A True Modern Neanderthal

[Thomas Wilson]

My wife told me an incredible story. The receptionist at her office noticed what appeared to be smoke coming from a drain grate located in a low spot on the office’s front lawn. Upon investigating, they discovered it was a campfire of a homeless person living in the culvert. Police were called and the individual was taken into custody. This is a sad but all too common story in the US. For a great many different reasons, people find themselves without a roof. My wife, Janicewhokeepsmehumble, is very well plugged into the non-profit community services world. She directs her family’s charitable foundation and annually gives the cash needed to build four Habitat for Humanity houses among other things. She has the contacts to get our enterprising Neanderthal living under her front yard the services he needs. He was really lucky to have picked her building. She does her part. He is getting help. We should all get out and swing a hammer for Habitat. If we just solve housing, all the other problems get so much smaller.

TW

[David Eisenhauer]

Thanks Thomas.

[Art Mann]

I have wired and done the finish carpentry on several "Habitat for Humanity" houses and another house built by a similar organization. I volunteer regularly at a benevolent organization that exists to serve former inmates, recovering addicts and homeless people. I have worked with many such people on a very personal level. Do not be disappointed if the person you are trying to help eventually returns to his present condition. I see it happen all the time. You can't cure mental or spiritual problems with mere housing or food. You have to help them on a much more rudimentary level.

[Edwin Santos]

Do not be disappointed if the person you are trying to help eventually returns to his present condition. I see it happen all the time. You can't cure mental or spiritual problems with mere housing or food. You have to help them on a much more rudimentary level.

I might add that the person has to want to be helped in the first place.

[Tom Bender]

Yes, how many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

My target for personality changes is 15%. More than that is a bonus.

That said, Habitat is very successful for the right people and we should all support it and especially the other approaches Art works on.

[Malcolm McLeod]

... swing a hammer for Habitat. ...

Have done so, including sponsored events by my company. We've built houses (to a point) outside our office in downtown; then they're trucked to final site.

Habitat is my favorite charity, since the future owner is sometimes standing beside me swinging their hammer. "...teach a man to fish..."

[Lee Schierer]

I've worked on habitat projects for many years. I will be helping on a project house in June.

[Thomas Wilson]

I have wired and done the finish carpentry on several "Habitat for Humanity" houses and another house built by a similar organization. I volunteer regularly at a benevolent organization that exists to serve former inmates, recovering addicts and homeless people. I have worked with many such people on a very personal level. Do not be disappointed if the person you are trying to help eventually returns to his present condition. I see it happen all the time. You can't cure mental or spiritual problems with mere housing or food. You have to help them on a much more rudimentary level.

Thank you for your work. I understand that housing is only one piece the homeless problem. I do not know how this particular case turned out. My point is to help where you are able. I haven’t helped on a Habitat house in a number of years, but this instance right in the front yard reminded me that I can and should help with the skills I have.

[Doug Dawson]

I have wired and done the finish carpentry on several "Habitat for Humanity" houses and another house built by a similar organization. I volunteer regularly at a benevolent organization that exists to serve former inmates, recovering addicts and homeless people. I have worked with many such people on a very personal level. Do not be disappointed if the person you are trying to help eventually returns to his present condition. I see it happen all the time. You can't cure mental or spiritual problems with mere housing or food. You have to help them on a much more rudimentary level.

I recommend the excellent film "Leave No Trace", which goes into this.

OTOH, there are millions of people who are just one paycheck away from being homeless in this country (USA) and when it happens they are very happy for the help. Blaming mental health for that is IMO too close to social darwinism.

[lowell holmes]

Lee, you just put a burr under my saddle. I am retired and I built houses. I have a shop full of stationary and tool-box tools.
I also have a F-150.

I am going to contact habitat and volunteer. I bet others in this group will do likewise. Maybe other Creekers will do like wise. How about some mechanism on this forum to tell about and encourage others to join. I can't be the only retired, healthy old dog in this group. It might be the "Old Sawmill Creek Old Dog Volunteers".

[Art Mann]

The kind of people I try to help would be overjoyed to even get get a paycheck. I don't have any idea what "social Darwinism" is. Anyone can get down on their luck and need short term help. People who live hand to mouth year after year, are either handicapped and can't earn a living at all or they are unwilling to give up immediate gratification for future security. I can't even count all the people I have counseled that they should put money away for a rainy day only to watch them spend every dime on a new cell phone, car, TV set or something much worse. More than one of the former inmates I have helped made 6 figure incomes on the street as recreational pharmacists and literally have nothing to show for it. Blaming their situation on mental health is about the kindest way I can put it.


I recommend the excellent film "Leave No Trace", which goes into this.

OTOH, there are millions of people who are just one paycheck away from being homeless in this country (USA) and when it happens they are very happy for the help. Blaming mental health for that is IMO too close to social darwinism.

[Lee Schierer]

Lee, you just put a burr under my saddle. I am retired and I built houses. I have a shop full of stationary and tool-box tools.
I also have a F-150.

I am going to contact habitat and volunteer. I bet others in this group will do likewise. Maybe other Creekers will do like wise. How about some mechanism on this forum to tell about and encourage others to join. I can't be the only retired, healthy old dog in this group. It might be the "Old Sawmill Creek Old Dog Volunteers".

Good for you. I think your idea for an SMC habitat section is terrific. I can round up more burrs. My dog seems to collect them in hunting season. I enjoy the habitat projects. You meet some interesting folks and working with unpaid volunteers can be very frustrating and rewarding. Once they get to know you they will generally give you a small team to work on a particular part of the build.

[Jerry Olexa]

Good for you Lowell.....You are willing to help!!

[Art Mann]

Here is a word of warning about working on "Habitat" houses. The other volunteers may know much, much less about building houses than you do and they don't realize it. You have to exercise a huge amount of patience when working with them. Sometimes, you just have to overlook some pretty big mistakes on their part.

[Matthew Cashman]

It's a nice idea, but I think consensus among people who study the effectiveness of charities is that Habitat isn't very efficient. It's mostly driven by the warm fuzzies it gives volunteers and recipients (which, to be sure, is worth something). However, an economist looking critically at their setup would be aghast at the inefficiencies. It'd be much more efficient to use Habitat funds to construct appropriate, efficient housing using competent local professional labor.

If you're curious about how best to help others, have a look at what the Effective Altruism folks have to say.

[Mike Null]

800,000 homes around the world seems pretty efficient to me. Inefficient or not Habitat works.

The record of public housing ain't so hot.

[Art Mann]

Efficiency is not the highest priority of a Habitat for Humanity house build. If it were, each project would begin with an "audition" to determine who has suitable skills. The coming together of a diverse group of people to cooperate in a common cause that is bigger than themselves is a huge benefit that must be experienced to be understood. That is pretty difficult to factor into an efficiency calculation.

[Warren Mickley]

800,000 homes around the world seems pretty efficient to me. Inefficient or not Habitat works.

The record of public housing ain't so hot.

Habitat for Humanity and public housing have very different clientele. One takes people who cannot afford rent and subsidizes them. The other takes people who can afford rent (having much higher income) and helps them become homeowners. H for H does not serve the homeless.

I did volunteer work today on an 18th century meetinghouse. One fellow who helped lives in subsidized housing. I don't think his income is half what Habitat requires.

[Lee Schierer]

Here is a word of warning about working on "Habitat" houses. The other volunteers may know much, much less about building houses than you do and they don't realize it. You have to exercise a huge amount of patience when working with them. Sometimes, you just have to overlook some pretty big mistakes on their part.

It is true that the volunteer experience varies widely, but mistakes should be reported and corrected. Habitat houses have to meet code. I've seen the inspectors on build sites and I've helped correct mistakes. In our area all electrical, foundation, hvac and plumbing are done by local contractors many of whom donate the labor and maybe even donate the materials.

[Art Mann]

In our community, no mistake that would result in an inspection failure goes unfixed. It is in the areas of fit and finish and general appearance that you get so many uncorrected mistakes.

[Lee Schierer]

In our community, no mistake that would result in an inspection failure goes unfixed. It is in the areas of fit and finish and general appearance that you get so many uncorrected mistakes.

That's why they need people like you to volunteer more often.

[Patrick Walsh]

This is nice and thank you for sharing.

It offered me a new perspective on a conundrum I have pondered most of my adult life.

I have always spent all of time pursuing various interests of my own. Ultimately I always find myself feeling that so many of spend every waking hour pursuing what is important to us and things that further our own personal enjoyment and well being and very little if any thinking about anyone beyond ourself and immediate family.

No I have yet to ever get out of my own way and do something bigger than me for others on a whole.

But this thread has made me think if I was doing something I enjoyed and it was good for another person it could be much more easy than just doing something to do something good for others that you only enjoy on account of the deed.

Maybe like vocation if you enjoy your work for the wok your more apt to be successful and have longevity.

So thanks for what you do as your better than me and so many need the help of others who are capable of being selfless regard of reason or logic.