WAGE SLAVE
10-13-2008, 04:00 PM
To: The Daily Journal
800 S Claremont St., Ste 210
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 344-5200
From: WAGE SLAVE
October 13, 2008
Editor:
It gives me no pleasure to write this letter, because to do so reveals personal circumstance that is frequently frustrating and humiliating. I am writing to you in response to the recent article concerning budgets, and the availability of shelter space for homeless persons in San Mateo County (Budget may limit shelter hours – the Daily Journal, Weds. Oct.1, 2009). Such action as mentioned in the Daily Journal article would be both counter productive to the welfare of the people of San Mateo County in total, and detrimental to the individual homeless person as well.
It is doubtful that the day-time closure of Safe Harbor will help even the bean-counters get a better nights sleep, indeed, such a “band-aid” measure is not the solution to the long-term problem of homelessness and transitional housing in San Mateo county; this proposal should not be taken seriously. While belt tightening measures are always in good order, this particular “remedy” only serves to further stress &/or punish those who are ALREADY going without. The net effect of such proposed action would not only be the dumping of the mentally ill and disabled persons onto the streets of San Mateo county, (not exactly good for business OR property values), but to close Safe Harbor during the day shift would just make everything that much more difficult for those individuals who are simply down on their luck and doing all that they can to get back on their feet.
For example, on the day the Daily Journal article was put to print, my shift at the bakery ended at 9:00am; I was able to get back to the shelter, get a couple hours of sleep (a good nights sleep is truly a LUXURY for many homeless), then take a shower and dash to my evening class (business office skills). Had the shelter been closed at that time, such activities would be almost impossible for me, and a situation that offers little hope would quickly become hopeless.
With little fanfare and limited resources, the Samaritan House / Safe Harbor staff and management do a terrific job for the clients of Safe Harbor, and in
the process render an important service to the citizens of San Mateo County. By limiting the actual shelter hours available to the county’s homeless, the taxpaying citizens are all but guaranteed that it won’t just be the commuter snoozing on the bus; indeed, I personally know several people who do not take advantage of shelter resources, and as a consequence, they have made “camping on the bus” something of an art form.
Believe me, the staff and management of Safe Harbor routinely take on some of the hardest luck cases that most folks wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot fire hose. More than a few times I’ve seen a homeless individual being brought to the shelter via a police car. Such a person is certainly not under arrest, but is likely to be just one or two steps away from making a bad situation that much the worse for EVERYBODY. The next time you get the chance, just ask a police officer if he/she isn’t glad that the Safe Harbor staff is on duty, and ready to do their part for the community.
Safe Harbor clients include more than just the mentally ill and physically challenged. Using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, Safe Harbor has been providing shelter to people of every stripe; during my stay at the shelter I’ve personally had a chance to chat with a philosophy major attending STANFORD (yep, THAT Stanford), an independent contractor – with a handful of contracts and a van full of tools, teachers, drivers, factory workers, young s, frail elderly, staunch Christians, LGBT folks, and even conservatives. Of course the description of the client list could be much longer but you get the idea.
Recently, while staying at Safe Harbor, it was my privilege to get a mom all set up with her own email address, AND TEACH HER HOW TO GET ON THE INTERNET, so she could communicate with her son . . . who is SERVING THIS COUNTRY IN IRAQ. Just as an aside, I hope you keep that particular little story in mind the next time you hear some red-neck go on and on about family values and supporting the troops.
Another point needs to be made here, that is, just exactly WHERE many of San Mateo county’s homeless population originate from. The residents of Safe Harbor shelter come not just from the Bay Area, but they come from all parts of this great country of ours. I have seen Safe Harbor open it’s doors to folks from North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Missouri, Alaska, etc., as well as those individuals who are not even from this country and speak little or no English.
It’s time for the electorate to wake up and smell the asphalt: California’s homeless problem is really the nation’s homeless problem – yes it is.
For the record, Safe Harbor is certainly no lifestyle of the rich and famous, but it is a GOOD place to be, it is a place that supplies at least a measure of hope and a hot cup of coffee that is actually O.K. At Safe Harbor you can get yourself a good hot shower, wash your clothes (if the machine isn’t broken, and the line isn’t too long), a basic nutritious hot meal (especially important over the coming rainy fall-winter months), and a chance to talk to a counselor – even if that’s all it is, sometimes just talking to a non-judgmental somebody can change everything.
The very idea of closing Safe Harbor during the day may save a few pennies now, but in the long run . . . well you know the rest. The hours of Safe Harbor need to remain just as they are, and local, state, and federal officials, need to give programs for this country’s homeless A LOT more consideration, because the so-called “free-market” could give less than a damn.
Who knows ?? . . . the way the economy is going these days, maybe you WILL be seeing me . . .
At the shelter;
WAGE SLAVE
Safe Harbor resident
October 13, 2008
800 S Claremont St., Ste 210
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 344-5200
From: WAGE SLAVE
October 13, 2008
Editor:
It gives me no pleasure to write this letter, because to do so reveals personal circumstance that is frequently frustrating and humiliating. I am writing to you in response to the recent article concerning budgets, and the availability of shelter space for homeless persons in San Mateo County (Budget may limit shelter hours – the Daily Journal, Weds. Oct.1, 2009). Such action as mentioned in the Daily Journal article would be both counter productive to the welfare of the people of San Mateo County in total, and detrimental to the individual homeless person as well.
It is doubtful that the day-time closure of Safe Harbor will help even the bean-counters get a better nights sleep, indeed, such a “band-aid” measure is not the solution to the long-term problem of homelessness and transitional housing in San Mateo county; this proposal should not be taken seriously. While belt tightening measures are always in good order, this particular “remedy” only serves to further stress &/or punish those who are ALREADY going without. The net effect of such proposed action would not only be the dumping of the mentally ill and disabled persons onto the streets of San Mateo county, (not exactly good for business OR property values), but to close Safe Harbor during the day shift would just make everything that much more difficult for those individuals who are simply down on their luck and doing all that they can to get back on their feet.
For example, on the day the Daily Journal article was put to print, my shift at the bakery ended at 9:00am; I was able to get back to the shelter, get a couple hours of sleep (a good nights sleep is truly a LUXURY for many homeless), then take a shower and dash to my evening class (business office skills). Had the shelter been closed at that time, such activities would be almost impossible for me, and a situation that offers little hope would quickly become hopeless.
With little fanfare and limited resources, the Samaritan House / Safe Harbor staff and management do a terrific job for the clients of Safe Harbor, and in
the process render an important service to the citizens of San Mateo County. By limiting the actual shelter hours available to the county’s homeless, the taxpaying citizens are all but guaranteed that it won’t just be the commuter snoozing on the bus; indeed, I personally know several people who do not take advantage of shelter resources, and as a consequence, they have made “camping on the bus” something of an art form.
Believe me, the staff and management of Safe Harbor routinely take on some of the hardest luck cases that most folks wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot fire hose. More than a few times I’ve seen a homeless individual being brought to the shelter via a police car. Such a person is certainly not under arrest, but is likely to be just one or two steps away from making a bad situation that much the worse for EVERYBODY. The next time you get the chance, just ask a police officer if he/she isn’t glad that the Safe Harbor staff is on duty, and ready to do their part for the community.
Safe Harbor clients include more than just the mentally ill and physically challenged. Using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, Safe Harbor has been providing shelter to people of every stripe; during my stay at the shelter I’ve personally had a chance to chat with a philosophy major attending STANFORD (yep, THAT Stanford), an independent contractor – with a handful of contracts and a van full of tools, teachers, drivers, factory workers, young s, frail elderly, staunch Christians, LGBT folks, and even conservatives. Of course the description of the client list could be much longer but you get the idea.
Recently, while staying at Safe Harbor, it was my privilege to get a mom all set up with her own email address, AND TEACH HER HOW TO GET ON THE INTERNET, so she could communicate with her son . . . who is SERVING THIS COUNTRY IN IRAQ. Just as an aside, I hope you keep that particular little story in mind the next time you hear some red-neck go on and on about family values and supporting the troops.
Another point needs to be made here, that is, just exactly WHERE many of San Mateo county’s homeless population originate from. The residents of Safe Harbor shelter come not just from the Bay Area, but they come from all parts of this great country of ours. I have seen Safe Harbor open it’s doors to folks from North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Missouri, Alaska, etc., as well as those individuals who are not even from this country and speak little or no English.
It’s time for the electorate to wake up and smell the asphalt: California’s homeless problem is really the nation’s homeless problem – yes it is.
For the record, Safe Harbor is certainly no lifestyle of the rich and famous, but it is a GOOD place to be, it is a place that supplies at least a measure of hope and a hot cup of coffee that is actually O.K. At Safe Harbor you can get yourself a good hot shower, wash your clothes (if the machine isn’t broken, and the line isn’t too long), a basic nutritious hot meal (especially important over the coming rainy fall-winter months), and a chance to talk to a counselor – even if that’s all it is, sometimes just talking to a non-judgmental somebody can change everything.
The very idea of closing Safe Harbor during the day may save a few pennies now, but in the long run . . . well you know the rest. The hours of Safe Harbor need to remain just as they are, and local, state, and federal officials, need to give programs for this country’s homeless A LOT more consideration, because the so-called “free-market” could give less than a damn.
Who knows ?? . . . the way the economy is going these days, maybe you WILL be seeing me . . .
At the shelter;
WAGE SLAVE
Safe Harbor resident
October 13, 2008