Catrina Ravenel

Interviewed: Amber Bash, LCSW

Interviewee: Amber Bash, LCSW, Veterans Affairs, HUD-VASH Program Interview Date: 13 April 2014 Introduction Amber encountered a person who had been homeless for 8 to 10 years. Most homeless individuals she encountered were from 60 to 70 years old. However, that population is rare. The oldest veteran Amber encountered was 71 years old. Most of the chronically homeless older adults have died. If they have been chronically homelessness for a period of time its just too much wear and tear for them to be able to sustain themselves. Their medical issues are so great. It becomes too difficult to treat them because a shelter is not medically staffed to treat chronic homelessness. A Homeless person who has diabetes and are in their late 60s with oral health problems will probably pass away pretty quickly. If individuals who are chronically homeless do not have a dry place to sleep or receive proper nutrition, they are going to lose limbs, eyesight, and their decline is going to happen very quickly. Compare and contrast middle Adulthood vs. late adulthood Amber stated, a middle aged adult who is chronically homeless is looked at by the Social community as abled bodied and needs to get a job. But, gray hair grandpa gets understanding from a different approach. There is a degree of services that are more available for our elderly, maybe they can draw on some kind of Social Security, Medicaid, Social Security Income, nursing home or assisted living options. Amber said Baby Boomers are just entering into the homeless population. She said give it a few more years. Once more of them retire, then well see what happens. Amber believes that once the baby boomer retires and is home full time marital issues will escalate and who knows how that will turn out. Also, for many veterans who end up homeless, Amber hopes veterans who find themselves in that predicament will have

Catrina Ravenel

Interviewed: Amber Bash, LCSW

worked long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits or a non- service connected pension because medical issues come up that are unrelated to the military service and some veterans can get assistance. Personal Reflections The social issue of homelessness was an enlightening experience for me. The research involved in completing this project was very extensive. The project had intensive purpose and meaning for me. During the course of this project, I experienced a range of emotions. Sometimes, I was angry trying to understand how homelessness occurred because when I was growing up I did not encounter homeless individuals. Now, I am processing that a series of events occurred that brought about homelessness. Other times, I find that I am extremely angry because we live in a world full of religious folks who claim they believe in the Ten Commandments where it is written Do unto others as you would have others do unto you and yet they do not do enough. I am also angry because there are so many people who have financial support to give and they do not. This project brought tears to my eyes and made me learn things I never imagined. But most importantly, this assignment opened my eyes so that I could see the social decomposition that plagues all of us. Yet, I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to come up with a solution. But most of importantly, I was humbled by this experience. I will continue to do what I have always done and that is to have faith and invest in people because one day I may need someone to invest their love and support into me. Future Social Work For now, I would advocate that homeless shelter employees in Atlanta become mandated reporters to stop patrons who commit acts of crime on other patrons.