Real Life at the Crisis Shelter March 19-25, 2012

Monday March 19:  A very heated discussion began in one of the singles room.  It progressed to the point where one of the guests threatened to kill one of the other guests.  The lady making the threat was asked to leave.  Later another guest had an argument with her brother at Oasis Park.  The fight culminated in the guest breaking a window at the shelter, punching her brother and going to jail.  Gate is now fixed!  Staff were able to meet with a mom who is struggling to parent in the midst of all of the stresses of being homeless, alone and afraid.    

Tuesday March 20:    Room 5 broke out in a fight amongst the singles.  There is some prejudice and other issues that is sparking the tension.  The guest who had broken the window came by to pick up her belongings.  She tried to spin the story that she was the victim.  This was hard to believe because of her 47 charges of violence and 2 murder convictions in the past.

Wednesday March 21  Room 5 was at peace today.  The discussion staff had with them seems to have soothed things over.  One of our guests lost her job this morning.  Her first reaction was to tell us that she needed to go use.  We talked with her and she has some other plans now.  Ultimately she moved across the state.    It came to light that someone had taken all of the lunch meat and we would not be able to provide sandwiches for the ladies in the morning.  However, a donor came by and donated enough lunch meat for everyone because it was buy one get one free and she could not use the second package.  Again God provides!   

Thursday March 22:    We had a same day accountability meeting for one of our singles who was very argumentative with staff.    She opted to not come to the accountability. 

Friday March 23:  One of our guests said that she went to the hospital last night but then had no paperwork.  When we were going to call the hospital to confirm that was where she was, she told us that she had used an alias at the hospital.  As the conversation went on and the story started changing rapidly it became apparent that she had not gone to the hospital and was asked to leave.  Another guest had a same day accountability meeting.  She showed up and staff was able to have a great conversation and the guest will be staying with us.        

Weekend:    One of our guests went to the hospital and had her baby!  One of our mom , one who is on her third stay, finds interesting excuses each evening for why she can not or did not do modules.   

General comments:   Same day accountability meetings is part of our latest experiment.  When a guest refuses to discuss some non safety issue and their part in it we have them pack their belongings and leave for a few hours.  Usually they are given some homework or told the accountability questions ahead of time.  If they come back at the assigned time and the meeting goes well they keep their bed.  If they don’t show up or are still unwilling to discuss their role in the drama they are checked out of the shelter.  So far mixed results but overall I am happy with the idea.        

    

Current Crisis Shelter Purpose Statement:

 The Crisis Shelter for Women and Children exists to increase the impact of our ministries of rescue, recovery and restoration by partnering with staff, volunteers and donors.  We will do this by meeting basic needs in a safe, clean, temporary shelter, with instruction and guidance for life transformation in a healing environment.