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I was street homeless on & off for a year. I then lived in a homeless shelter for SEVEN F'N YEARS! In the 08 crash after I lost my marketing gig, I figured I would try to get a job helping homeless people. NO ONE would hire me because I DIDN'T HAVE EXPERIENCE w/ homelessness. 1/
2/ we have professionalized homelessness. Funders require MSWs in their contracts, which is the "experience" I didn't have. I eventually took a temp gig at a winter shelter, which led to me getting hired full-time as a family outreach case manager!
3/ I do believe MSWs have a place in support services, but I cannot even count the number of times I went out with outreach teams and the MSWs had zero clue about REAL homelessness and we're not good with street people (it's a unique skill)
4/ I know in the last few years services have been integrating Peer Support Workers, which is great, but the formerly homeless people are paid $30k per year while the MSWs are paid $70K+. Many peer support workers are the backbone of outreach yet are paid significantly less.
5/ the homeless sector funders (who also don't integrate people with lived experience in decisions) value a college education over lived experience. Formerly homeless people that work at peer support are hurt that they are paid less, but won't speak up out of fear of retaliation
6/ I strongly believe funders should create paths (pay for it) so peer support workers can get an education to become MSWs if college education is the criteria for more pay.
