Every child deserves a bed. Happy Thanksgiving and pour me a stiff one.

As predicted, this week was some circle of Hades in my office where moms and dads crammed into the waiting room while my friends and coworkers and I rushed to triage and help them. It was crazy and we can’t even be mad. Every child deserves a bed and a secure home. That is what […]

Don’t take work home … an article from.Alabama

Thanks Jack Heine for sharing this. It is funny to me because I used to shale down my clients for their drugs and paraphernalia when they came to my office at LAMP. I kept it all locked in my desk and on the last day I turned over all the used needles to a needle […]

Texting

Texting. .. Just got a mass text from work that we can wear jeans tomorrow *1. Yes. This is the kind of stuff that makes up happy. Let that sink in. Jeans are the joyful part of my job. We just gossip ed about denim leg coverings. *2. I flashed on the most awkward text […]

The crazy week

Sweet baby Jesus, it is crazy. As the holidays draw near, the urgency of human need is crashing down on the heads of social workers, homeless shelters, teachers, family law professionals and the like. Sweet baby Jesus. Did I just say that? Family get together are on the horizon and people need to have success […]

Intravenous drug use?

Or just a scratch? I may need a new career. Today I picked up the toddler from day care and saw her "ouchie" report and then saw the inside of her elbow where she has a scratch. My first thought : needle track!

Hey Hawaii’s Tom Brower

How about helping people and not trashing their belongings? Hawaii has a history of homeless people, I want to say the highest percentage of homelessmess.per capita for all of the 50 states. Part of it is cultural, part is due to mild climates. I’m going to say that part of it is due to reckless […]

Healthy , affordable, homemade

Feeds 4 or lasts for days! Cream of chicken soup – 2 cans for $1 Frozen chicken breasts -$4.00 Cumin … I don’t know. It’s in with my spices… maybe $1 Artichoke hearts $4 Noodles $1 Cheese $1 Add in extra veggies like carrots, peas, beans , for more nutrition.

Working (and using Welfare to Work)

We ran into for fries and this cashier said "You’re from the GAIN!". Yay! When we were collaborating on her life she was hired by Carl’s Jr and I had told her I would stop in and check on her. She is working but the low pay and minimum hours keep her tethered to cash […]

The Social Divide of Dentistry and Smiles

This hit home with me, the idea that good dentistry is social privilege. When my oldest wad very little I had Denti-Cal, the state version of Medicaid for teeth. The dentist removed all my porcelain fillings and put in solver because he could bill for that. 20th ears later I am still fixing the poor […]

Ending Homelessness is a Fight

This week has been exhausting. I feel sore and tired and my hands ache. I’ve never noticed before how similar a fist is to holding a pen. Bang! Boom! Pow! Jumping in and mixing get it up with people’s lives is messy and the chaos comes from all sides. Sometimes my fiercest opponent is the […]