HelpCopsHelpUs: Private sector augments recovery therapy

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Private sector augments recovery therapy

Rob Arnold Speaks To Ryan During Job Interview

Looking at Ryan less than thirty days after our first meeting I'm sometimes startled at his spellbinding turnaround. As you may recall, I first met Ryan as the subject of a Wal-Mart complaint to the Sheriff's Office about a disheveled young man loitering in front of the store entrance. Less than thirty days ago Ryan was homeless and suffering from his own self-admitted misdeeds -- that's until the Homeless Initiative stepped-in and intervened.

Employment often is a distant memory to the ranks of those caught in the vice of homelessness and once you're in this pit of despair only a forgiving hand will risk the chance that grants personal redemption. And, Rob Arnold, owner of Mobile Auto Glass Repair, frequently extends that hand of second chances even at the risk that its payoff is delivered without certainty.

My homeless recovery candidates have to earn my confidence before ever seeing the inside of Rob Arnold's office, much less receive the high recommendation as a worthy employment risk. It's all about trust -- and trust is the precursor to personal redemption.

To date Ryan has given me everything I need to move forward in the next phase of his journey to recovery -- employment is more than just earning a paycheck -- it's also the most tenable form of therapy. The attributes of work builds self-esteem, self-confidence, and reunites its benefactor as a productive member of society.

Ryan did very well during Rob Arnold's fast pitched interview -- it was impressive to see Ryan knock them out of the park and proves again that he is quickly assimilating back to normalcy. At the end of the employment interview, Rob Arnold gave Ryan the thumbs up and he is scheduled to start on-the-job training next Thursday.

So, a big THANKS! to Rob Arnold and Mobile Auto Glass Repair, our private-sector partner -- not only for providing our homeless candidates with employment opportunities but for supporting our unique brand of on-the-job homeless recovery therapy as well.

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs
HelpCopsHelpUs.org

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Welcome to Help Cops Help Us: A Homeless Initiative Blog

The Help Cops Help Us homeless initiative is a new problem-solving model centered on the root causes of homelessness. Its philosophy rests on the fundamental human principle that people, all people, will succumb to the human trait of inevitable behavior until intrigued or compelled to act differently.

The uniformed law enforcement officer is the epicenter of the street engagement model that uses a "coupling" technique, motivating each homeless candidate that becomes accountable to a singular and persistent mortal entity -- a street cop.

The coupling effect is a two-pronged approach where candidates who resist assistance and rehabilitation, by default will receive the law enforcement prong when behavior exhibits a callous disregard with laws and a communities desire in maintaining a certain quality of life.

The homeless candidate receives both direct and indirect assistance after a street assessment evaluates their individual needs and problems. We then solve their most basic problems so they may become self-sufficient.

We mend fences, rebuild character, solve their problems, then push them into the water where they are forced to learn how to swim again.

When they are off the streets and into housing we continue to monitor and follow-up until we are certain they have become self sufficient for long term sustainability.