In most cases the strategy to subdue someone who is mentally ill, suffering from their symptoms, is to role play or lecture the consumer. There are instances where reality becomes twisted. Police officers are trained to make decisions every day which either guide people to understanding through the use of performed attitudes, free of prejudice or stereotypical approaches. Two police officers forgot this line of training and brought about the death of a man who was mentally ill. Why did a man, sitting in a public place, mentally ill and homeless, meet with fate at the hands of trained law officers? There is no real answer, though they dispense the law they have now come before the scales of justice, because they did not perform their duty with beneficence or in a just manner. The problem lies there in also with the incompetence of the mentally ill, not being able to understand those whom are trying to communicate with them or the authorities of the office they are in care thereof. This theme is the same throughout the United States; it’s the complex nature of law enforcements responses to people with mental illnesses which has become the issue of concern, and politicians, people in the community and the general public whom are demanding some constraint to the growing problem of the mentally ill. As to the reasons the mentally ill are being singled out as a growing problem, this seems to be that the mentally ill when detained by the law are generally seen at some point as being incompetent and are not able to understand, being without a mediator of the mental health system they may even proceed to trial as defendants as such while they are at times unable to access the help they need from the mental health system or to be processed through the mental health system. There was no place for this homeless man as there seems to be no place for many whom have met with incarceration for weeks or even months; finding brutality or worse, then finding they are nowhere, alone and vulnerable or suffering from their symptoms without any kind of understanding except to be encroached by the law or even worse then again the criminal elements thereof. This is the danger the mentally ill and homeless face, once you are suspected of a crime, you become the target, unless someone is your guardian angel or there happens to be a Good Samaritan understanding the needs of a person of weakness. Written by Donald S.

Homeless Count

In this article it says that Denver has more homeless people this year than last. “A total of 12,605 homeless people were counted in the survey of the region’s homeless Jan. 23- a survey that occurs on one night in January every year.” That is a lot of homeless people that are out on the streets and shelters. They do not all get into shelters some sleep at night on the street. They did this study just a week before the city council is supposed to have the final vote in which I wrote about in last week’s blog. They found out in the study that: “Nearly 1,000 people were unsheltered that night; 600 respondents said domestic violence was the reason for their homelessness, and 3,239 people were considered “newly homeless.” Nearly 1000 people lived on the streets and not in a shelter. They have about 1,700 shelter beds in Denver. “.. about 10,000 fewer than needed.” If this ordinance passes where are they going to put all those people; in jail? The police it would seem would be spending most of their time catching homeless people? Who are these homeless people? “We see this rise every year… That changes the stereotype of what people think a homeless person is. These are children.” They are family with kids. If there is no room in shelters what are they going to do with these children? A lot of unanswered questions, it seems they are pushing this through so fast and are not thinking about the consequences of what will really happen. It is more than just the mentally ill. “You have to have somewhere to go… adding that families with children make up about 64 percent of the region’s homeless population. They should think of a way to help these people rather than pass a bill making camping illegal on the streets of Denver. To me I think they are just pushing this measure through and not given a chance to stop and think what might happen.

Where is Home?

One of the reasons it’s hard to face the reality of the homeless is because we see them and acknowledge them as vagrant; we become disturbed not wanting to be in their place; placing distance between ourselves and those whom are homeless or distraught. Having advocates to alleviate the homeless people plight gives any one to wonder if we are giving a “free ride” to such people or are we only keeping up with what is thoughtful and supportive in helping our fellow man. Criminalization of the homeless is a twofold reality, our suspicions exist as well as theirs of crime; yet we have to agree, they are not under control unless they are incarcerated or placed in “check” in control environments or governed shelters, control shouldn’t be the issue, how will the populace know if anyone person is safe, either from the elements of nature or society. At this stage to lay and rest where a person pleases or camp somewhere within the city limits, “being homeless” has the undertones of the rights of those who cannot afford shelter displaced, and we do not want to take away the rights of the indigent away because they are in need. It’s a matter of safety, safety for the taxpayer, safety for the vagrant who has no employment, or home thus is living without responsibility. The passage of the proposal to ban “urban camping” is a blessing in disguise to many in Colorado, who see others needing a place to rest. They, the homeless, realize there is a lack of space for shelter in designated shelter areas and this plight is being alleviated for those who are searching for a new way of life to have somewhere to exist, where they can reach out from nothing and succeed finding work with an address to rely upon without bending over to criminality. As there are more temporary shelters for the homeless, this too gives the homeless the opportunity to gain a step forward without having to feel threatened or threaten others for their needs. It may be a matter of law in enforcing the problem of homelessness in Denver and other cities and states as well as it becomes a greater problem, yet as common people and tax payers we cannot overlook nor be indifferent to those who honestly need shelter, to gain what was lost, a home with dignity. Written by Donald Sammons

Denver Homeless

Wow they want to not be able to see our homeless population in Denver. So they are proposing a ban on camping in the city. “The ordinance that would ban unauthorized camping is a bad idea.” There are a lot of mentally ill homeless that would be put in jail. I was in jail when I was mentally ill. It was the worst experience. For me I could not explain what was happening to me. I was in one fight not understanding what was going on. They did not charge me with it, although it should not have happened. That is what happens when you are mentally ill and in a place that you should not be in. There should be a better way to help rather than put them in jail. “Unlike Hungary, a bankrupt nation that still decided to pass a law to fine and imprison their homeless, Denver has options for spending taxpayer dollars in a more supportive way for its most vulnerable people.” Will some of the mentally ill understand what they are going to be doing to them? There is a scramble to find places for the homeless. The city council was in session last night which was Monday night to have a public hearing on the matter. If this passes it will go it to effect on May 29th of this year. Monday in the Denver Post they were having homeless shelter that regularly closes for the summer to stay open. Some homeless just do not like the way of everyday life like the rest of us. It is not a bad thing you just have to understand them and that is hard if you are not mentally ill. “Usually in the springtime, Denver loses about 360 beds used to shelter people in winter- leaving the city’s homeless with only 867 shelter beds for homeless men, women, youths and families through the warmer months.” The people who oppose the ban are saying there is not enough room to house all the homeless. If they do not go in shelter what are they going to do but arrest them as they will be violating the law. Well in today’s Denver post article they passed the camping ban on the first reading. The will have a final vote on May 14th. “The council voted 9-4 in support of the measure that would make unauthorized camping illegal in the city aimed at reducing the numbers of homeless people sleeping on the streets.” It looks like as of now they are going to pass this measure. There were hundreds of people who went to discuss this matter. Proponents of the issue say this is needed. “…wants the law for personal safety for the guests and staff. They are intimidated she said. They are afraid to go out there after dark. One guest was stabbed. We have witnessed break-ins. People are constantly asking what we are doing to end this? That is why I am here.” No one should be afraid to go out to dinner or work. You can understand some of the frustration. Although there should be another way, then criminalizing people for being homeless.

A Brief Scenario of Homelessness

In Newark, New Jersey, a senator changed his appearance before his peers; he became a homeless man in disguise a man of years his present age. Why did he do this? to understand the conditions of shelters and boarding homes in the state of New Jersey when other reports stated otherwise and to continue to champion the otherwise homeless and mentally ill. This was his way of getting a firsthand look at the way the system works for the homeless, though I might say the system in New Jersey is not to be compared to the conditions of shelters and missions for the homeless in Colorado. I have been homeless in my life for several ongoing years before I was taken into the mental health system for a second time during these years, and I never once met with any of the absurdities as this senator had come to meet. Being homeless, I fared somewhat, sleeping in Missions and shelters, yet before I was made to realize there were such places for boarding and overnight and extended time staying periods, I slept literally in the streets, in vacant garages, homes which had been abandoned and parking lots. As I learned that there were such places as boarding homes, Missions, and shelters, I never once gave more than I had to in order to have a place to rest and bed myself, so as I looked at the situation in New Jersey, I began to wonder how heartless and disconcerting were the proprietors of these shelters and Missions in the Eastern Coast State of New Jersey. I might say that as there is homelessness, there is also drug addiction and alcoholism; there is also the mentally ill, the physically disabled, those who were released from jail, and there are families with children and migrant workers, searching for a place to rest and gather their wits about themselves when they can find rest and solace in any shelter or boarding home. The drug addicted, or the alcoholics often time find themselves waiting for shelter or not staying for very long in one because they carry their attitude of drugs and alcohol with them and this is understandable that they are not allowed to stay if they are belligerent or are using drugs on the premises. Families have first consideration because of children and this is understandable as well. Workers travelling from city to city, state to state usually stay in a shelter or boarding home long enough for the weather to clear, or they move on hearing of work further on down the road. The mentally ill and physically disabled are often hard to tend to if they have no outpatient clinic, because of their condition they are seeming the last ones in the book to be seen as having a place if they are displaying symptoms which cannot be understood or they are physically a burden to care for. God knows the prayers are there, and these people, the homeless are never waiting in anything but anguish, to feel the warmth, the shade, to know the taste of decent food, and to make sure their children as well as themselves are safe, till fortune smiles down on them and their life becomes changed again or until they find enough to travel further on into the world finding peace.
Written by Donald Sammons
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Take a Walk Alone

I walked into a mental health clinic 24 years ago. I was literally a homeless, struggling, drug abusing, drunken tramp. I came from a decent home life as best as parents could provide, yet my eyes were blinded as my belly empty to the world beyond high school friendships and books. I was unseasoned to my own ideas and the ideologies of others more grown and seasoned to life.

I went into treatment disgusted, angry and unbelieving anybody could help me see the truth of living again. I was 34 years old then with beliefs that only God could keep me surviving and that materiality was a matter for the greedy and inane. I reached my 55th birthday quietly, while I held back a tear. Somebody likes me!

I have seen myself without home or job, without friends, without sanity, only a partiality of it; yet what makes me smile inside, is the psychiatrist who asked me, “for what reasons are my states in life”, or the case manager who says, “you can plan your life without fear with drink or drugs”. I have seen myself change, mentally and materially because I overcame my weakness of being weak, through posture of identity, lacking the foolishness of make believe. This is a reality of Outcomes in Recovery where there can be no disbelief if you care to live believing you can be free of your mental burdens, through understanding your identity and what you want to become free of. Does anyone ever really walk alone?