Homelessness Addressed

            I have been serving as an AmeriCorps member for the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Homeless Prevention program since January 2012. Throughout my service I have been fortunate enough to serve a population that receives much attention in Traverse City. The homeless population in our community has received negative attention over the last few months. There have been a large number of incidents related to drug and alcohol use which have involved a select number of homeless adults. The community seems to perceive any “homeless person” as a nuisance and criminal. The reality is that the majority of people experiencing homelessness keep to themselves. They live within our shelters or camp in the woods. They spend their afternoons at work, looking for work, or volunteering at local non-profits. They actively seek a permanent income so they can obtain permanent housing. 

            A recent article in the local newspaper, The Record Eagle, focused on a middle-aged couple who is currently experiencing homelessness. They are both Michigan natives and state that their primary reason for homelessness is due to chronic alcoholism. Although alcoholism is a daily struggle for these two natives, life has not always been this way and they do not plan for it to remain. They are well educated and have held respectable jobs in society. Their main focus is getting back to that part of their life. They are reaching out to various community resources to assist them in employment, housing, and continuous substance abuse treatment.

            I am so fortunate to have met people who are suffering from situational homelessness. I have spent the last 9 months being able to assist people overcome their barriers and live their life the way they want to. I have learned how resilient people are and I am proud to be a part of a community that is pro-active in acknowledging that. There are various agencies in Traverse City that work together to support people in maintaining self-sufficiency. Through my AmeriCorps service I have been able to be a part of this community and make a difference on a daily basis.

If you’re interested in the article that I referenced in the blog, check out the link below!

http://record-eagle.com/local/x1684126605/GT-region-plays-host-to-about-330-people-who-have-no-homes

Thinking about tomorrow...

“If you never take a step in a different direction, you'll always be headed to the same place.”

                – Anonymous

Wow! It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of a year of service for many of us. My year has had both high points and low points, but overall it has been an amazing experience. And, although I have decided to stay on for a second year, there are many people who are moving on. That being the case, I have a few thoughts related to my service so far that I think we should all keep in mind no matter what steps we take next.

In general, in my daily life away from my host site, I have heard people make some disturbing comments about homelessness, and I am sometimes shocked at how narrow-minded they seem. For instance, there is the assumption that people who are homeless are too lazy to work, that they just want to be given a free ride in life. I have never been the type to share these judgments; I realize that in many cases, the circumstances that lead to homelessness can often be beyond a person’s immediate control.  Take my direct service for example: the primary people I provide assistance to are women who are escaping an abusive relationship. Many of them do not have support systems that they can rely on during their transition.  They have had to make a tough choice between living with violence and other forms of abuse, or starting completely over. I applaud them for their bravery because as scary as their relationship might be, leaving is often more frightening, especially when there is nowhere to go.

Other comments I sometimes hear are complaints about younger generations. These are the remarks that they are too lazy or coddled, too disrespectful or dependent on technology. Again, as my host site serves youths, I know this is not always the case. Many of them have experienced challenges that few people can truly understand. Additionally, there are those of them who are happy to help others if we would only give them a chance. I learned this lesson working with the Youth Advisory Board. At the beginning of my service, these teenagers were just beginning to get to know one another. Now, they are making a real difference in the community, getting involved, planning events, and reaching out to their peers. As their facilitator, my role is to provide them with guidance, but the truth is their enthusiasm is contagious. The more they understand, the more they want to help.  They inspire me to keep trying, and to think outside of the box. They are the reason I chose to serve for a second year.

So, why is this relevant? The answer is because we have just spent an entire year doing more than just providing direct service. Our secondary requirements have been to become active in our communities through civic engagement, and to recruit other people to get involved with our cause. We were asked to go beyond solving the immediate problem, to educate ourselves and other people about homelessness, and about AmeriCorps. And while at times it may have seemed overwhelming, I think that these aspects of being an AmeriCorps member are just as important as our direct service. These aspects are what help get rid of the stereotypes and assumptions I hear so often. Therefore, whatever cause we go on to support tomorrow, we need to take that extra step and connect with our communities as well as our clients. Because without that piece, without the education that can be shared through our extended involvement, it will be difficult to truly end problems such as homelessness and domestic violence.

My term... What a great year!

The year is quickly wrapping itself up.  I find myself tying up loose ends, saying goodbye to clients and coworkers and organizing computer files for the Americorps member who will take my spot for the 2012-2013 term at Goodwill.  This blog has given me the opportunity to look back and reflect on just how beneficial the last year of my life as an Americorps member with the Campaign to End Homelessness has been.

                My term began with training.  I thought the training would never end.  HMIS, member reporting, webinars, OnCorps, internal training, shadowing on client visits… On and on.  However, looking back this training was an absolutely essential part of the term and without it I would not have been able to integrate into the successful case management system that Goodwill Housing Support has created over the years. 

                I soon found myself diving right in to working one-on-one with clients.  My role with clients was to provide follow up support with time consuming issues and intensive care that case managers did not have the time or flexibility to commit to.  In this regard I was made to instantly feel that my role was important.  The flexibility of being able to work with clients who are actively seeking help on their time frame is what makes the Americorps member at my agency such a valuable asset.  By mixing administrative duties with life skills support I was able to drop what I was doing in the office and provide assistance to clients when they needed it in the field. 

Regular paid employees at our agencies are often bogged down with heavy case loads and documentation, Americorps members are the ace in hand that allow clients to receive the care they need and are asking for.  Often, I would receive a call from a case manager in the field who was with a client experiencing some sort of crisis.  Due to pending appointments the case manager was unable to provide support to ensure the issue at hand was addressed all the way through.  Because my daily tasks were a mix of administrative and on-call client assistance I was able to provide that extra level of support that our clients needed to be successful in maintaining their housing.  The trials and tribulations, successes and failures of working with clients are many, yet I feel that my experience as an Americorps member serving with Goodwill Housing Support Services has helped to move me on to the next level in my career and personal development.  It is an experience I will look back on with pride and good memories.