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Community involvement isn't an option, it's a necessity. Monday, November, 23, 2009
Ending Homelessness Requires Affordable Housing And Community Support Wednesday, November, 18, 2009
Word Of The Year: "Unfriend" Tuesday, November, 10, 2009
The Dishonoring Of A Nation Monday, November, 2, 2009
Want To End Homelessness? Stop Offering Homeless Support Services. Tuesday, October, 27, 2009
Are "Sleep Out For The Homeless" Events Actually Effective? Friday, October, 23, 2009
Did You Know This Was "National Character Counts Week" ?
Tuesday, December, 1, 2009
Community involvement isn't an option, it's a necessity.
Last Friday, I read an article in the Santa Maria Times about a detox/recovery center in Lompoc, CA.
The Lompoc Good Samaritan Services had, as the article reported, "… quietly celebrated one year of helping young mothers and drug addicts get on their feet."
Although I was impressed by their success ratio, I found encouragement in how they have become perceived by the surrounding community.
Opened for "business" in October of 2008, a number of the center's neighbors were surprised to discover that the program was already in operation due to its quiet and unobtrusive "… day-to-day operations."
Because of the nature of its services nearby residents had expressed concerns that the facility would draw drug dealers, cause addicts to loiter in the surrounding area, and require repeated calls for local law enforcement. None of their fears, however, have come to pass.
It was interesting to note that even those who were strongly opposed to having the center located in their neighborhood seem to have had a changed of heart. A number of them have even become "friends" with the facility.
One person – which the article referred to as "… one of the facility’s most vocal opponents" – came forward and volunteered to paint a full-sized mural on one wall of the facility's day care center.
The article crystallized a number of thoughts in my mind – especially with regards to those organizations and agencies which offer homeless services. Foremost among those thoughts, was the necessity of homeless support services groups to develop a working rapport with the community around them.
Too often these groups focus solely on the task of offering support services to the homeless. But little thought is given to receiving and maintaining support (other than financially) from their neighbors. And this creates the potential for misunderstanding and conflict.
Some homeless services agencies have a person that acts in a "public relations" capacity. While this is all fine and dandy, the "goal" of this person's job, however, is still basically geared toward fund raising.
I'm realistic enough to recognize that these agencies require funding. Without it, they aren't able to provide services. Without those services the homeless would have to find other alternatives for their survival.
All the same – and call me a simpleton if you wish – but it seems to me that if those groups which offer homeless services were to develop a working partnership with their community, the funding might come a bit more easily.
I'm of the opinion that most communities aren't all that impressed by how many meals have been served to the homeless. Nor are they overly excited about the collective number of shelter beds which have been slept in.
What they want is a reduction of homelessness. They want less homeless loitering about in their downtowns. They don't want to see people holding cardboard signs, asking for handouts. What they want is less talk and more action.
In short, what they want are results.
Nevertheless, without community involvement, genuine results are going to be hard to come by.
Consequently, unless homeless support services agencies strive toward developing a working relationship with their "neighbors," everyone will continue going through the motions...
… and homelessness will continue to rise.
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Is Homelessness In So Cal Migrating East? Friday, January 25, 2008
LAPD Chief Acknowledges The Need For Services And Housing Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Body Found In A River Near Long Beach Friday, April 10, 2009
Vacation Time--But Not For The Blog Monday, April 13, 2009
Caught Dumping
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