Running head: CULTURAL IMMERSION: HOMELESSNESS 1

CULTURAL IMMERSION: HOMELESSNESS

Colby Kissi

Wilmington University
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Abstract

Culture is defined by Webster’s dictionary as the customary beliefs, social forms, and material

traits of a racial, religious, or social group, also the characteristic features of everyday existence

such as diversions or a way of life shared by people in a place or time. For this cultural

immersion assignment, I will be focusing more on a present-day culture that needs more support

through human service agencies. Homelessness is a rising issue within the united states of

America and there is an extreme lack of support as well as lack of resources for this culture of

individuals. There are several struggles that derive from homelessness such as financial issues,

social issues and cultural issues.

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Cultural Immersion: Homelessness

Why I chose Homelessness as a culture.

Mental health and homelessness is a major problem in the United States and there are a

lot of factors that contributes to homelessness. The correlation between mental illness and

homelessness. As it stands today about one-third of the homeless population in America suffer

from untreated serious mental illness. That’s a lot of people, but how did that come to be?

In 1963 President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act. The Act

is supposed to work towards deinstitutionalization or closing mental health facilities and opening

more preventative care and community-based mental health facilities. The problem with the

program is that, the program was not adequately funded after the Act was signed and most of

these community centers were never built in time and at the same time mental health institutions

or hospitals began to close decreasing the amount of available beds that are needed. This

ultimately left many people with serious mental illness without adequate treatment.

A study done by the Treatment Advocacy Center reveals a clear correlation between the

number of homeless individuals on the rise and the amount of mental health facilities that have

closed. Battling serious mental health can be tough enough, but when you factor in

homelessness, it can present a unique set of challenges regarding the health and well-being of a

person. Homeless person with untreated serious mental illness are at higher risks for

incarceration, arrest, and victimization. They’re also more at risk for health issues. They are

more at risk for substance abuse because they’re self-medicating, they’re also at high risk for

contracting diseases secondary to poor hygiene.

Overview and History of Homelessness

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In the 1640s homelessness was a moral deficiency, a character flaw. It was generally

believed a good Christian, under God’s grace, would naturally have their needs met. People

outside of that grace somehow were deserving of their plight as God rendered justice accordingly

and fairly. If one found themselves homeless in the 1600s, a person or family would come upon

a town and would have to prove their worth to the community’s fathers. If not, they would be on

the not so merry way to the next town (Fischer, 2011).

While homelessness has always existed, its dynamics have changed drastically in recent

decades. Prior to the 1980’s the sight of people living in cars, on the streets, or out in the woods

was a distant memory of the Great Depression. With the advent of the Second World War,

virtually all the homeless were absorbed into the army or the burgeoning war industry. After the

war, employment rates remained high and America boasted a housing market and system of

public supports that allowed all but a handful of people to avoid homelessness. In most cities,

there was much more affordable rental housing, including very inexpensive single room

occupancy housing.

Before the 60’s people with chronic mental illnesses were often committed involuntarily

to psychiatric units of hospitals. Institutionalization in hospitals was not the proper solution to

mental illness; however, de-institutionalization without other supportive services along with

changes in housing markets led to a large rise in homelessness among the mentally ill and other

populations. The past several decades were marked by a large change in the availability of

affordable housing. Most single-room occupancy housing was lost as part of urban renewal

strategies. Much of the affordable rental housing was converted to higher priced housing,

cooperatives, and condominiums. Hospitals for people with mental illness were closed in favor
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of a system of community-based housing and care. These changes had many positive effects.

Downtowns were revitalized, and for people with serious mental illnesses, community-based

housing and care was a superior alternative to institutionalization.

At the same time, other forces were reshaping the landscape for low-income Americans.

Jobs requiring low-skilled labor were lost. New and powerful illegal drugs came onto the scene.

Public resources to assist low-income people did not keep pace with their growing needs. The

result was a rise in homelessness. Nation-wide, there are now millions more low-income

households that need housing than there are affordable housing units. Right now, the waiting list

for low-income housing in Camden NJ is over 12 months. In short, homelessness is on the rise

and basic services such as shelters do not have enough room to handle the growing problem.

Indirect Immersion Activity

“The Homeless Lawyer Who Graduated Harvard Law with Justice Roberts” is a

YouTube video that speaks to all the sad realities of going through homelessness and mental

illness. The story is about a homeless man, Alfred Postell, who was arrested for unlawful entry

and was being seen in the DC Superior Court. This man looks homeless, he was bearded and

had all his belongings in a plastic bag and he was in court. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts

and Alfred Postell both graduated Harvard Law School in 1979. After graduation, Roberts went

on to clerk for Judge Friendly, while Postell practiced tax law in a prestigious firm. Their lives

diverged as they advanced. John Roberts became Deputy Solicitor General, a Supreme Court

litigator, federal judge, and eventually Chief Justice. Postell was overtaken by schizophrenia.

He lost his job and his home.

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The two still remain close, at least physically. While Chief Justice Roberts sits on the

Supreme Court bench, Postell spends his days homeless on the streets of D.C., just a block from

the White House and a short walk away from the Supreme Court. He was arraigned in front of

D.C. Superior Court Judge Thomas Motley, who, like much of D.C., was also a Harvard Law

School graduate. Motely recognized his former classmate.

There are thousands of homeless men and women in the District. The homeless

population keeps growing, outnumbering the 4,000 shelter beds available. Many of the long

term homeless, such as Postell, suffer severe mental disorders. Postell's schizophrenia crept up

on him unexpectedly, according to family and former colleagues interviewed by the Washington

Post. The son of a seamstress and carpenter, he put himself through college, grad school, and

law school. Before law school, Postell excelled as an accountant.

After graduating Harvard Law School, Postell's accounting background and master’s in

economics led him to Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, who had recently failed spectacularly

to recruit future Justice Sotomayor. Postell worked in tax law, as the firm's only black lawyer.

His career was cut short by a rapid mental decline. As Postell describes it: You get into a firm,

it's prestigious. And when you lose that position, it's like suicide. It's all over. It's atrophy. Or

as accountants say, it's to be obsolete. You know what that means? Obsolescence. Beyond your

useful life. I was beyond my useful life. Postell is currently working with a mental health team

while his mother raises money to get him off the street. In the meantime, he remains just a

stone's throw from his former classmate on the Supreme Court.

Another indirect story I read in the OIC monthly Newsletter involves a Homeless

Nigerian man who was incarcerated at Mercer County Jail. OIC Mercer Justice Involved
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Services program (JIS) got a referral from the county jail for someone who needed mental health

services. When the case worker came to the jail he was told by the Correction Officers that the

inmate in question was heard talking to himself in his cell. Correction Officers on all shifts

reported that he would be in his cell alone crying and talking to no one in particular. The case

worker began the engagement process with the inmate, he learned that he was from Nigeria. As

he began talking, he admitted that he felt shame and guilt for being locked up. He felt his

ancestors were upset with him. Having some knowledge of Yoruba culture that is practiced in

Nigeria, the case worker asked him if he talked with his ancestors. He answered that he prayed

and spoke to them every night. The case worker informed the jail staff that the man was not

psychotic or crazy and that he was practicing what he was taught as a child. He was speaking to

his ancestors and feeling sad about being incarcerated. He felt that he had let them down by

committing a crime.

The jail psychologist also interviewed him and confirmed the conclusion that he, in fact,

did not even need mental health services but housing. This is just one example of how we need

to be cautious of our own biases. Taking the time to understand how culture impacts behavior

helps us understand the whole person and what their behaviors mean to them.

Direct Immersion Activity

I have been working in the human service field for the past 9 years. I currently work as a

residential counselor at a residential crisis stabilization program servicing adult consumer

experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The goal of the program is to provide a 21-day medication

stabilization and referrals to resources in the community such as case management and outpatient

services to our consumers within their 21 days stay at the program. The program is not set up to
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help consumers whose primary issue is homelessness, however majority of the consumers

admitted into the program are homeless and suffering from a mental health diagnosis or a co-

occurring disorder.

For the months of May and June 2018, the program admitted 12 consumers. 9 out of the

12 consumers were homeless. One consumer whom I worked directly with is a 48 years old

male referred from Rutgers Behavioral Health Center, Cherry Hill NJ, due to medication non-

compliance coupled with suicidal ideation in the past week without plan. Consumer is homeless

with recent release from prison. Currently in need of medication stabilization.

I asked the consumer how long has he been homeless? The consumer stated he became

homeless at the age of 48. He reported he was living with his family in Clementon NJ and

started using illicit drugs. He lost his job as a construction worker and reported being arrested

and jailed multiple times while on drugs. The consumer recently was arrested for disorderly

conduct, "I was about to fight a dude and I spit on him". In terms of social support, consumer

stated "I don't have nobody, I don't have no family, they don't trust me". He has three children, 1

is decreased. He graduated 8th grade from Pine Point School in Camden. The consumer has

been homeless for 9 months and is currently residing in Harvey's Haven.

Another consumer I interviewed is a 48 years old male referral from Early Intervention

Support Services (EISS). Recent suicidal ideation and non-compliance with medication.

Consumer was recently release from state prison after 3 years length of stay. Recent substance

abuse 'because I had access to it.' Reports interest in rebuilding family relations, in hopes of

returning to that living situation if medication is under control and substance abuse is 'out of the

picture.' Reports interest in learning better coping skills to deal with 'bad thoughts' and anxiety
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or 'mania'. Interested in potential employment opportunities once he is 'straight again.' Reports

being homeless for since released from state prison 6 months ago. Stated his goal is to get

medication straight and move life in the right direction. Currently engaging in partial care

services with Oaks Integrated Care and seeking potential assistance with supportive financial

services.

Summary

Reviewing TEDx video’s and documentaries on Netflix and YouTube, it appears to me

that Cultural Competence is one of the most controversial topics currently in the world. Almost

all the videos I watched touched on the subject culture. Due to the growing diversity of the U.S.

population, relationships between human service professionals and their clients are becoming

increasingly cross-cultural. I believe it is important that as human services professionals, when

serving within the field, professionals should be culturally competent. Our goal as professionals,

no matter what our own personal predispositions are, is to help and serve the community, no

matter what their cultural differences may be.

When serious mental illness goes untreated, it can really disrupt one’s ability to carry out

acts of daily living, this means a person with untreated serious mental illness may have problems

with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, basic living tasks that most of us do every day. Having

untreated serious mental illness make it very difficult to pay bills and hold down a job and these

issues regarding lack of available treatment centers for people with serious mental illness

ultimately led to homelessness for many people.

Placement Agency Assessment

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I am currently completing my internship with Oaks Integrated Care in Cherry Hill, New

Jersey. OIC is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for

vulnerable adults, children and families throughout New Jersey. The organization’s mission is to

empower and support individuals and families to achieve emotional and physical wellness by

providing quality health and social services. The vision is to build healthy, strong communities.

There are human service professionals of various cultures and backgrounds as well as the

clients that are served. What I value the most about my place of work is that the organization

have a diversity committee. The committee is committed to assessing the organization's

procedures and practices and making recommendations to ensure that there is a culture of

universal acceptance. Some of the issues the Committee addresses relate to race, gender,

sexuality and culture. The organization have a mandatory 2 hours annual recurring training in

cultural diversity for all employees.

Several months ago, two different women at OIC Berlin Partial Care Program reported feeling

confused about their sexuality and gender identity. One expressed that she felt like a man

trapped in a woman's body and the other expressed that she no longer feels attracted to men and

is not sure if she ever was. In an effort to help these women and others who might be

experiencing similar questions, OIC added a Gender and Sexuality group to the group schedule.

So many individuals came to the group wanting to express their opinions.

The group started with a visualization exercise to help people imagine what others questioning

their sexuality or gender identity might be going through, as well as what their family members

and loved ones might be experiencing. After the exercise it was clear that people were more

thoughtful and respectful when expressing their opinions and asking questions.
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Placement Agency Programs and Services

The organization offers over 150 health and social service programs designed to meet the

needs of the community with compassion. OIC provides health and social services to multiple

areas of services including adult services, children and family services, foster home program,

food pantry, and housing development. It is a privileged to work/intern in the mental health

residential services which is under the adult services program. The mental health residential

program provides counseling services, crisis stabilization services, adult support services,

outpatient services, partial care services, developmental disabilities services, mental health

residential services, and veteran’s services.

Ethical Standards for Human Services

The Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals was adopted in 2015. The

workbook covers a lot of ethical standards from various viewpoints. Some of the codes within

the workbook address cultural issues that may arise while working within the human services

field. Within the “responsibility to Clients” section is standard seven, which is most relevant to

the culture of homelessness. Standard number seven is as follows: “Human service professionals

ensure that their values or biases are not imposed upon their clients.” (National Organization for

Human Services). This code I believe it is important because as human service professionals we

need to provide services without discrimination or preference in regard to age, ethnicity, culture,

race, ability, gender, language preference, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status,

nationality, or other historically oppressed groups. When working with other people in the

community, it is imperative to be conscious of one’s own culture and values so that it does not

directly affect the services of people who are from a different culture with different values.
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Standard 11 which falls under “Responsibility to the Public and Society” states that’s,

“Human service professionals are knowledgeable about their cultures and communities within

which they practice. They are aware of multiculturalism in society and its impact on the

community as well as individuals within the community. They respect the cultures and beliefs of

individuals and groups.” Finally, standard 34 states that: “Human service professionals are

aware of their own cultural backgrounds, beliefs, values, and biases. They recognize the

potential impact of their backgrounds on their relationships with others and work diligently to

provide culturally competent service to all of their clients.” This code I think is important to all

human service professionals.

Personals Cultural Competencies and Assessment

Personally, I do not think that understanding other cultures and populations has ever been

a challenge for me. I am a very open-minded person and welcomes people from all origins. The

cultural immersion activity has broadened my knowledge about cultural competence within my

place of work and has allowed me to value cultural differences in our society and to be more

aware of the sensitivities that the homeless culture struggles with. After completing this activity

I plan on becoming a member of the diversity committee at OIC.

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Reference

Fisher, R. (2011). History of Homelessness in America. Retrieved July 23, from

http://www.dceh.org/the-history-of-homelessness-in-america-1640s-to-present/

Kiser, P. M. (2016). The Human Services Internship: Getting the Most from Your Experience.

Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

McCoy, T. (2015). The Homeless man who went to Harvard Law with John Roberts. Retrieved

July 23, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-homeless-man-

who-graduated-from-harvard-law-school-with-chief-justice-john-

roberts/2015/07/13/63257b5c-20ca-11e5-bf41-

c23f5d3face1_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.81934f9b4332

National Organization for Human Services. (n.d). Etthical Standards for Human Service

Professionals. Retrieved July 23, from https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-

standards-for-hs-professionals

Oaks Integrated Care. (n.d). About Us. Retrieved June 07, from https://oaksintcare.org/about/

Treatment Advocacy Center. (n.d). How Many People With Serious Mental Illness Are

Homeless? Retrieved July 23, from http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/fixing-the-

system/features-and-news/2596-how-many-people-with-serious-mental-illness-are-

homeless

Webster’s Dictionary. (n.d). Culture. Retrieved July 23, from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture
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