In this report Karen highlights her own misconception and asks the rhetorical question, “Was I deluded or ignorant?”. Karen goes on to conclude that education around homelessness was her solution and feels “Passionate to educate others”.
What is homelessness? Well my understanding of “Homelessness” has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. That’s down to people I’ve met in recovery. This is why I’m so passionate to educate people on this subject. Just as I was! I believe that a lot of the stigma and lack of empathy around homelessness is due to ignorance and I was in that category. I did a lot of sofa surfing in my teens and I lived in the attic of a pub (not ideal for an alcoholic) for quite a while when I was in my 40s but never did I class myself as being homeless.
Was I deluded or ignorant? I honestly thought you had to live on the streets to be classed as homeless and anyone who had a roof over their head was ok. I never took into consideration those in prison, rehabs, secondary housing, hostels, private landlords, temporary accommodation the list is endless are homeless. Well this opened my eyes and gave me a kick up the arse and the more I chatted and listened to the stories my AA/NA friends shared the more proactive I wanted to be.
I learned how inhumanely people were treated, how difficult it was to get a tenancy agreement, the disgusting states people were expected to live in. I’ve also learned that homelessness isn’t dealt with by simply putting a roof over someone’s head it goes much deeper than that, wrap around care, support, education, training and basic life skills are as important. It also has to be the right accommodation and care for the individual otherwise it won’t work after all we are all inherently different and unique.
Our needs and wants are so varied and complex and I feel if this type of thinking isn’t applied then the clients will more than likely end up back on the streets. The entire project would be deemed a failure where in reality those creating the project have bothered to “Listen” to those who have lived experience. It is so apt that we have the “Listen up” hub because that’s what people need to do, by listening we are learning and being educated of what real homelessness means.
Image credit: Matt from London
