How can we help people with addiction? This question has been at the forefront of my thoughts for quite some time. Honestly, the concept of addiction terrifies me- this uncontrollable loss of personal autonomy; this hopeless desire for a substance despite severe adverse consequences. Ultimately, both research and targeted social initiatives working in parallel can provide solutions. For me, my involvement with Caritas during my LiA project has allowed me to connect my academic interest in addiction with real-world experiences and stories.
Today in Radom, as in countless cities around the world, there are individuals living on the streets, seeking refuge in abandoned buildings, makeshift tents, or park benches. These people are often young men and women, not much older than we are. To combat this problem, there exist various social initiatives, including soup kitchens and homeless shelters. One such initiative is ‘streetworking’: this is a form of outreach, aiming to slowly build a trust and rapport with homeless people by visiting them in their places of residence. During my LiA, I worked within the ‘streetworkers’ team, helping to inform homeless people about the support available, and encouraging them to come back with us to the shelter. This is the first step to breaking the cycle of addiction and making sure no one is left alone or left behind.
Life on the streets poses immense challenges. Addiction is often the first hurdle, with alcohol being a particularly significant problem due to its accessibility and affordability. Abruptly stopping alcohol consumption can lead to severe consequences, even death. The places homeless people reside are often completely unfit for human habitation, strewn with clothes and broken glass, and sometimes lack a functioning roof.
And yet, amidst all the hardships, amidst the concrete walls and broken glass, stories of resilience and recovery emerge. In one makeshift home, three men are gradually improving their lives together. They visit our shelter almost daily for showers, a good night's sleep, and they are employed. Inside their makeshift home, located in an abandoned building, stands a shelf decorated with at least 50 little porcelain elephants—a testament to their journey towards hope and recovery.
Another heartwarming story involves an elderly couple living together in an abandoned cottage. Supported by caring neighbours and our regular visits to provide food and water, we help to cater to their interests: the wife, an enthusiast of science fiction and crime novels, receives books during our visits.
While this report initially began as a reflection on my Laidlaw experience, the past six weeks have shifted the focus. I've learned invaluable lessons from the dedicated workers at the shelter and from engaging with the people living there and on the streets. Such people, such stories have showed me the importance of taking ownership and being unafraid to ask for help when needed. From my co-workers and the head of the shelter, I learned that leadership involves taking ownership of difficult decisions- in this case, decisions about who does or doesn’t get admitted to the shelter. I've come to realize that leadership is no easy feat; it's a challenging, messy, and often painful journey.
If there's one key takeaway from this experience, it's that we can all contribute a bit more understanding when discussing the complex issues of addiction and homelessness. It's easy to pass judgment on homeless individuals. It's easy to walk by without a second thought. But we can all make a difference through our attitudes and mentality surrounding addiction, even if it's one small act of kindness at a time. Ultimately, true leadership stems from a genuine desire to help people and discover new things.