FEATURED
I’ve been volunteering at Samaritan House for the last couple of years now and it’s been said that “everyone has a story” here. Well, I’ve met some of the most interesting people and heard some of the most amazing life stories in my time as a volunteer. Some have been inspiring while some have been heartbreaking, but all have reminded me that we are all basically the same and sometimes our experiences craft our situations differently in life.
The homeless situation in our country seems so overwhelming and complex. It’s hard to know where to start or what you can do. Samaritan House is a place where I can do a small part to affect the larger whole. My experience here has shown me that we all just want human connection. When I volunteer my intent is to offer hope and help. I believe that at the heart of it when we’re all connect, we are all better off.
I’ve met former business owns, professional musicians, farmers, health care workers, and people who were once vibrant contributor to the community. Helping out at Samaritan house has been a very fulfilling part of my life. Just a few hours a week has kept me grounded and allowed me to help others who are trying to help themselves. Most importantly it’s kept me connected to my broader community and I want to thank Samaritan house for providing a place where I feel like I can do my part.
Did you know it doesn’t have to be brutally cold to experience hypothermia? If a person suffers ongoing exposure to even 70 degrees without thermal protection and food or nutrients, he or she can become hypothermic. Honestly, some of the most dangerous environmental situations occur in temperate climates when the temperature drops suddenly.
Conventional wisdom says that the average adult should aim to get about eight hours of sleep each night. Children need significantly more sleep time while older adults may manage with less. Before the invention of effective artificial lighting, the cycle of night and day regulated sleeping patterns. People worked during the daylight hours and when night fell they went to bed.
We live in a world of stereotypes and prejudgements that make it easy to ignore diseases and focus on symptoms. If someone is chronically homeless, they have been caught in a net of poverty and transient circumstances that very well might condition them to reject measures to help them find permanent residence. Combating these issues is a process that transcends conventional ideas that assist people who are rendered homeless due to sudden circumstances. Homelessness manifests itself in different ways and calls for person-specific solutions.
For people who have experienced chronic homelessness, long-term services and support may be needed. The vast majority of homeless individuals and families fall into homelessness after a housing or personal crisis. For these households, the Housing First approach provides them with short-term assistance to find permanent housing quickly and without conditions. In turn, such households often require only brief, if any, support or assistance to achieve housing stability and individual well-being.
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