Testimonial from a Mother
September 28, 2007
Three years ago, my daughter – who was traveling at the time – told me that she was experimenting with opiates. She asked me not to worry as she had everything under control. She was,” happy, healthy and well fed”. San Francisco and the Haight was a place where she could pursue a lifestyle that suited her needs. As a child of the sixties, opiates could mean only one thing and I would hear none of it! I hired an Intervention Specialist referred by the Betty Ford Clinic and proceeded to destroy practically every hard won thread of trust we shared. Years of honest communication and mutual respect were compromised by a well-intended but grossly misguided attempt at changing my daughter’s path. I nearly lost her.
This summer, I flew out to San Francisco again, this time to support my daughter as she navigated the justice system. With the help of the Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) currently located at 1696 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, she was trying to get her life back on track. Finally I could put a face on a name and replace my imaginings with real encounters. I met the director, Mary Howe without whom, I believe I would be on the wrong side of a statistic. Through daily outreach, HYA staff was able to overcome the barrier of mistrust that had developed in my daughter.
Gradually, she began to gravitate to the center and participate in programs which address everything from tangible basic needs to sorting through mental health issues.
The alliance made it possible for my daughter to check in and let me know she was alive - if not well. Since the staff has all been where my daughter is, they provide inspiration and insight in ways I simply cannot. On several occasions, my daughter would call and counter my concerns saying she could always tell when I was talking about something I didn’t understand. In this aspect, the staff of the HYA proves invaluable; through empathy and experience, they have facilitated the transition from addict to self-described, recovering addict.
All kinds of kids are drawn to the Haight; my daughter was. This population exists in spite of, not because of the Homeless Youth Alliance. The compassion, guidance, education and caring that this institution provides, creates a virtual safety net from which troubled youth can try to reclaim their lives. The Alliance empowers street kids. They work with between 40 and 100 people daily; building self-esteem in a population that may not have other support systems. Their approach is effective. I have personally witnessed the need for this organization. The program mission is clear: “to meet homeless youth where they’re at and to help them build healthier lives”. Through well researched and time proven methods of outreach, the HYA has been able to succeed where many families, including my own, have failed.
Pay it forward for their future and ours. I support the Homeless Youth Alliance and the community in which it operates.
Sincerely,
Madeline Bodnar