People in Crisis

Matthew 25:31-46

I have so much respect for people with careers in social services.  There are days I come home from our church charity and I feel like a wrung out dishrag. 

I volunteer one day a week in our church charity office.  I pretend it is one day, like a work day, but in reality it is four hours (or five if everyone comes in last minute). I work from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. I cannot imagine the emotional toll of working 40 hours in this work. 

Often when I come in there are people waiting for me. I have had people who pour out their whole life's story. I have people who cry. I have people who I am almost afraid of. I have people with no hygiene habits, I have people who show no emotional at all.  

One case I tell people about happened many years ago. Honestly it could have been 15 years ago.  A young woman had applied for assistance with housing or utilities for her family.  Her husband had a very good factory job, she was a waitress at an expensive restaurant (I was thinking good tips) and going to nursing school part-time. They had two school aged children. She was very unemotional and gave one syllable answers to my questions.  Until she broke down. Her mother had beginning dementia. She had to quit her job. Their landlord will not allow her mother to move in since they only have two bedrooms. They were supporting two households and her mother's medical expenses. Her boss let her mother come to work with her and had her fold silverware into napkins.  Once I knew the story we helped with some expenses that they were behind on and were able to refer them to other services that could help them. 

This was a big lesson to me. I remind myself of that case when I think I am getting "judgy".  You never know what clients are experiencing in their lives. 

Just my cases this week, one four hour day.  

A family with mom whose place of employment closed, 23 year old son who is supporting the household, an 18 year old student, and three children in middle and elementary school. Mom does not speak English but has papers. Children born here. Father was deported. 

Husband 52, wife 51, lived in my town for over 20 years, she was laid off from her job and cannot file for unemployment because her papers expired years ago. Her husband had knee surgery, has no sick pay on his job and is off at least four more weeks. They cannot file for any services like HEAP or SNAP because of her status. They have been using savings but have zero funds for the additional four weeks he will be off. 

A young mother of two preschoolers. Her husband quit his job and has gotten abusive. He became physical and she has had to take out a protection order. She is working part-time and can't increase her hours unless she can find additional child care. He took her car without permission and crashed into a deer so she has no transportation. He can't be charged because they are only separated and he legally can use the car in her name. She needs November rent and will not be able to afford to stay there.

A 60 year old woman who got divorced. Neither she or her husband could afford to live on their own. She moved into a motel room with her disabled sister. The Ex found a 3 bedroom apartment and, while it wasn't ideal, they moved in and shared rent. After several months he has become abusive and took out protection orders against her adult children so that she can't have them visit.  She and her sister found a studio apartment they can afford, but need help with the security deposit. 

These are the cases off the top of my head. I worked an extra hour so I know there were more. I kind of remember a little preschool girl with bracelets but that story is not in my brain. She was a cutie. 

All of these clients qualify for a minimum amount of SNAP benefits which they will not be receiving this month. They will have to use resources they don't have for food. They already supplement their food with food banks. 

Tomorrow I will be back in the office. 

And tomorrow's post will be lighter, I promise. 

*Edited with a funny from election day. *

Most, if not all, of our veterans were a cap with insignia to the polls. We have many Vietnam vets, infantry, navy, air force, marines. We still have a few Korean Conflict vets left. I rarely ever see a Desert Storm. There is one older gentleman who has a purple heart. I work at the table where you cast your ballot and I make sure to thank each and every one for his or her service. I pay attention to the hats.  Yesterday I got a little busy, looked up quickly and thanked a gentleman for his service.  He gave me a funny look and said Thanks so I looked again. His cap said "Old Navy".