One hand in the river, one hand upstream

Upstream. It may be the most over-used word in social services today. "We need to work upstream to resolve that issue, so we can stop dealing with the results."

I'm sure the phrase came from some issue that really did happen upstream, like pollution into a freshwater stream, or the lack of water flow to a downstream community caused by excessive water use upstream. But now the phrase comes with this picture -- the river is full of people being washed downstream. Do you keep pulling them out, or do you go upstream to figure out why people are in the river in the first place?

PTSD in veterans. We need to fix that upstream. Does that mean ending wars? I'm all for it. But we're fighting a really big war machine.

Hunger. We need to work upstream. Where? The system that doesn't assist enough families with enough money for food stamps, the system that doesn't help them to become self-sufficient and not need assistance, the system that doesn't encourage them to stay in school and get decent jobs, or the food distribution system in all communities that doesn't get extra food to the right places so that all are fed? Which upstream problem do we target?

Homelessness. We need to tackle this upstream. Should we advocate for more affordable housing, deal with the mental health issues of thousands of homeless people, provide additional Section 8 HUD vouchers in local communities, turn foreclosed housing into shelters, or some other answer?

Meanwhile, people are still suffering, hungry and homeless. Do we work upstream or do we help ease their suffering, feed them and shelter them? Each answer takes people, time and money. Families affected by one member with PTSD create issues for generations. The mother of two children can't tell her kids that she'll be able to feed them in two years when she finishes her degree. Study after study shows that housing people is more cost-effective than leaving them homeless.

Community problems require both solutions: people to reach in the river and keep people from drowning, and people to hike upstream and figure out why people are in the river in the first place. Without the hands-on community services, these are real people who will drown in the wake. Without advocacy upstream, we will never stop having to rescue people. Every problem requires both hands-on service and advocacy.

Getting my hands into service

"Can you help me?"

It's a call we get at my office numerous times a day. Someone has found himself or herself short of dollars or resources. They start calling the social service agencies they find online, in a resource guide, or in the phone book. Each one has a story. If we can help, we do. Sometimes it's just pointing him or her in the right direction.

Sometimes it's a situation that is out of our league. We don't have a shelter. We have little access to transportation. A stranded traveler who needs to get somewhere, we probably can't help. We might be able to help with a room or a tank of gas, but we can't drive someone to the Valley. We can't put them up indefinitely.

"It's my three children and my husband. We don't have any food."
Fortunately, providing food is something that's fairly easy. We have hot meals, sandwiches to go, pantry items, commodity boxes. We're open four days a week and today is one of them.

"My keys are locked in my SUV."

OK, now this has taken a little different turn. The woman needs help for her family, including her husband with health issues, but getting here is a problem. Another agency has put them up in a motel, 10 miles away. There's no buses from there. Her family is hungry and she's out of resources.

"Can you help me?"

Usually I work on administrative tasks for our agency. But several people are on vacation. And I have the ability not only to solve the immediate problem, but both of her needs. I arrange to deliver some food that is appropriate for their situation, and try to get a community member to help with the locked vehicle. Within 30 minutes, I have solutions. I will take the food out on my way home, the locksmith will do the work, gratis, within 24 hours.

Her children play outside in a back parking lot at the motel. We unpack the food and put some in her refrigerator. Among the food is applesauce, bananas, and macaroni and cheese -- her kids will be ecstatic. I wonder if they will remember this, and if so, as an adventure or a traumatic time? I ask her how long they will stay here, and what the future holds. Do they have other supportive services or people? A sister lives 90 minutes away. They may be able to go there and stay a while. At the moment, it seems like a good option. Time to regroup and get back to stability.

"Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." John 21:16 (NIV)