We are always thankful when compassionate community members tag Sweet Oak Collaborative on a Facebook or Nextdoor post to get our attention, hoping we can assist with an urgent need.
Sometimes we can, especially if it is a request for food or clothing. But often, it is a request for a hotel room, rent, a utility bill, or another emergency payment.
The Full Story Behind Public Requests
The general public does not know everything behind an individual’s request made on a public forum. Because of privacy, we cannot reply on that forum to explain our reasons if we are unable to help someone.
Instead, we respond to tags, questions, or requests privately. It may be that we, or our partner agencies (we do call and check!), have already helped that person, perhaps multiple times over the years. In some cases, individuals remain in a crisis situation because they chose not to accept the options, advice, or caseworker support previously offered to them.
What Emergency Shelter Really Means
Sweet Oak is unable to respond to every request for hotel rooms. Some think that because we offer emergency shelter, we automatically say “yes” and provide rooms to anyone who needs a bed for the night. That is not what we do.
We are about the next place they go to, and not just the next night.
We look at the longer-term plan. Are they in transition while waiting for an apartment or home? Or do they have no plan, no money, no family, and no support? If it is the latter, simply providing a night or two in a hotel does not help keep them off the street.
The Importance of Case Management
This reality is why we are committed to case management—a supportive community effort that gathers information to understand the whole need and provide more sustainable, long-term assistance to clients.
We encourage those making requests on public forums to seek help by enrolling in a program with a caseworker before they are in a crisis. Getting connected early provides access to mentoring, job search assistance, budgeting advice, and help following up on eligible benefits.
Protecting Privacy and Establishing Boundaries
We cannot divulge personal information on a public post. For example, if we have been involved with helping a young lady for quite some time, and she was less than honest with us about why she was removed from her last hotel stay we provided, we are not moved to help her yet again.
The general public does not know everything behind a cry for help on a public forum, and we cannot reply on the public forum our reasons for why we will not be helping someone.
At Sweet Oak, we try really hard to get to YES, until we are given a reason to say NO.