Homelessness

Clearly there aren’t any modern societal ills as blatantly obvious as homelessness. It is in itself a model of structural racism. However, legislators are not being held accountable as homeless workers are not supported as they care for a population that continues to grow.

Their needs of living… surviving… while political representatives make decisions that keep conflicting with the real problems of homelessness; which is appropriations of funds and housing zoning laws that actually service homeless people. Being the people who are actually there… feeding...clothing...housing them in shelters… are the workers' whose work keeps homeless people safe from hourly … daily attacks due to their lack of ability to stay alive.

This work is in itself bordering way above the line of remedy. The level of compassion fatigue, the constant wearing away of one’s capacity to live with the vicarious trauma that becomes part of the work is exactly why investing in a day.

The Compassion CHARRETTE is created. It's that chance… the opportunity to surround yourself with others who are feeling the same way, while hearing their stories, acknowledging their experiences. This is the Trusted Collective building that is formed during that day… to continue from that point onward to bring hope to a seemingly hopeless problem. But unlike most gatherings, in the Compassion CHARRETTE it is structured for bonding like a family of caregivers who collectively are able to help one another while gluing together their ideas of hope for the homeless in real tangible ways.

It is the power of meeting to discuss compassion fatigue, and acknowledge what the work does to its workers; and, ways to keep ourselves mentally, physically and financially equipped because Homelessness is beatable. It is in this safe space for this activism that breathes strength into one another. And as we keep our strength, we'll learn living I.N.T.A.C.T.™’s theory of change and succeed.