were taken. The young artists were congratulated for work well done, praised for their choices of color or texture, and one small bit at a time, I believe some changes began to occur.
Maybe the voices of the past were wrong. Maybe I’m not useless, after all, someone likes what I have created. Maybe there is something good about me. Maybe this is not the end. Maybe, just maybe, I can do something good. Maybe there is something good about me.
That was the real exhibition of art. It wasn’t the paint on the canvas, or the music that filled the air: it was living, breathing, young people experiencing hope and a promise for the future. And, maybe, just maybe, that might be enough to change a life.
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, Events, General Poverty, Homelessness, Justice, justice canada, mental health, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with ABCD, Addictions, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, drop in, drop in service, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, Justice, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, street work, Street Youth, street youth outreach, Volunteer, Volunteering, walk the streets
Passion for Youth ART SHOW
Posted by ken on November 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Thirteen street youth will be presenting their art work for show and silent auction on Monday, November 15, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Dominion Chalmers United Church in Ottawa.
The kids have been preparing for this show for several months and will demonstrate techniques and applications in the course of the evening.
It’s all a part of building self-esteem and self worth into lives that have experienced only abuse and trauma. Passion for Youth, means our passion for youth, but also identifying things that the youth are passionate about, working with those in a proactive, positive way. Our mission statement: Empowering street youth by engaging their passions though ABCD (Assets Based Community Development). It seems to be working just fine.
“It’s amazing to see the difference a bit of encouragement and hope will do with these youth,” says Jason Pino, OIM’s Youth Outreach Worker. “In just a few months, we have seen kids get housing, get jobs, finish high school and begin to think about rebuilding their lives.”
Volunteer mentors spend time with the youth discovering, setting and working towards the realization of their goals. In just two months of the program, four of the young people have reached their goal of reducing their drug use, and two of these have found jobs.
Come out Monday night, check out the artwork and meet the kids. See you there!
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Events, General Poverty, Homelessness, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, break cycle poverty, Dignity, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, living on the streets, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Recovery, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, Street Youth, street youth outreach, walk the streets
Christmas on the Streets
Posted by ken on November 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Christmas on the street is not a happy time. In fact, it is a period of time in the street community that weighs heavily on our street friends. Memories of what once was but will never be; images of turkey dinners replaced with plastic utensils and Styrofoam plates: good memories belong only to Christmas past, for some it’s reliving the nightmare of drunkenness and abuse.
It should have come as no surprise to me when this week I asked different friends at the drop in to tell me of what a ‘best Christmas’ might look like. I was gathering information for upcoming promotional materials, hoping to let my readers gain a better picture of how it really is on the streets.
Some would not participate: memories too difficult to recollect; sounds unlike Christmas bells fill their minds and hearts; many commenting that they didn’t believe in Christmas – the hype, the rush, the crowds – but mostly not wanting to articulate the loneliness and emptiness that so many feel so deeply.
Some did respond. Greg said his best Christmas was last year. Why? “Because I was breathing.” What would make up his ‘best Christmas’? “This one, if I am breathing.” Anything to look forward to in the New Year? “Yes,” he responded, “breathing.” It’s really more than a trite same answer to my questions, but an acknowledgement that folks on the street really do live one moment to the next. Nothing is certain for the future, no guarantees from anyone, any expectations long dashed on the rocks of reality, and hope has long vanished into the silent night.
I think that people have thought and felt this way before. Many have just given up, and live one day – no, one moment to the next.
This is how many people who call the streets their home feel and think. It’s a dark world. We have the privilege and opportunity to enter this world, when invited, and bring another message.
I think it may have been like this so many years ago, when a voice resounded in the heavens, “Hey, unto you a son has been given.”
Filed under Christmas, Uncategorized · Tagged with drop in, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Housing in Ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, Make a diference, mental health, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, Recovery, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, Street Youth
Gary – a story about Resiliency (and more)
Posted by ken on October 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Gary came down the stairs at the drop in, saw me and said, “I haven’t got your money yet. I know it’s been three years. I’m working on it.” Gary has been involved in a court case where his landlord stole things from his apartment before kicking him out. Gary really likes what we do at OIM, so much so that he has committed some of the money from the settlement to helping the poor. My protests that this is not necessary do not make any difference.
We sat down and talked for quite some time. He told me that the first time his father gave him a black eye he was six years old. He never could measure up to his father’s expectations, and would expect a beating when he brought home a less than perfect report card. He wet the bed every night, and every morning he would pay for it.
He ran away from home twelve times before he actually succeeded in making a breakaway when he was fifteen years old. He never went back.
Odd jobs in many different places over his sixty-two years, but he never settled down for a long time in any one place. He stopped drinking a year ago. No programs, he just quit.
He said his father was a very successful man from all appearances. No-one knew how he treated his family, and in those days, it was a well guarded secret. A leader in his labour union and in the community, he was well respected and seen as a pillar in the community.
Gary told me he spoke with his father before his dad died. He did what he could to make things right. In one conversation, his father wondered why his children didn’t call him. “Well dad, you need to remember that you beat them almost every day,” Gary replied, “You can’t really expect much after doing that for so many years. Plus, we all remember how mom was beat.”
It’s remarkable how my friend has survived these many years. He holds no ill will towards his dad, he has forgiven him. Now, instead he helps other street friends when he can and is well respected. In fact, one of our street friends came over while we were talking and asked for some advice. In his own gentle way, Gary turned his attention to his friend’s inquiry and did his best to help.
It was time for him to go to an appointment, and we bid each other farewell.
This story is unique to Gary, but not uncommon in the street community. Young children suffer all manner of abuse at home, are forced to leave – fearing for their lives, descend into the pit of addictions and find themselves on the street.
Thankfully Gary found a way out before it consumed him, and now has chosen to give back. And, in his current maltreatment by his landlord, is standing up for his rights and justice.
I marvel at Gary’s and others’ fortitude, resiliency and determination. I’m not sure I would fare so well.
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, Injustice, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Uncategorized · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, break cycle poverty, criminal justice system, Dignity, drop in, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Housing in Ontario, Housing in Ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, Recovery, Respect, social justice
Live and Silent Auction – the details
Posted by ken on September 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Generally speaking the needs on the street are increasing and for many charities across Canada, there are dwindling resources as people are faced with financial crises of various sorts. We are hosting a fund raising auction that I would like you to attend. The details are in the rotating banner above, but if you are interested, I would like to share with you some of the events of the evening:
Greg Paul, well-known speaker and author will be our guest speaker. Greg is from Sanctuary, Toronto, and in addition to his role as a pastor of a church in the downtown core, has authored two best sellers: God in the Alley and The Twenty Piece Shuffle. Another book will soon be released. Greg is a member of the National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness and a member of Street Level.
Dave Smith, a renowned philanthropist, businessman and entrepreneur in Ottawa has agreed to be our auctioneer. Dave has a heart for youth, and has founded the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Additionally, Dave has been instrumental in the process of bringing a residential detox program to Ottawa.
In addition to over 150 Silent Auction items, we have a number of live auction items. The live auction items will include, but not limited to the following list:
- The Rideau Canal Story – a set of 8 customed framed prints celebrating the 150th anniversary of the building of the Rideau Canal, value $1400
- Stradivarius Violin (copy) & Two framed prints: Damsels with Stringed Instruments, value $1,000
- The OLD WEST Collection: 26 volumes, faux leather covers, time-life series, value $600
- Lunch with the Chief Vern White. Value: priceless!
- Romantic Getaway #1, one night at the Lord Elgin, $100 coupon from the Keg, a camera, bath set. Value $410
- Romantic Getaway #2, two nights at the Auberge de mon petit chum, Wakefield, $100 coupon le Moulin Restaurant Wakefield, Book “Celebration of Love”, special “Basket of Healthy Chocolate”. Value $500
- Big Girl’s Special, One month membership tanning package, Nine West designer sunglasses with Coach case, a gift certificate for cut, style and highlights, and SPA bath set. Value $650
- Big Boy’s Special, One hour plane ride over Ottawa in Cessna 150, Complete car cleaning, DeWalt heavy duty drill, 40 pc socket set, 5 Guy tools, Jack Astor Restaurant Certificates, Haircut, Certificate Play It Again Sports. Value $545
- 98.5 the JEWEL Advertising Kit, Forty 30 second spots on Ottawa’s own “the Jewel” 98.5 fm. Value $2,000
- Pitt Special SA2 A plane ride on one of eight ‘Red Baron’ biplanes in Canada. A ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to ride the wind. Value: $450
- ROOM REDO – Upper Room Home Furnishings Gift Certificate $2,000 towards a consultation and furniture remake of a room of your choice in your own home.
Tickets are available by calling our office 613-237-6031.
Love to see you there. Thanks for your support!
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, Events, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, Injustice, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, break cycle poverty, Dignity, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, Justice, living on the streets, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, Street Outreach, street work, Street Youth, street youth outreach, Volunteer, walk the streets
LIfe on the Streets 3: Panhandling
Posted by ken on September 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
We see people panhandling for loose change all the time in our cities. It’s commonplace. We have come to adopt certain attitudes towards panhandlers and developed our own patterns of giving (or not).
We make assumptions about those who would ask us for a handout, and we have prejudices about the different approaches people take when asking for money. However we respond, we walk away and the next person on the sidewalk is hit for a donation.
Generally, those who ask, ask unashamedly, without reservation, boldly, maybe even arrogantly. Some have learned to hit the right buttons and tell one (maybe of several) stories that have brought them success in the past. It looks so easy, like anyone could do it.
That’s what it appears to be right now, but it wasn’t always like this.
What about the first times?
What would it be like to have no other choice but to ask others for help? When you have exhausted all of your options? You ask people for money: not your family or friends (that ended long ago), but complete strangers (who generally are opposed to what you are doing).
All of your resources are gone and you have hit the wall. You have no other options, so you do what you have to do to survive. Pride is long gone and the memory tapes of ‘loser’,’ useless piece of ____ ‘, useless bum’ – that were ingrained into your thinking from childhood come to the resurface, are reinforced and become your reality.
The first few times it would be hard – maybe the first few thousand – but it becomes a part of who you are. Blame, shame and desperation have become your daily portion.
There’s no way out. It’s your life now, and you get used to it. You get better at it. You harden yourself to the shame, and do your ‘work’. You know where to go, what to avoid, work the angles, develop the stories, and push yourself farther and farther away from who you once were.
Panhandling, it’s pretty simple. Easy. Straightforward. Right?
“Hey mister, any spare change?”
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada · Tagged with Alcoholism, break cycle poverty, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, Justice, living on the streets, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, Respect, street work, Street Youth
Life on the Streets 2: Invisibility
Posted by ken on August 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I can become invisible in three seconds.
In the time it takes for me to move to a standing position on the sidewalk to sit on the curb beside someone who is experiencing homelessness, I am invisible.
No one sees me (or the person I am now sitting beside); people look at their watches or their pda’s as soon as they catch a glimpse of us; attention is diverted quickly to anything that is in a different direction.
You can try it sometime if you want to risk it, and it will be nerve wracking to say the least, but don’t worry, you’ll be OK as soon as you stand up and continue on your way.
But what if you couldn’t stand up? What if you just didn’t have the wherewithal to sluff off the years or abuse and mental torment? What if you could not muster the stuff to rise from that place of invisibility and anonymity and no-one-ness? What if you had to stay there? What would that be like?
I know some high level leadership training courses that have a segment where the student has to either sleep in a shelter or panhandle until she ‘earns’ ten dollars. At OIM, we have provided opportunities for people to attend ‘One Homeless Night’ where a participant spends the evening on the streets (8 pm to 12 midnight) with only $1.50 and then sleep in a church basement as part of an ‘out of the cold’ shelter experience. Other programs like these have been run with varying degrees of severity, and in some measure, participants can experience a certain degree of ‘homelessness’.
The common denominator in all these examples, is that at the end of a certain period of discomfort, hunger or embarrassment, you just go back home to the suburbs where a caring family, nice warm home and bed await. (Notwithstanding the stop at the first fast food joint for a period of ‘catching up’ on some serious eating).
What if there was no choice? What would it be like to find a place to stay when the shelters are full? Who can you trust? Where can you go? Where will you use the bathroom (after you are identified as homeless)? Where is safe?
Give this five minutes of your consideration, then give us some feedback.
Filed under Addictions, Alcoholism, Dignity, Drop In Services, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Social, Uncategorized · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, Dignity, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, Justice, living on the streets, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, social justice, walk the streets
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