Baffling
Day 36: Walking in the shoes of the homeless and unemployed
I met with my Case Advocate again to supposedly receive a referral to the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Instead, the Case Advocate said, “You can get diagnosed. We have a clinic onsite. Once you get a mental health diagnosis, you can get SSI and go to one of these places,” gesturing to a list of three names.
The Case Advocate then called another caseworker into the office. She asked him about a place called “Riverwood.” He told her that “it’s only for people with mental health issues.”
She paused (for dramatic effect?) to look at me with both eyebrows raised as if to say here’s a way out before continuing.
She asked him about SSI. He said, “again, it’s only if you have mental health issues or are on disability.”
The Case Advocate then turned to me again–eyebrows raised, eyes stretched wide–and asked, “You don’t have a diagnosis do you?”
I replied, “NO.”
“Well, you can get an appointment downstairs or at the Providence Center for an evaluation and a diagnosis. Then you could qualify.” Now, she only looked down at papers on her desk, averting all eye contact.
I simply said, “No thank you. I don’t have a mental illness.”
The Case Advocate never mentioned the HPRP program to me or gave a referral. I left her office.
A Head Scratcher
When I shared this with one of my roommates, who openly discussed her phobias and mental health diagnoses, she stated emphatically, “You see. That’s what I need. Can I switch to your case worker?”
This exchange, especially in the context of yesterday’s meeting with her, only leads to more questions than answers. My changing the intake forms yesterday, it seemed that maybe the shelter was trying to cover its tracks? Save face? Possibly even right a perceived wrong? However, to come back the very next day and try to convince, persuade, pressure, influence me to not admit to a mental health diagnosis but also falsely obtain one in order to qualify for housing is beyond all comprehension.
I do not know the motives or the behind-closed-door conversations that resulted in this attempt. Given that my roommate has been here the same amount of time that I have, has conditions that meet these criteria but yet have not even been offered such services highlights a critical breakdown in the shelter’s operations.
I will reserve the remainder of my judgments in favor of these simply questions:
- Why are not housing services being offered to the people who do meet the criteria?
- Why are there no other housing services for people who simply do not have employment?
- For what purpose(s) does it serve to suggest or require a client to lie about his/her health status to obtain social benefits s/he is not entitled to in order to receive housing? Isn’t that fraud?
- When a client does not fit into your preconceived mold, why require them to fit the mold instead of creating services that meet their particular circumstances?
Copyright © 2010 Sapphire Jule King and International Freedom Coalition