What Makes This Work So Difficult.

This work can be so difficult.  One might assume it is the clients that make it tough.  And it is incredibly difficult and guilt provoking to work with so many, who have so little, and are working so hard to build a better life.  But what really makes this work so daunting is when you watch someone run into barrier after barrier, many of which are the very systems that are established to help them – that is what truly makes this work so difficult.

I just came back from speaking with a young woman who is diligently working to get back on her feet.  She thanked me for the help she had received here at SCCAP and we talked about the issues she is now having trying to find housing.  She finally received her Section 8 voucher which would enable her to find housing she could afford – she thought the tough part was over -  but actually the tough part had just begun.  It is tough to find housing to meet Section 8 criteria and not all landlords will work with this program.  But she was working with a landlord who our shelter staff  had built a good relationship with.  He wants to help families get back on their feet – he sees it as a way he can give back.  They found an apartment that met the guidelines and cost restrictions, and the landlord agreed to make the few corrections required.  Everything seemed good to go - only to find out later in the process that the fence, which belongs to and resides on the neighbor’s property, is not up to code and that precludes her  from using the Section 8 voucher for that property.  The landlord was willing to rent to her and was willing to make any of the corrections to the house and property he owns that were needed, but he could not repair his neighbors fence, and the suggestion that he put up a fence along side of the neighbors was simply too cost prohibitive.  Such a frustrating situation for this young woman who now needs to start over!  And imagine the frustration of this landlord who now thinks the government regulations associated with housing are ludicrous.  A step in the wrong direction!

Another family we are working with has a disabled adult child.  The only income they are currently receiving is the $721, her son is eligible for under disability.  Mom wants to work, but there is no available adult day care for her developmentally disabled son.  Programs that provide those services have multiple year waiting lists.  How can someone find housing and pay for living expenses for just over  $700.00 per month?  Imagine the stress of having a disabled adult child, and then add on being homeless.  How very daunting!

We think people are stuck in poverty just because of the decisions they make.  It is rarely that easy!  Like situations in all of our lives, there is always more to the story, complexities that make things much more difficult.  It is overcoming those barriers that allow families to stabilize and then move on to self-sufficiency.  Overcoming those barriers requires effective partnerships.  And sometimes it takes exposing crazy regulations, systems, and policies to the light of day so they can be corrected – so that we can push for smarter regulations and policies that really support families in moving forward!