Street Reports
A day in the life of a Street Case Worker
Monday 18th June 2007
We (FBMF) started off day by going to Winda in St.Kilda to pick up some of Sally Binghams’ clothes and drop them off at Park Towers where she resides. There is still more to pick up which we will do later on in the week. The Mini Bobmobile can’t take too many bags in it unfortunately. We also gave Sally $4.00 and later on in the day we approved one script for her from Jones Pharmacy.
Met Roger Davies at the church and he was allegedly waiting for Wayne who was to meet him at 10.00am. (Wayne turned up later at 10.20am and………………). Anyhow I took Roger with me to the Southport Community Housing Group in Dorcas St and got him an appointment immediately with a worker and hopefully he will be assigned shortly a place for himself to reside in. We gave Roger $4.00 as well to buy himself a coffee after his interview.
Visited Keith Langdon and he was now a days working 3 days a week and was doing well and keeping out of St.Kilda as whenever he is there he ends up drunk and in the gutter (so to speak). Gave him $4.00 as well and approved a script for him as well.
When we were in Clarendon St we were stopped by Alex who was quite sober for a change. We sat and had a chat for a while and he stated that he was trying his hardest not to drink and thanked us for all the support over the years.
Brotherhood of St Laurence then contacted us and asked if we could assist a priest from Kensington to show him how to set up a food bus and what food to get for it. Said I would await the priests call.
Then caught up with Simon in Sth Melbourne, and talked to him for an hour to allay his fears re a relationship he was involved in as well as to reassure him that even though it was harder to be drug free the end results were worth it. He stated he would try again to be “clean” and to think twice before doing anything wrong. We then drove him to Chapel St and paid for his methadone ($25.00) and gave him $10.00 to get something to eat later on in the day.
Marko Attia called from St. Marys in Kensington and he will be coming to the church on Thursday to observe how we operate and set up the bus. (With your approval naturally).
We then went to the Alfred Psyche Ward and spent ¾ hour with a Jane Overland who called us on Friday to visit her. She has been there for a week and needed someone to trust to talk to and hence called us as someone there had given her my number. We sat and listened to her and assisted her with a lawyer for her Mental Health Board Review (as she needs to represented and is entitled to be represented). Left by telling her would be back on Wednesday.
We were then called by Mary who had a homeless male with her and we got him into Flagstaff as luckily there was a vacancy.
Rest of day was spent in St.Kilda speaking to people in Fitzroy St.
Also Bill Hampton called to tell me he was alive and heeding our advice and going to rehab tomorrow as he had a stroke and discharged himself as soon as he could 2 weeks ago. Bill calls every day for a chat and reassurance.
Yours, HJS.