tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045728433971806942.post2255671593341626124..comments2013-05-03T21:19:29.653-07:00Comments on Adventures in Social Work: Homelessness as a Thinking PatternAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620963129470788noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045728433971806942.post-48605513490303533342012-11-16T18:18:08.075-08:002012-11-16T18:18:08.075-08:00Truth infuses this post. A tangent of your observ...Truth infuses this post. A tangent of your observation that people who are in a state of homelessness often feel ashamed and also wear that shame as a badge of pride is right at the center, physically, of the homeless shelter itself. Alpha homeless gather around perpetuating the "lostness" (my word) as a reality without exception. This state of being is not, however, a reality for everyone who is homeless, even chronically homeless. Yet we feel pressured to view ourselves as urchins, worthless, stupid, failures, etc. When I lived in the homeless shelter, particularly in Ukiah but to a lesser degree in Fort Bragg, the men's single dorm room in Ukiah had around 30 to 40 or more guys. Many would badger me, and others, who didn't commiserate on being urchins, losers etc. I would have to retreat into myself and away from, socially and physically as much as possible, those who thought we were ALL to BE outcasts figuratively and literally. Otherwise, my observation is that the homeless mindset would prevent any or some of us from "seeing" ourselves under a roof, possibly indefinitely. Therefore, a roof over one's head would not suffice once this mindset infects and recycles without some sort of social prophylactic. One would have to be hyper vigilant socially and introspectively in order to both survive in this environment while at the same time be able to withdraw while in this environment (ALMOST impossible). Hence, the vicious cycle continues for so many of us. One homeless service suggestion would be to put major focus on a safe, stable, almost elementary authoritarian supervision with staff in and throughout shelters; as this allocation of people and resources would provide for the fundamental change for those who might make it. Scott G. Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12531692384812815146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045728433971806942.post-2183689196206731212012-11-16T14:06:47.900-08:002012-11-16T14:06:47.900-08:00That poem feeds my soul. I absolutely love it. I a...That poem feeds my soul. I absolutely love it. I am glad you like it, too. Such wisdom.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620963129470788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045728433971806942.post-85285439423295588752012-11-16T13:11:08.136-08:002012-11-16T13:11:08.136-08:00I must say I agree Jessica, I too love these thing...I must say I agree Jessica, I too love these things that attempt to give me insight in regards to myself. This weeks assignment I had such difficulty seeing what cultural thought pattern I fell under. I honestly could not do it, therefore I just thought about how I talk and write and attempted to describe. It made me feel inadequate though that I could not see what category I fell in or if I fell in multiple categories. I think your words are wise I too see what these categories are not saying. It is so difficult to get away from putting people, ideas, concepts in boxes and just simply allowing them to be.<br />I read the poem, and must say thank-you it hits home right now with a multitude of things going on in my life and is filled with wisdom. It evoked healing in me as I did shed some tears.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com