Have been so busy, little time for updates, but quickly….

Tent City meeting schedule is August 13, September 11th & 25th, and October 9th, 23rd and 29th.  All meetings are at the Red Cross headquarters on Central Ave.

1Matters Saturday morning meetings will be August 16th, September 20th and October 18th.

Jimmy Update — Nothing good is ever easy.

Before i quit drugs and alcohol for good, i quit 20 times on my own.  It is a struggle.  Jimmy is having that same struggle.  I have quit giving him a little cash when i see him, now i just bring food.

It is funny, well, maybe not really funny to you all, but an addict will find this highly amusing. 

On one of our Wednesday dinners, it was a buzzed nite for him, you can tell.  But he was saying the right words ya know, so against my better judgement (in other words, knowing better but loving a little to much) I gave in and gave him 5 bucks for some “food”.  We enjoyed the rest of our time, and at the end he wanted me to drop him off at the library so he could “get some religious books”.

“Riiiiight…. Jimmy, a fresh fiver and you want religious books?” 

“What, you don’t trust me?” he asked.

“Um, hell no Jimmy, of course not, would you trust an addict with a fresh fiver?” 

“Oh hell no!” he said. lol 

I dropped him off at the library and he slooooooowly sauntered toward the door.  I had a long light, and saw him pop back out, he saw me, and kinda just stood there, acting poised to go in.  I went around the corner, and around the block, he had gone to the park and was sitting on the park bench, apparently buying his religious books from the dope man sitting next to him.

There is always the next week. Nothing good comes easy.

The PIT

I will write more about this later, but I have some very significant frustrations about how this was handled by TAAEH, as well as some other things that arose at the TAAEH meeting last Friday. 

(On the good news side of the TAAEH meeting, the majority of the TAAEH members went against the leadership first by forcing a vote Friday on whether or not to support Tent City, then voting down the Vice-Chair’s motion to sponsor Tent City at last year’s level ($650), and instead offered a motion to support Tent City at a more realistic level to keep up with the demand of the needs. ($850)   In honor of the majority of the members of the Toledo Area Alliance to End Homelessness, we are giving them a full sponsor level. 

Back in January I said the leadership does not represent the majority. It was SO awesome to see them stand up and say “No, that’s just not right!, Let us do what IS right for the homeless”.)

Back to the PIT, a good part I want to share is that Don Schiewer, Liz Simon and I walked the entire river from 280 to the Erie Street Market.  During our time we found 16 people, the sort that didn’t want to be found.  Other than one highly intoxicated individual, one of the three of us recognized everyone we chatted with, and they were truly glad to see us. 

Not often people come looking for them who are not the law.  We gave them all these nifty survival packs. 

At 5 am we packed it in, knowing we reached out to 16 souls and SHOWED them they matter enough to be counted!

1Matters.  

They do, they all really do.

“Empower Not Enable”

This is the first principal of the Mayors Poverty Commission. What does this mean?

All we can do is give the map, THEY have to drive the car.

Sometimes maybe we need to help them fix a flat, bring a gallon of gas, or maybe driving lessons, and sometimes we just have to tell them where they can get those things.

But bottom line, THEY have to drive the car.

Bring this home:

The “We” here is you and me.

The “They” might be a relative, coworker or friend of yours who is an alcoholic or addict, and we do all we can to help. Some of us even buy them a car.

But THEY have to drive it!

Sometimes they expect us to sit in their lap, turn the ignition, step on the pedal and then steer for them.

Sometimes we so over-love them that we DO sit in their lap, turn the ignition, step on the pedal and then steer for them.

Then we get mad because after we get out of the car, they don’t go anywhere.

You have enabled them to get somewhere, but not to go anywhere.

Yes, it is hard watching someone sitting in a car going nowhere.

But if it gets hot enough in the car…. eventually they will go somewhere. 
(more…)

Quick Update  

Went to dinner last night with Jimmy. He is one of the coolest people I have ever met.  Such a good spirit, good soul, smart guy, honest with himself.   He is taking so many steps on his own to better his circumstance.

If anyone has any clothes or home furnishings Jimmy might have, let me know.  He wears: Pants, 32/28, shirts - small, shoes, 9 1/2.   He has a bed, couch, nightstand a very old small black and white TV.  He could use linens for sure.

You GOTTA hear this.  After dinner we went and picked up some things for him, and when we got back to his place he asked, “Ken, I want to give back, can I help you help the homeless this Saturday?”

“Oh yah Jimmy, for sure!  We get there at 10.00 to set up.” 

“Ok, I will be there at 9:45″

The ”System” sux.  

Ever call the customer service SYSTEM at  the utility, telephone, bank, or tech support?  Are you a person or a number? See what I mean?  Ever get stuck in one of their endless loops? 

Credit the invention of technology for the demise of individuality. More directly the invention of the database.  Databases contains data, our data.  

This is the price we pay for efficiency.  We are all required to trade in our individuality in order to be become data that can fit in fields in a database thereby creating a system.   

(Sidebar: Perrysburg is MUCH to blame for much of this demise!  lol. One of the first databases was created in Perrysburg at Fox Software, which later merged with Microsoft.  You might know it today as… the Microsoft Access Database.   Another quick sidebar: it is said because of this acquisition, Microsoft wanted to build a significant Data Base Development and Tech Support Center in Toledo in order to retain the FoxPro developers, a condition of the merger.  The local powers-that-be decided against it.

What we all realize is the ”system”, whether mental health system, criminal justice system, recovery system or homeless systems are pipelines we put people in, transfer them to data with the goal of spitting them out the other end. 

But many get stuck in an endless loop.   Why?

This is Jimmy’s case. 

Over the past decade Jimmy has had 125 plus criminal charges, almost all for normal stuff homeless get charged for, public intox,  open container, etc.   Here is a man who is admittedly schizophrenic in a system with NO resources to function in that system. He is like a twig floating down that systemic river, ending where ever it ends.   

1. Jimmy gets a couple bucks, buys beer, takes it to the river and drinks it.
2. Cops come by and see Jimmy drinking and arrest him. (They have no choice, this is their job, and there are no alternatives yet.) 
3. Jimmy sits in jail overnight, next morning Judge releases him OR until the trial date.
4. Jimmy gets a couple bucks, buys beer, takes it to the river and drinks it, has NO scope of date or time, misses court.
5. Cops come by, see Jimmy drinking, find Failure to Appear warrants, arrest Jimmy.  
6. Jimmy sits in jail until trial, then gets 90 days jail time to make up for all of his stuff, gets fined for court costs.
7. Has no money, misses court costs, gets arrested.
8. Repeat Steps 1 - 8 as needed.

Here is a harmless, soft spoken guy, oblivious to the system, going along doing what he is told.  

Where is the failure here?   The court system? The mental health system? The probation department?  The homeless system?  Probably all of them.  But remember that the employees in these systems have the unenviable task of thousands of “cases” each month.   What would you do?   

Reality is that there are a lot of good people in each of those systems, all doing the best they can to help as many as possible.  And the cool thing is a lot of those people in those systems become attached to an individual or individuals and have an interest in helping them get out of that infinite loop.

Happens all the time, good case workers, or a judge, or a cop take a personal interest and help someone acquire a job, housing, food, clothing, medicine, a way out of the court, or any of the endless loops.  This approach seems to be the only one that truly works.

They are 1 that matters to 1 that matters.  1 at a time.

In each of these cases of 1 on 1, the one thing dispensed that every human needs is dignity.  

The system and the community are not served by re-arresting people like Jimmy. Many cities across the country have created Mental Health Courts where cases like Jimmy’s are tried with the result of being properly assessed and ordered for treatment that could help, vs. being ordered to a cell where nothing good comes of it for anybody, you, me, the community, and of course, Jimmy.

Other cities like Columbus have emergency diversionary shelters which gives police another option to incarceration.   Dan Rogers and I met last month with the Mayor and Chief of Police on this very topic.  We know this is a problem, so let’s see what it takes to make a REAL solution.      

So many think the homeless mentally ill are hopeless.  That is probably natural if you aren’t one to see the successes.  I think this is why Jimmy’s story is so powerful.   People are seeing in real time that EVERYONE matters, and the power each person has if they will matter to 1 that matters.  

Years ago Elaine Higgins was pretty notable as the “bag lady”.  People did a benefit and got her an apartment, and she was back on the street shortly thereafter.   People gave up because “she doesn’t want it.” 

Later on Ruth at St. Paul’s mattered to Elaine and got her to come into St. Paul’s.  Elaine got on the right medications and totally stabileized.   She had this smile that was more a grin of mischief.  I enjoyed her company, a funny, even wicked wit.  

At our last lunch before she passed I asked her if she could do anything, what would it be. She said she wanted to go to a UT boys basketball game.

“I didn’t know you were a fan of basketball Elaine.”

“I’m not,  I just love men in shorts and hot legs”.

1Matters 

Happy 4th everybody!

Most are aware of my progression of role models who are/were also performers using our platforms to bring people together for the cause of humanity, to matter to 1 that matters. 

For me the pathway started with Harry Chapin, to Bob Geldoff, then to John Mellencamp.   Before all of them was a guy named Pete Seeger, a role model who played an active role in every social movement in modern history, from early union battles to Civil Rights to the anti-war movement. At age 89, Pete is not only a reminder of our nation’s history of turbulence and triumph: he is also an inspiration for our vibrant future.

This Brave Nation produced a program featuring an interview with Pete, along with Majora Carter who created the “Sustainable South Bronx” program.  (Pretty remarkable program! Read about it here).  This program is also available on-line right here.  If you desire you can also buy the DVD’s . 

Pete Seeger matters to 1 that matters, either for the causes he fought so hard for or the inspiration he was to the likes of his good friend Harry Chapin. Just wanted to pass this on. Remarkable man and a role model for all of us. 

TLCHB Update

Yesterday was the CASE to Care meeting, basically a planning meeting for the creation of our ten-year strategic plan required to continue to get federal funding.

But this was different.  Not only did it include the usual suspects, this time, for the first time, it included the REAL input of the homeless. Yes, the homeless now not only have a seat at that table, they also have a voice at the table. 

Deb Conklin asked me to facilitate that break out session.  I immediately said yes. 

All along all we wanted was to have our voice heard.  It was. Having heard it, now comes the responsibility to act.  

Steve Anthony from TAM was my co-facilitator.  We conducted the session just like our 1Matters Saturday Morning meetings, hearing from the experts what the real issues/barriers are.  They came up with stuff we never would have imagined in a million years and they reinforced problems that are common knowledge but nothing is being done about them.  But more importantly, they came up with solutions for many of the problems as well. 

The cool thing is now overcoming these barriers will be part of the strategic plan.  

It thrills us that this voice is now heard, and we will make sure this voice and the issues presented are honored.  I don’t think we need to yell anymore to be heard.  As long as the follow through is there, I think talking will yield much more substantive progress for those we serve. 

Thanks George!

May every line garner an applause break.