Social communities can help bridge gaps in needed support

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OPINION – When outside resources become scarce, individuals within social communities can work together to provide support for our own. It is easiest to help our folk if we have developed close relationships within our community. My rhetorical purpose here is to persuade you to take responsibility for and work towards developing personal relationships with members of your social communities so you will be aware when “your” people are in need. I submit that by working in unity, members of social communities can help bridge gaps in needed support.  Within my own social community we have an ethical obligation to help each other.

One of the benefits of being part of a social community is the opportunity to “circle the wagons” and provide support for members who are in need of help. Though the focus of this piece is the recently homed recovery community there are many such social communities including religious, ethnic, political, regional, cultural and co-cultural, and workplace.

Being recently homed after years of being homeless is not the “end all” for persons recovering from addiction and other life challenges.

Learning to function as self-supporting members of society is often a foreign concept to folks who have lived on the fringes of “polite society.” For decades, social programs have helped recovering addicts become productive members of the larger community. Food insecurity is one of the most primal of human stressors. The recent delay of SNAP benefits created a huge and traumatic distraction for persons who are desperately trying to get back on their feet. Such political theatre creates harm for at risk communities while conveniently distracting the public from critical social issues.

I am a recovering addict with decades of clean time and active recovery, and I recently retired from teaching at the state university. I also identify as a veteran with service-related disabilities.  For three years I was a “homeless veteran.” This personal connection to the condition of being un-homed has made me hyper-aware of the needs of persons of whose situations I can connect to my personal history. I see folks in every recovery meeting I attend whose basic human needs are not met.

I live in one of many rural communities in the capitol region. The general or “greater” community in which I live has active though limited resources for our un-homed and recently-homed neighbors. In the wake of the discontinuation of SNAP benefits local social service agencies and organizations have upped efforts, but there is still a huge shortage for persons who depend on SNAP. My rural community is fortunate to have a local food bank, faith-based organizations, and a homeless consortium who work towards providing support within our community.

I submit that we can best serve our social community members by forming close personal relationships. As soon as needs became apparent to members of my local recovery community, we began discussions about how to respectfully provide support for our members.

When I first got “clean” I did not know how to ask for help. Folks who were “paying attention” and took the time to “know” me were able to offer the support I needed; at the right time. I submit that though it is not okay to force help on others, it IS okay to pay attention and offer help.

In my 16 years of teaching at the CSU and community colleges I was aware of students who did not have homes. It is more common than might be generally known that in 2024, about 24% of California community college students, 11% of California State University (CSU) students, and 8% of University of California (UC) students reported experiencing homelessness (Legislative Analyst’s Office). Because of my lived experience and a drive to “know” my students I was frequently able to connect needs with resources.

In relation to recent SNAP events affecting members of my local recovery community we paid attention, were able to identify need and gather resources, and offer support. Fortunately, some of us were in a financial position to provide.

This being said, not everyone is able to accept support. I believe that it’s my job to offer, but I must be willing to respect the rejection of that support. Deciding for others what they need is dehumanizing and disrespectful.

Even without such significant events, I challenge you as members of your social communities to develop relationships with your community members. Don’t just know “about” your chosen people, actually “know” them so you can show love through action.

Scott Kirchner is a veteran, recovering addict, secular humanist, and retired educator who grew up in the Capitol region.

Editor’s Note: November is Homelessness Awareness Month.