thinking that although the stability of social life depends on our ability to maintain certain norms, roles and statuses, our ability to be happy depends on knowing when to disregard those norms, roles and statuses.
Guerrilla Social Work
Live the Revolution
First, a couple of things we need to agree on;
- Power is a construct. It can only exist if both parties agree to the power. In other words for someone to have power over you, you have to let them.
- Social workers have to pay close attention to power. There is a power imbalance that we need to be conscious of, even more so when working with those who are marginalized.
- A degree of power and authority is needed in order for society to work.
- Power and authority can be exercised in a respectful manor.
Now to my point. I’ve had some interactions recently with authority figures that have left a really bad taste in my mouth. (I know, I know, I should quit licking authority.) I cross paths with people working in positions other than police, EMS, transit cops, rent a cops etc, and sadly I find more and more that people in these positions have let the myth of their own authority go to their heads. I can appreciate that they have difficult and sometime dangerous jobs, but why is that an excuse to dehumanize the people they are dealing with? I realize that when people work with those on the fringes of society it can be very easy to be consumed by all the negative things. I can understand that it is very hard to consistently deal with people who are drunk, breaking petty laws and generally making there job difficult. What I am not able to understand is why it is okay to dehumanize and completely disrespect the people you serve just because they annoy you, or worse, do things that cause you to do you job?
Thoughts?
Subsidized housing does not work.
Discuss
Are you back? Good.
Now I’m wondering what you thought. Did you agree, as the author says, “(t)axpayers are subsidizing the shortfall at the hospital’s three kiosks featuring Tim Hortons — one of the most successful restaurant chains in Canada — largely because the coffee-pourers are well-paid CAW workers.” Or do you think that over all, tax payers have been subsidizing the private sector for years?
If you didn’t read it I’ll quickly summarize. There are Tim Horton’s Kiosks in the hospital, they are staffed by union employees who are people over 25$ an hour, the kiosks loose money, it is suggested that because of the high wages tax payers have to cover the hospital’s short fall. Another article suggested that this was proof that the public sector has no business in the private sector. I have another theory. A theory that suggests that private enterprise can not exist with the government’s support. (Your tax dollars)
Here’s a fact, Tim Horton’s and other retail wages are around minimum wage and well below living wage. If the people working at Timmy’s are not paid a living wage then basic needs like housing, food and utilities are often out of reach. For example one person making minimum wage in Alberta can not afford rent and food. These people making minimum wage need to access government services. The lucking ones get subsidized housing or subsidized rent. The rest scrape by using food banks and other supports.
Yes the Timmy’s employees in the hospital make good money, likely above living wage for their area, but why the hell shouldn’t they? We do we devalue retail and service jobs to the point that rather that people a little more for shitty coffee will shift the cost of doing business on to the tax payer.
There shouldn’t be anything wrong with people working in the service industry making enough to live, raise a family, buy food, pay school fees, not have to use a daycare subsidy etc. So rather than try to lower wages, charge a little more for the coffee and take comfort in know that those employees won’t be relying on the social safety net.
What happens when the rules that we are asked to work by, are the same rules that keep our clients from moving forward. Sometimes these rule prevent our clients for getting healthy or even surviving?
Fine, we can’t run around breaking all the rule but if a rule is not in the best interest of society then are we not required to at least speak out against it?
If we keep doing the same thing then we will keep getting the same thing
“So, what happened??
“Well they were really loud and accusing and that’s just not acceptable behavior. “
“Well, you’re right, that would not be acceptable behavior for me or you in a 711, but for someone newly sober with a lot of other issues and in a detox centre, it might be”
Come on, start where the person is at. Make sure your expectations at the same level as your client and don’t expect more than they can give. For the most part I believe that it our job as social workers, (street outreach, addiction counselors etc.) to suck it up and tolerate a lot of shit. It is our job to bridge the gap between when the client is at and when they need to be. If someone is “acting out” then ask yourself, what can I do to support this person to get under control and learn some self management skills? (We are assuming that everyone is safe here, no weapons, or violence)
I fully accept that there are people who are going to try and suck you in, manipulate and generally suck the life out of you. I hope that one of the skills you have developed is the ability to tell the difference, it really isn’t that hard if you’re paying attention.
Before you go to work tomorrow ask yourself “Am I a social worker or a social enforcer? If you answered the latter, maybe call in sick and start looking for a new career.
In April the AISH program is set to raise the amount that someone is receiving form 1188.00$ to 1588.00$ This is great for people how have been living well below the poverty line for decades. (The same as those making minimum wage but they’re still well below that line, more on that later) 1188.00$ created a lot of challenges not the least of which was housing. It’s a challenge for the person to pay rents as high as 900.00$ on a one bedroom and it is a challenge for Social Workers and others working with people on AISH to help them find something affordable. Most of us go through the motions of applying for subsidized housing all of which have huge wait lists. We call our list of contacts, fish for potential solutions and hold are breath. While this is happening the person is either on the street or in the hospital (pdf). The cost of this is huge.
There are two realities here that we have to accept. One is old, there is not enough subsidized housing space. The second is new, people on AISH make enough money to afford (just) market rent in Calgary. Given the cost of keeping someone in hospital or for them to be on the street and now the client has the money, do we have an obligation to support them in finding market value housing? I realize that we are busy but is it reasonable to fill out an application and wait for a space that may never come?
I hear you, you’re saying “but Mr. Social Work, I don’t have time to do this, the client needs support, I don’t know how! You’re right and if you read back, no where did I say it would be easy. There are some clients that need support to be in the community and that’s a whole different conversation but there are a lot of client’s who simply need help finding an apartment and getting things set up.
My suggestion to you is to step up. You news to find a while to support or facilitate moving you clients into housing. Whether you work one to one to go through the ads and take the client to see and apply or you put on a workshop on unit or in the shelter. You can still have them apply for subsidized housing but you can’t stop there.