In 2015, I started an outreach to the homeless community in my region of Northern Colorado. The construction/development company I have owned for 20+ years provided a good opportunity to hire those looking for a change and willing to work. We partnered with a local church, one already active in feeding and supporting the local community. Together we vetted many individuals trying to identify a few good candidates. Here are a couple of quick stories to help establish how complicated the homeless issue can be:
Kenny, a 55 yr old male. Living on/off the streets for most of his adult life.
I purchased a beat-up old home in a small community 20 miles from where Kenny had been sleeping most nights on the covered porch of St Patrick’s Church. The project would be perfect for Kenny because he could help us remodel this tired 1903 Victorian and live in the home throughout construction. Kenny would have a much better place to stay, earn some money, and also provide some security on the job site. He was a good worker and had some previous construction experience.
In my mind, this project would be a springboard for Kenny to gain full-time employment, pay off legal fees, get a driver’s license and possibly save up for a house of his own. We had established many goals for Kenny, but only accomplished a few of them. In the end, he worked for us for 2 months and earned enough money to move back to Kentucky, where he has a family.
Critical lessons learned (1)
After a couple of days, I noticed that Kenny had moved out of the upstairs bedroom where we had set up a bed, TV, and microwave. This room didn’t need much remodeling, so it seemed like a good spot. Kenny moved into the detached garage. The garage had a wood-burning stove and plenty of room. When I asked Kenny why he moved out of the bedroom, he said he felt more comfortable in the garage.
What did I learn:
I believe that somewhere deep inside, Kenny didn’t feel worthy of living inside. Although Kenny was usually upbeat and positive, he carried a heavy emotional load.
Side note:
Kenny watched every episode of “Band of Brothers” numerous times. Kenny had a brother in the Military whom he held in very high esteem.
Critical lesson learned (2)
Pierce Colorado is very small. The town offers a small liquor/grocery store and a bar & grill. About three weeks in, I received a call from the owner of the local bar & grill. Kenny was no longer welcome in either the grocery store or the grill. Apparently, Kenny was often drunk while visiting these establishments. He was very obnoxious and verbally abusive to staff and customers…. WHAT?
What did I learn?
When not drinking, Kenny was the sweetest individual you’d ever hope to meet, but he was a different person while under the influence of Alcohol. Kenny’s dependence on Alcohol was much worse than I thought. Clearly, this issue has caused him trouble in the past. Drug use and alcoholism are very prevalent in the homeless community.
Side note:
Giving hundreds of dollars to an alcoholic or drug addict is not a good idea. If fact, it is extremely dangerous.
Critical lesson learned (3)
One of the first items I purchased for Kenny was a cell phone. I purchased a smartphone so that Kenny could communicate with friends and family and also make sure I could reach him when needed. He also needed to access a specific app that would keep track of his hours and job tasks. The deal was, I bought the phone, but Kenny would be responsible for the monthly payment (approx. $105 per month). Kenny was grateful and excited about the phone. As we had conversations about the phone, I could see his stress level rise. Kenny was earning plenty of money to afford a $105 payment. He was very stressed about the responsibility associated with making a monthly payment.
What did I learn:
Kenny, among many I have met in the homeless community, had become accustomed to life without deadlines, responsibilities, or obligations. Life on the streets comes with certain freedoms that most Americans accept as part of being a responsible participating member of society. Many people I have met living on the streets are not willing to trade their freedom from responsibility for the obligations of a job, permanent shelter, and steady income.
Final thoughts:
Those surviving on the streets have arrived in that position due to a cascading series of events and choices. It takes a team of loving and knowledgeable people to help with addiction, finances, mental health, job skills, support, and encouragement. Just providing a job is usually not enough to lift a person from their life on the streets.
The One Thing:
Kenny is NOT a homeless person. He is a son, brother, friend, and loved individual with specifically unique needs. Kenny needs individuality, he is valuable
Well done! Homeless individuals want to be seen. They need to be humanized and individualized with specific needs addressed. We must do better! We need to acknowledge that a blanket solution does not work for every person, but I am confident the FTGU program will have a gigantic impact on people with these needs.
Steven, btw, I love your Lionel Messi sky-pointing hands, giving credit where credit's due.