Harold Miller is the out reach Manager for Volunteers of America, Delaware Region. Part of his job is to go out into the streets, find out where the homeless sleep and eat, then try to get them to join their programs and get off the streets. In addition to this, he tries to locate other programs that might be helpful to bridge the gap between the clients and the programs.
According to Mr Miller, many of those that choose to stay on the street do so because of drug and alcohol addiction. Many of them aren’t even eligible for government assistance or programs because of the federal welfare law that imposes a lifetime ban on anyone convicted of a drug-related felony from receiving federally funded food stamps and cash assistance (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF). This law prohibits receipt of benefits even to those individuals who have completed their sentence, overcome an addiction, been gainfully employed but were subsequently laid off, or earned a certificate of rehabilitation or other form of clemency.
“It’s a definite problem, because many have committed this crime when they were young. After they come out of jail and receive no help, they find themselves reverting back to this trade to make a living” says Mr Miller.
Mr Miller, who has worked for this organization for the past five years, asserts that the only way he was able to reach the homeless community was to build a relationship of trust. He knows their names and they refer to him as “Hal”. He eats with them, plays cards with them and has basically become a family member to the invisible people. He loves his job with a passion and he doesn’t stop working when the clock strikes 5:00. His cell phone number is shared among the homeless community who call him any time for help. Sometimes he receives calls at various hours of the day to help a teenager who was just kicked out of his parent’s home and doesn’t know where to go.
When asked about the homeless on the streets he affirms my suspicions of the danger that comes with such a lifestyle. He asserts, ” it is a different level of danger.” They live in abandominiums (boarded buildings). Many don’t want to be found by the authorities for many reasons. One of the reasons is they don’t want to be found by their families. They chose to live in these decrepit buildings rather than with family. Mr Miller has been in many of these buildings and he describes them as being infested with feces and needles among other illegal substances.
Because he knows many of the homeless, he asks for their permission to go into the buildings otherwise it would be very dangerous. For many who live in those buildings, they fear any outside interference because they regard the place as their own home. He makes sure to get the green light before he ventures into the buildings.
Those living on the street receive $200 in food stamps and $140 in cash for a single person. Many are forced to remain on the streets because of substance or mental abuse. They are excluded from receiving aid and they just can’t find any other solutions. Many single moms choose to hide from the authorities for fear of being reported as homeless and loosing their children to the system.
Once the homeless are transitioned into their own government subsidized homes, they only have a year of support before they have to support themselves. Unfortunately, many are unable to stand on their feet and have no choice but to turn to the streets. In fact locating subsidized housing is hard to do because many landlords know that the government will only pay for a year and they are interested in two-year leases.
Mr Miller asserts there are many problems that are hard to fix and invites me to come into the center to understand first hand the complications surrounding the homeless issue. He explains the email limits what he wants to discuss. I accept his invitation and thank him for his time.
Reflection:
I did not enjoy the email interview. It was impersonal and lacked the personal connection needed for a successful interview. I asked questions and they were answered, but I couldn’t carry out a meaningful conversation. I could not fully experience the process.
Many of Mr Miller’s answers posed further questions. The abandoned buildings that housed the homeless are of special interest to me. Why would anyone choose to live such a life? I feel the answers will fall short to truly understanding the issue. Where are the families? How can a person be reduced to this way of life? When did it all start to change?
Afterall, the man lying in the middle of feces and used syringes, or the woman sitting with her back against the wall, were once someone’s baby, learning how to walk and talk. Now they float in uncertainty. What about the incarcerated with drug problems? They come back to the community, only to fall back and return to jail. How can they get back on their feet without any support? Sometimes, government is not the only solution.
Although many programs are designed to help, unfortunately something has failed, something so deep and close to the core. I believe homelessness starts from birth. There needs to be a change in our core values. A baby does not dream to be homeless. The social structure is very unforgiving and the family unit has lost its traditional role. This is not to say it is the only problem, but it is to say, it is a huge part of the problem.
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