Something to ponder

Earlier this week, my team and I met with a long time homeless youth service provider in the University District.  He has so much knowledge and wisdom after working with these youth for so long.  There was so much that I took away from what he said.  But there is one thing that really stood out to me.

He was talking about how service providers often get disillusioned after working with these youth for a while.  This can happen especially when there is a youth who seems to be enjoying living on the street and doesn't want to accept any of the help that you offer.  It's like they WANT to be homeless.  For example, there is a 16 year old girl living under a bridge and sleeping with creepy guys.  She has no desire to get off the street and is enjoying living under the bridge and these gross men.  It would be easy for a service provider to get disillusioned saying that there is nothing he can do because this girl will not accept help.  He can't help her get off the street because she doesn't want to get off the street.

Here's the thing though, the problem is not with this girl because she doesn't want to take your help.  There is a much bigger problem.  The real problem is that this girl does not know that she is WORTH MORE than living on the street.  She doesn't know that she deserves people who love her and a roof over her head because of who she is as a person.  For some reason, this girl has never known how much she is worth.  This is a problem with her family, friends, school, society, etc, etc.  It is a much bigger problem.  When we start to get disillusioned as service providers, we need to widen our view a little bit and see the bigger problem.  There is always something bigger than you can see.