That Moment When You Come On For Your Night Shift At A Youth Shelter And You Find Out Someone Donated A Case Of Energy Drinks Earlier That Day:

When You're At A Social Function And Someone Decides To Refer To All Homeless Persons As "Degenerates:"

What Social Workers Wish 90% Of Politicians Would Admit When Talking About Homelessness:

When A News Reporter Asks A Homeless Person If They Enjoy Being Homeless And The Person Interviewed Says, "Oh, Of Course I Do!" And The Reporter Believes Them:

I've seen it happen more than once.

When Someone Tells You The "Housing First" Model Won't Work Because Then Everyone Will Want To Be Poor:

No, last time I checked, no one wanted to be poor.

For those who don't know: Housing first is exactly what it sounds like; housing the homeless and then working on the other issues that kept them homeless to begin with.

When You Tell Your Client, Who Has Been Homeless For Nearly A Decade, That They Will Be Getting Housing:

When You See One Of Your Homeless Clients Dragging Around A Broken Mini-Fridge And You're Tempted To Ask Why:

When An Overzealous Provider Gives Their Homeless Client Nine Appointments In A Day That They Have To Make It To:

The walking alone is going to take five hours, don't overload them people!

What Most Social Workers Wish Would Happen Anytime Ill-Informed Politicians Start Talking About The Homeless:

Well, if they weren't living off the syst-- *Bag in face*

What Your Clients Often Express Feeling Like After You Have Implemented A New "Healthy Meals" Plan In The Shelter:

Being homeless is stressful enough as it is. Just let them eat cake. Seriously, give them some cake and a fork.

When Your Local Newspaper Quotes You In An Article On Homelessness... But They Never Actually Interviewed You:

Thanks local paper for your awesome journalism where you quoted something I never said, without even talking to me. I want to let you know that your mind-readers suck, because I never even thought that quote.

How The Older Generation Of Homeless Often Feel About The Newer, Younger, Generations Of Homeless:

"I mean, we did drugs, but at least we were respectful about it, not like these young ones!" - Actual Quote From A Client

All Of Your Potential Clients Your First Week As A Street-Based Outreach Worker Working With The Homeless:

Don't give up, though! Eventually they get used to seeing you and will actually have conversations with you!

When, After Working A 50 Plus Hour Week At A Homeless Shelter, Your Friends All Excitedly Want You To Go With Them To Volunteer To Serve A Meal At One:

"But I just... but this is what I do every day... *disgruntled sigh* Fine."

My Reaction Whenever The News Refers To Homeless Or "Street-Kids" As "Rejects:"

When A Brand New Client Wants You To Find Him Or Her Housing, Transportation, A Job And Fix Their Social Security Issues Today... Right Now:

I am not the magical crisis fairy. We will get to as much as we can today, but there is no magic wand.

What Forward Movement And Progress For Your Clients Sometimes Looks Like:

They made it an entire week without being cited for something by a police officer or being drunk in public! Pull out the ticker tape, we're throwing a parade!

When It's Your Turn To Take Home The Shelter Crisis Phone And A Client Calls At 3 AM To Tell You They're Hungry:

What Trying To Figure Out What Your Client Actually Needs Sometimes Feels Like:

Wait, do you need a new ID card, a marriage license or a divorce certificate? How can you need all of them!?

When You Are The Only One In The Office Who Can Figure Out How To Get Clients Through The New Housing Form: