What can we DU now to help TTW and Yoshi ?

[SheilaT]

374. I don't recall the paralegal training, but I'll admit I

probably don't recall everything, despite having read through all the earlier posts multiple times. I'm also not recalling a job that needed a uniform. Again, I probably don't recall everything, even though I read through all the threads several times.

If she can't keep a job, despite the circumstances, if she can't provide for her large dog from a notably aggressive breed, if she alienates everyone around her, pushes away all attempts at help, as sad as it is people need to recognize that someone like this can't be rescued. Various people here tried. Valiantly. TTW herself undermined those efforts.

It is genuinely sad when someone winds up on the street, "falls through the cracks" as we like to say. But not everyone can be rescued. The way TTW has pushed away all attempts to help her, from the beginning when people were simply offering genuinely helpful suggestions, to when Msanthrope and her ex took in Yoshi, it's clear that TTW's issue go far beyond anything as simple as case management.

I am no expert in these things. But I do actually volunteer to help the homeless. I am with a faith group that takes two weeks a year (and we'd do more if needed) to feed the homeless at a shelter in our community. I work as the kitchen coordinator for seven days straight each of those two weeks. Not that onerous a commitment, I know. But I do it. But I do see people who have wound up there because of varying circumstances, some of which are similar to TTW's.

I could not work in some other capacity with most of these people because I am far too judgmental. I understand that about myself, and I'm not proud of it, but I recognize my own failings. But I can cook for 150, serve them their meals, treat them with dignity and respect. The vast majority of our guests greatly appreciate what we do and thank us. Those thanks are as much as I need for what I do.

My point is that I'm not just some heartless person who doesn't get it. I am actually out there on the front lines. I wonder how many of the posters here can say the same thing.

I have also done volunteer work at an animal shelter. So again, I've been on the front lines.

Whatever is actually going on with TTW is very complicated, and we cannot solve it at a distance. Even the magical solution of someone who would pay for her apartment into the indefinite future isn't that good a solution, because as someone else has noted, her large dog is going to cause damage, she'll blame the landlord for not fixing things, and she'll be back to where we started several months ago. Read through those early threads if you don't believe me.

Sometimes all you can do is to walk away.