Ive written several posts about how precious a commodity a social service program can be, given the limited funding that tends to be present for these programs. I’ve also written about folks who end up being ineligible for programs, first time social service users, and even talked about defining what social services are. One topic [...] read more »
If theres one thing that has been a common theme throughout the time that I have been a social worker, its that a lot of my clients end up in a financial hole with the help of one particular entity the predatory lenders of the world. Just what is predatory lending? The term predatory [...] read more »
Scholars and philosophers debate the meaning of truth – is it subjective or objective, relative or absolute? Steve Jobs, the iconic genius behind the Apple Mac, iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad is said to have had a “reality distortion field” Continue reading read more »
Early in 2010 the anti-poverty movement scored a remarkable victory. Led by the Jubilee Debt Campaign a coalition of charities, faith groups and NGOs persuaded parliament to pass legislation preventing so called vulture funds from perusing heavily indebted poor Continue reading read more »
A month or so ago a non-social worker friend and I were walking downtown to have some lunch. A transient, who I had seen around our shelter, approached us and asked for a quarter. The transient had an unkempt look: dirty pants and shirt, shoes that had once been white, and her personal hygiene issues [...] read more »
I wrote a post in the past where I touched on explaining technical issues concerning social work to clients, and Id like to talk in this post more directly about clients and their perception of social policy, and our roles as social workers in explaining that policy to clients as it fits within the framework [...] read more »
For the first time that I can remember a Conservative Prime Minister has attacked excessive executive pay in what Cameron called “crony capitalism” and a “merry-go-round” that allowed people at the top to “fill their boots”. At last, we Continue reading read more »
The following is a true story for the most part; of course, names have been changed in respect to confidentiality. This entry actually goes along with this entry and this one, regarding the Street-Corner Circus. I first met Charlie and his wife Hattie about four years ago. At the time, I was a case manager [...] read more »
As a wooly minded Guardian reader I dont normally subject get to see the Daily Mail but a member of my family left one around last week and I found myself reading Tom Rawstones report of his second visit to Continue reading read more »
Article here. The most poignant point: Caught between an unusual legal mandate to provide homeless shelters and a desire to preserve tightening resources despite increasing demand, the citys Department of Homeless Services plans to interview single shelter applicants to make sure they havent exhausted other means of help. Its a shift that critics worry could [...] read more »
