10-10-2014, 09:45 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-10-2014, 09:50 AM by outerheaven.)
Interesting topic!
I've always had a strong desire to serve others, and thought that a career where I could "help others" in some capacity would be extremely rewarding.
In my mid-20s I moved to New York City and became a social worker working with the homeless population.
Long story short: the organization, despite a well-intentioned and humble beginning in the early 80s, has "jumped the shark," so to speak. They are now quite well-connected with the City and funded by some serious money (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, AmEx, etc) ... who seem to be more interested in the appearances of "ending homelessness," rather than actually solving it ... and I'm not just indicting my former agency, but rather the City and the Department of Homeless Services as a whole. "Out of sight, out of mind" -- sorry, but that's my take after 5 years in the belly of the beast!
Then there's the other side of the issue: not everyone WANTS to be helped! The idea that you see their condition as one of "needing help" can be extremely insulting to some people! And some of these people have very legitimate gripes about society -- and after seeing how society dropped them like a hot potato the second they hit a streak of bad luck, why should they desire to rejoin it? After years of adjusting to life on the streets?
As a social worker, you can really get hit from all angles. It's a tough life, and I have a lot of respect for people who can do it without losing their compassion and becoming jaded.
Though it was a frustrating period of life -- this was a positive experience for me on the whole, because it helped to turn me away from the idea that I would ever be able to serve others and make money at the same time. I'm sure it's possible, somewhere, somehow. But I'm also sure it's quite a difficult balancing act. To answer your question, I work to live now. I moved to the Midwest, work on a farm and write novels for a pittance. Meditation and truth seeking are my real careers
When people ask me what they can do to help the homeless, I say ... if you want to help someone ... say hi, ask them how they're doing -- talk to them like a human! It can mean a lot! (Only if you feel inclined, of course -- don't do it if you are easily guilt-tripped or feel threatened, because some people are quite unwell and angry, and I can guarantee you that some will see you as the perpetrator of their current state.)
I've always had a strong desire to serve others, and thought that a career where I could "help others" in some capacity would be extremely rewarding.
In my mid-20s I moved to New York City and became a social worker working with the homeless population.
Long story short: the organization, despite a well-intentioned and humble beginning in the early 80s, has "jumped the shark," so to speak. They are now quite well-connected with the City and funded by some serious money (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, AmEx, etc) ... who seem to be more interested in the appearances of "ending homelessness," rather than actually solving it ... and I'm not just indicting my former agency, but rather the City and the Department of Homeless Services as a whole. "Out of sight, out of mind" -- sorry, but that's my take after 5 years in the belly of the beast!
Then there's the other side of the issue: not everyone WANTS to be helped! The idea that you see their condition as one of "needing help" can be extremely insulting to some people! And some of these people have very legitimate gripes about society -- and after seeing how society dropped them like a hot potato the second they hit a streak of bad luck, why should they desire to rejoin it? After years of adjusting to life on the streets?
As a social worker, you can really get hit from all angles. It's a tough life, and I have a lot of respect for people who can do it without losing their compassion and becoming jaded.
Though it was a frustrating period of life -- this was a positive experience for me on the whole, because it helped to turn me away from the idea that I would ever be able to serve others and make money at the same time. I'm sure it's possible, somewhere, somehow. But I'm also sure it's quite a difficult balancing act. To answer your question, I work to live now. I moved to the Midwest, work on a farm and write novels for a pittance. Meditation and truth seeking are my real careers
When people ask me what they can do to help the homeless, I say ... if you want to help someone ... say hi, ask them how they're doing -- talk to them like a human! It can mean a lot! (Only if you feel inclined, of course -- don't do it if you are easily guilt-tripped or feel threatened, because some people are quite unwell and angry, and I can guarantee you that some will see you as the perpetrator of their current state.)
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