No, I didn't go to Occupy San Diego (although I do support them).
I want to talk about the people I have met at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital. During my brief two months, I have met many types of clients. There are the chronic homeless, the college student who had too much fun one weekend, and everything in between. The two extremes seem pretty static as there will always be homeless and there will always be those lucky enough to have a home, yet unlucky enough to spend a night in the emergency psych unit.
I want to focus on those right in the middle. The ones that are homeless for one half the year and sleeping on a friends couch for the other half. The ones who have a job, but now sleep in their cars following the divorce. These are the people who scrap by just inches above being homeless but who can definitely be considered poor. This demographic is easily the most difficult group to deal with emotionally. They recently had a home, a family, kids, loved ones, but due to a few terrible events, they are now facing living alone on the streets. Imagine having a decently normal life and then coming to the realization that its over, and it's time to start learning where the shelters are and where to get food.
I talked to one man who once had a home in Oceanside. He only had a high school education, but that was fine because he owned a bar in Oceanside. After a few years the bar closed, his alcoholism started to destroy him mentally and psychically and his family couldn't take it anymore. He moved out leaving his wife and daughter, taking only his guitar, a bit of clothing, and an old beat up van. Having only a high school education and deteriorating mental health, he couldn't get a job. With no maintenance the van quickly broke down.
As I talked to this man, his hands shook uncontrollably and he was on the verge of tears at the mention of anything regarding his past. This is the type of person who was scrapping by for the last decade or so, but has now fallen through the cracks because of the economic crisis and will have a nearly impossible time getting back to where he was before.
TL;DR
The current economic situation is really bad for those who were just barely able to avoid being homeless, but now have to face a terrible reality.
This is a harsh reality that many individuals are facing due to the current economy. So many are just a one paycheck away from losing all they ever had. It seemed difficult for the man you spoke to to share about his past; how did you go about the conversation after hearing this terrible saddening story?
ReplyDeleteThose who become homeless as a result of a job loss and who would otherwise not be in this position had it not been for the sorry state of the job market are the newest victims of today's economy. The stories like that of your client and the homeless veterans I work with make me realize how lucky I am to be in school and have my rent paid by student loans. It really only takes the loss of income for the working adult in the family to put the entire family in danger of becoming homeless.
ReplyDeleteI hope this guy is able to find some help before his mental and physical health deteriorates even more. Does he still struggle with alcoholism? has he tried quitting? Going to AA? getting on antibuse? His situation is not totally hopeless, but his story is sure sad. I wonder how his family is taking all this. I wonder if his kids feel abandoned.
ReplyDelete