blog
these ARE extraordinary women
Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:33
As the Executive Director of Jubilee, the best part of my job is welcoming the new residents.
Recently I had the opportunity to give one of them a ride to an appointment. This woman (without giving away details) who prior to Jubilee had been gainfully employed as a drug and alcohol counselor has fallen hard due to her own addiction. When I say “fallen hard” I am referring to the shame and stigma that surrounds homelessness. She had grown up in a very well to do family – as I had before my own “fall” and I can attest to the huge hurdle it is to ask for help. And I would venture that no matter what your background or class status, rich or poor or middle class, the fall is hard. Mostly because of our pride.
What was most validating for me about our conversation is what she said to me about how she is being treated at Jubilee – not like a “second class citizen” but more honored for herself as a woman. She said she felt like the way she was treated (so unexpectedly) gave her the space and breath to be able to actually move forward with her goals, as opposed to being treated as she had imagined she would be treated given her “status” in society. She expected to be treated in a way that you “hear” about on the street, in the news – that these people (homeless) are lazy, slothful, using the system, con artists and the like.
My, what a difference a day at Jubilee makes! When you walk in the door here the space immediately says, “you are worthy.” With the brightness, the slate floors, the comfortable living room, the granite countertops (all donated) in the model kitchen, you can’t help but think that this is extraordinary. And that is exactly how we meant it to be. These ARE extraordinary women. For anyone who has to look to their “dark” side and find that it is truly the “light” side and how we nurture and flame that light, they are the few, the rare and the precious.
I am so honored to be in their presence.
Susan Fox, MSW, CSJP-A
Executive Director