This is actually an older video of mine kept in the archives until its residual purpose was appropriately fermented. The (formerly) homeless man featured in this unedited footage may be a familiar face to some readers who have spent anytime following our nomadic and sometimes unsettled escapades. Albert Swiger has become the de facto poster child of the Homeless Initiative mostly due to his tenure earned from our first meeting on the streets of Tampa some nineteen month earlier.
I have learned a lot about the underlying causation of homelessness from Albert -- accordingly, he has also become the specimen of my very informal social science project. To some, homeless life out on the streets is a deep entrenchment, even with supporting resources it's a habit that's hard to shake for many. Albert explains it like an addiction -- not unlike smoking and drinking it creeps up on you and it just becomes acceptable -- and, then you're powerless.
Early on, Albert was one of three recipients of the Rapid Rehousing Grant from a $1.5 Billion Dollar allocation to combat homeless plight back in 2009. All three of my grantees received a full year rent-free in an apartment along with paid utilities. At the end of this year all three grantees promptly returned to the streets where they continued with their homeless journey. The one year stay was merely an interruption maybe even an extended vacation without any learned or retooled life skills -- and an abject and absolute waist of money.
How can I make such an assertion with so much confidence? Simply because two of three recipients willfully admitted they were complacent and fell short in doing everything they could have done to seek employment and get a leg up on their recovery in the one year time they had.
So, here is the thesis for my white paper -- in street parlance it's just a simple truth: nobody gets something for nothing anymore and everyone has to have skin in the game.
When Albert ended back on the streets again we just cleaned the slate and started from scratch. We looked for answers and opportunity was presented in the least suspecting ways. Our first residential rehab home was Albert's skin in the game. In exchange for a roof over his head he would have to bring his sweat equity to the table. The little yellow house, once a dilapidated and flimsy structure of a dwelling was vigorously refurbished by Albert until it became a compliment to the neighborhood.
He genuinely treats the home as if it is his own and every day that I return something new has been fixed, repaired or painted.
These are the building blocks of rehabilitation from the addictions of homelessness. And from this humble turn around Albert has ventured into self-employment starting a thriving handy-man business side-stepping his past employment obstacles.
One of the many tenets of homeless recovery can be seen in not hiding from your past but embracing it instead. Albert has learned to be honest with new prospective customers about his departed misdeeds and it often comes with the deliverance of befitting redemption.
Albert has proven that when you are unambiguously honest with yourself even a stranger will give you a second chance -- and, Albert has earned his second chance.
Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs
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