I am a student with the Masters in Social Work program,
(MSW), at the University of Montana. My
practicum placement this year was with the Ada’s Place Gateway/Emergency
Housing program. The program helps
homeless families with a stay in a motel and offers case management services to
aid in finding housing, employment, and other services as needed. I also advocate for clients in other areas of
their lives if they need help. This type
of work was all new to me. I am from a
small town where everybody knows everybody and if you need a place to stay you
can “couch surf” until you find a place of your own. Growing up I did not know
what homelessness meant. My family was
not well off, but we had food and shelter.
I remember my uncle coming to stay with us when he was in town, but he
was more of a drifter than actually homeless.
My work history involves waitressing/bartending, working with
developmentally disabled individuals, and being a Juvenile Correctional
Officer. All these jobs and a Bachelors
degree in Psychology did not prepare me for what I experienced while working at
the YWCA.
Missoula is a beautiful place to be. There are more services for the homeless here
than any other city in Montana. I had a
hard time finding a place when I moved here, but luckily I found one. There are many here who do not have a place
to live. The stereotype of all homeless
people being drunk, lazy, or mentally ill is completely not true. My short time at the YWCA taught me
that. I see people every week that have
jobs, go to school, or are in the process of both that are homeless. The circumstances with each family are
different but, they are not the stereotype that people tend to think of when “homeless”
enters their mind.
Right now, there are numerous people on the waiting list
for Emergency Housing. The big problem
seems to be coming up with first and last month’s rent and deposit, all at one
time. Many of these homeless families are sleeping in their cars or camping
where they can find a place because there are no free places in town to camp or
park a car to sleep in. These are just a
few of the issues homeless families have to deal with. The YWCA and other service providers in town
do what they can, but here is not enough funding to go around but much more is
needed to better meet the needs of these families. However, you can help us! Donations of camping
gear like: tents, sleeping bags (for adults and children), blankets, or
anything else camping-related can help homeless families in a time of great
need. The people who use our services are grateful for any help you can
give. Thank you all for everything you
do.
Posted by Dana Beardslee, Gateway Assessment Center Practicum Student
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