A lot of people commend the work that I do, and just as many disagree with it. Homelessness, food stamps, welfare, and medicaid/medicare are all highly controversial topics, especially in a nation struggling with its economy. And rightfully so--the country spends an unimaginable amount of money on welfare and food stamps each year. And many of you would be surprised to hear that I agree with you: I don't think everyone that receives these "hand outs" should be getting them.
October 15 the most recent welfare statistics came out. The Department of Commerce reported that 4.3 million people are on welfare--this equates to the US spending $131.9 billion annually on welfare. Additionally, 46.7 million are on food stamps.
I will be the first to tell you that I will gladly support welfare and food stamps where they are needed. Food stamps are the reason I've been able to eat these past few months. I have devoted my life to helping others, and for those who are disabled, elderly, in the transition of looking for a job, caring for their children, or have been displaced by natural disaster, I fully support the government helping you out. In fact, I love it. However it irks me when people take advantage of the system.
The other day on my ferry across the Mississippi on my way to work I started chatting with two middle-aged men. Both were well spoken, physically able, and in adequate clothing. After a few minutes of speaking, they asked where I worked, and when I told them, it turned out they were homeless.
I asked the normal questions: Why are you homeless? Where are you staying? Where is your family? Etc. After I picked their brains for a bit, it turned out neither of them were employed, they were living in a tent across the river from downtown, and neither were disabled. In fact, one of them had been given an apartment from my agency once before, and decided that he wanted to move out of state--he lost his apartment. A free apartment.(He also had the nerve to ask me if he could get it back).
I asked them what they were going to do all day and they said probably just roam around the city. When I asked why they weren't applying for jobs, they said they didn't really want to do that today.
Let me reiterate. I love helping people. But, I love helping people that actually need help. People that try to take advantage of the system when our country's economy is falling apart are not the kind of people that I have a soft spot in my heart for.
Every day people walk into the office that are disabled, elderly, sick, victims of Katrina, victims of Isaac, victims of domestic violence, recently laid off, etc. All people that are in need of help. Our job is to get them on the right track--if they are able bodied, we help them find a shelter or transitional housing that best suits them. While there, they work on finding employment and saving money so that they can get their own apartment. If they are disabled, chronically homeless, extremely ill, or elderly, we try to get them into a Permanent Support Housing program.
To me, this is how the system should work. If you need a boost and a nudge to get your life back on track, I'd love to support you and help you in any way I can. If you are unable to solely care for yourself, I would also love to help you. If you are manipulating the system to get an apartment that others truly need, I do not have sympathy for you, nor am I willing to help you.
I make a very small amount of money, however I live comfortably in an apartment and pay my bills. And I work my ass off to do so. If you are able to work your ass off too, you will not get sympathy from me, nor will you get a referral for a free apartment. However, I will happily pick you up an application at any company in the city.
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