I know why ideas that are great on paper fall apart in practice.
I know why a program that looks perfect in the proposal turns into a nightmare on the ground, or ends up gathering dust. A shelter bed sounds like the answer, and it isn't. Couples, married or not, almost never get to stay together. Most places won't take pets. And I know what it's like to have all kinds of ways out of an abusive situation, and almost no help rebuilding when you get there.
I know the streets, and I know how to translate between their residents and your staff.
When I was homeless I lived in everything from a shack I built in the forest to inner-city shelters, Victoria to Edmonton. One of Canada's warmest to one of its coldest, and most violent. I know how to talk to people on the street because I was one of the people on the street for almost 10 years. I know now that the difference between them and you is a lot smaller than it looks.
I know how easy it is to lash out when you're so hungry a lollipop that's been run over looks like a windfall. You know how hard it is to go to work and be yelled at constantly.
Add my perspective to yours.
Together we can design systems that don't fail the vulnerable people they're meant to help. And I can train front-line workers to communicate without triggering anyone or getting walked all over.
Everyone deserves basic decency, the people on the street and the workers trying to help them.
Guides and tools for shelter staff are on the way.