No Where to Go!

If you have never worked closely with the Homeless population then you will never really appreciate how broke the system is.

When I speak of the system I am speaking to the services that are available to a person in need in the Richmond area.

Unfortunately based on what I have learned it's not just Richmond!

Take for example that on this past Saturday the hospital wants to release you as in David's case and you have no where to go.

First off there is no one there to be your advocate other than a social worker from the Hospital.

That is the job of the social worker.

The problem with that is, that on the weekends there is only ONE person on call for the entire hospital.

Keep in mind that the social worker is the one and only person that is your advocate if you are all alone.

I've been told and seen first hand how over whelmed the social workers are at the hospital.

Fortunately enough during our time on Saturday the social worker came by the room.

She was a very nice lady and showed genuine care for David's situation.

After she heard David's case she explained there was nothing she could do because it was Saturday!

She said there were no resources to access because it was the weekend, yet the hospital was prepared to release him any way.

Respit care was not even an option.

In the hospital's defense David's housing situation changed at the last minute, but there were no alternatives provided for him from the hospital.

I don't mean to SHOUT, but do peoples' needs stop on Saturday or after 5pm on the weekdays?

Another example is that the Homeless services shut down on the weekends.

You see the point of entry for the Homeless is only open Monday - Friday 9am -5pm.

This is a tragedy and it needs to change.

One more example of why Richmond needs a Dream Center that is open 24/7!

There should not be a situation where somebody has no place to go!