Why Don't They “Just”?

“Just” is a four letter word.  It is ofter used to separate or judge people. People frequently use “Just” when talking about the the homeless. How many times have we heard, or said, “Why don’t they ‘just’ find a place to stay?  Just get a job? Just move in with family? Just stop using drugs? Just take a bath?” This simple, and seemingly innocuous question, marginalizes and minimizes the homeless person, and does not take into consideration the entirety of the person about whom the question is being asked.

By working to help our homeless neighbors, at HOLA Recuperative Care we meet each person where they are and care for the whole person (emotionally and physically). This means not asking “Why don’t they ‘Just’?” It means that we have to ask the question “Why don’t WE Just” accept the person exactly as they are, and help them get “just” what they need? 

Recuperative care a customer service field.  The oldest adage in customer service is: “the customer is always right”. Well, our customer is our homeless patient leaving the hospital needing a place to recuperate.  If our homeless tenant does not want to attend our on site AA classes, participate in counseling, or accept a permanent housing opportunity we find for them, we respect their decision and let them know they can always change their mind.  The customer is right. That is their legitimate choice based upon their unique life experience and psychiatric status.  All we can do is offer them healthful opportunities and encourage them to make positive choices.  But ultimately, it is the customer’s choice, and the customer is right.  

We have found that providing several beneficial options, and engaging our tenants in creating the options, helps lead them toward healthier decisions. 

We do all we can to help our tenants be in a state of mind to make healthy decisions.  One way we do this is simply allowing them to truly rest. When patients come to us, our nurses take possession of their medications. They do this so that each day our nurses make sure the tenants take the proper medication at the proper time. We find that if tenants are taking their psychiatric medication, and other meds, properly and consistently for ten days, and are getting lots of food and rest, the decisions they make towards the end of their stay with us are far more beneficial. Many people come to the realization that they want to have wrap around services, get off the streets, and take the first steps towards sobriety.  

At HOLA Recuperative Care we provide our patients the opportunities to make the best choices possible. After we procure them their benefits, wrap around services, and they leave us to go to the permanent housing choice we found for them, we know that we “just” did the right thing.