Does anyone have experience of working or volunteering in services for homeless people?

[GodshmodIwantmymonkeyman]

I’m doing a Social Care Assistant course and as part of it I’ve got to do sixty hours of work experience in a block placement.
It can be based on working with any kind of vulnerable adults.
The thing is, it’s difficult to actually get a placement. There’s a lot of red tape (for obvious and understandable reasons).
The best bet is working in services for homeless people. I asked my tutor what happens if you can’t find somewhere willing to take you and he said the college has a few places that are reliable for taking people to fall back on. They’re all working with homeless people, shelters, kitchens etc.
This is really not something I’m keen on. It’s not the kind of work I’d be looking at after I graduate.
The main place they send people is a large shelter where they provide various services including consumption rooms. There are regular fights and people getting thrown out.
My friend is an addictions counsellor. He worked there at one point and had a syringe held to his neck. He gave me some advice about personal safety that has frankly scared the shit out of me. So, I was just wondering if anyone with experience could give me an idea of what to expect, how safe/ dangerous it’s likely to be etc.
I know there’s a huge amount of variation and it’s unpredictable but I’m just looking for a general idea.
Any tips would also be greatly appreciated.

A lot of street homeless people have serious problems, mental health, addiction, just left prison and straight onto the streets, etc. There's also, now, a lot of people who have no status, no papers, no connections, too.

That said, they are, fundamentally, just human beings, and there is good and bad in every group. They're generally not evildoers, but sometimes, addiction and stigma can make people behave badly. Quick fact: most UK natives who end up homeless were once children 'looked after' by the State. There's no safety net for these kids, and it's easy for them to fall into drug addiction and homelessness. Most of the serious drug addicts (class A injector types) are groomed into becoming addicts, just like you groom children into abuse. Supplying drugs to addicts is a very lucrative business, and just one proper drug addict earns a dealer around 40K a year. Five £20 bags of brown a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year... do the math, if you don't believe me.

Once people are on the gear and homeless it's bloody hard for them to exit the lifestyle. Nobody gives a stuff about them. You don't see the scared and traumatised kids in them you just see the anger, aggression, desperation. If they can take advantage of you, they might, but they don't all behave like that, and the ones that do are doing it as a survival mechanism rather than because they're evil. A lot of people develop this 'us and them' type mentality, and you yourself seem to be demonstrating that, too. You don't really want to work with 'them', but you're willing to exploit them and their circumstances to get where you need to be just like the majority of other 'professionals' they meet on a daily basis, and just like the dealers who sell them their gear. Sad as it is, exploiting them for your own gain won't make you stand out. You'll just be another faceless 'staff' member. They will care about you as little as you care about them.

The trick is, though, not you seeing the humanity in them, but getting them to see the humanity in you. From a personal safety perspective, seeing you as a human being could one day save your bacon.

Human decency, and decent boundaries. That's what you need. Not phoney caring when you don't, but a basic interest in other people is useful. If you can't bring yourself to treat them the same way you'd treat anyone else, if they get a sense that you're judging and looking down your nose at them, you will be slotted into the 'them' category. If they appreciate that you're honest and not too soft, then you'll be fine. If you take an interest in them, as human beings, learn people's names, treat them like actual people, then... you'll likely be okay. You might surprise yourself and find that yes, it can be a bit rough, but actually, these are people managing to survive in circumstances that'd crush most people and given half the chance, most of them are okay.

You will probably encounter the occasional cunt. I would be lying if I said otherwise. There are cunts who will bully, harass, intimidate and try to violate your boundaries. But that's not a feature of homelessness, or addiction. That's because they're cunts. They treat their fellow service users the same. That's when your professional protocols are most useful. People can, and do, get banned from services, denied access, etc. Know the rules, and don't be afraid to state them as facts. Everyone plays by the same rules. There are no exceptions.

The basic stuff applies: don't share your innermost secrets with anybody, don't lend money to anybody, don't tell people where you live, don't make promises you can't keep, and don't pretend to care if you don't. Don't wave your expensive jewellery in people's faces, secure your possessions, observe the organisations protocols regarding lone working and security. And... in turn, don't be a cunt yourself. You're not the police, you're not a counsellor, you're not there to 'fix' them with your genius. You're just there for your own reasons. The same as they are.

I don't think working with people who are homeless is necessarily any more dangerous than walking through the town centre at 2am after the clubs kick out, myself. If you would find that arduous, then perhaps find an 'easier' placement.

Have worked in homelessness services... and have also been homeless myself.

I think @paperbeak has given you the most sensible and comprehensive answer you could wish for. I worked in a specialist team which had a lot of contact with homeless people. I would reiterate - be straight and honest, be human and approachable, treat people with respect, don't promise what you can't deliver. I doubt that if you are on a placement you would ever be in a risky situation without an experienced member of staff. Your potential placement could be very rewarding and teach you a lot that you could take into another client group.

I volunteer at a winter night shelter every year (I stay overnight) and really enjoy it. Yes, there can be a bit on aggro from time to time but mostly they want a hot meal someone to chat to. We don't allow drugs at ours so they nip out for 30 mins before coming back for the night but they are always fine when they come in.

I completely agree with @paperbeaksome really good advice. It may not be your chosen client group but if you go into it with a genuine care and compassion for the people you work with you’ll learn a lot. There are challenges across all of social care - you’ll be working with very vulnerable people who, regardless of client group, can be volatile and unpredictable because of their vulnerabilities and life experiences. People in distress often aren’t easy, or pleasant or well behaved. They need, and deserve, people who can see their humanity and can treat them with care, dignity and respect. As a student I’d argue that’s the most important thing you can take into and that you can learn.

As a student you’ll be supported in your work, and to maintain boundaries that help promote your safety. The most protective thing in any people based work is the ability to build strong, honest relationships with your client group.

I’m not wary because I haven’t been around homeless people and people who are addicted to drugs. I am wary because I have. As a service user. You are making a whole lot of assumptions and you’re off the mark.
I also actually have a broad base of knowledge and don’t need to be educated. I was looking for people’s experience so I can judge whether I’m currently able to give what is necessary in this role and mind my own safety and mental health.

I only have limited experience in this of going to several hostels. Personally, I'd prefer volunteering at a hostel or day centre, rather than with a mobile/street service. There were always staff around, cameras, personal alarms and in some centres- a guard at the door.

The larger places had activities, a laundry room, clothing room, medical rooms so you might have the option to help give out new clothes, sit in during medical appointments, help with the art/music group etc.

Thank you. I think the problem is I’m rethinking the whole thing. Maybe it’s not for me.
I’m not a naive person. I thought I really would like to help people and the course subjects sounded interesting. But I have a lot of trauma in my background and I’m finding it tougher than I thought it would be. I’m trying to work out whether it’s worth the stress of sticking with it.

Thanks so much. That’s very helpful.
It’s a block placement so it would be during the day in a hostel/ street cafe/ kitchen/ hub.

Also, I did not say “them”, you did.
Comparing me to a drug dealer because I’m trying to be pragmatic is seriously below the belt.

Can I be really honest, OP? I am not having a go, but I think perhaps you should consider very carefully if a career working with vulnerable people is right for you. It isn't for everyone, and that's ok, but better to make that decision now before going too much further down that path.

Yes you are so triggered by this that I think this placement is absolutely not for you. I mean this kindly to save you a world of fresh hurt, you shouldn’t try to work with vulnerable groups until you have fully healed from your trauma. Whatever aspect of social care you find yourself in, it is likely you will come across drug users and homeless individuals, and it sounds like you can’t give them the nonjudgmental support if you can’t even be civil to someone taking the time to give clearly well-intentioned advice.

This. 'Live' trauma is a dangerous thing to go into care work with. Many people have lived experience and it can be valuable. If it's completely resolved. But with how quickly you decame annoyed with PP about your experience when it was a broadly helpful and thought out answer... I worry for you and the service users.

I've seen too many people with PTSD and MH issues after going into complex work with preexisting trauma.

Not every homeless person is sleeping rough / on the streets.
Not every homeless person is just a person, some will have children and some may even have a partner and children.

Our local authority places homeless people in hotels, and shared houses/HMO's / B&B's. How you would get to help in one of these homes I don't know but I did it for about a year - just general advice / chats / helping ( form filling etc. )

In my local area there is also a food bank / canteen where all kind of homeless people can go and get food i.e. a sandwich or a hot meal and even a shower ( so yes the shower would be intended for the street sleepers ) I would guess they would like a volunteer but only if the volunteer was committed for the whole 60 hours.
I know at one of our local churches offers hot meals at lunchtime in addition to a foodbank, yet again I guess the church would like a committed volunteer at lunchtimes but I don't think peeling potatoes / wiping tables is what you are looking for.

Moving on from homeless people, I know a local community centre has hot lunches for the elderly and lonely. Tho they may not be ' vulnerable ' enough for your course.

It sounds like you might not be wanting to deal with what is unfortunately a daily part of the majority of single homeless people's lives.
Statistically you will deal with hard drugs users and severe alcoholics all the time. You should receive correct training etc but you will need to work with people who have these problems to an extent.

Assuming you have full DBS checks in place, you could approach therapeutic graden projects, MENCAP who run numerous interactive projects, care homes, supported living projects. Food banks can deal with those who need support, as can baby banks.

You don’t sound at all suited to working with the homeless.

I used to volunteer for MENCAP, teaching life/ independence skills to adults in a day centre. It was great, never a dull day, some challenging times but very rewarding seeing the progress people made.

Perhaps something like that would be more appropriate for you?

In case it wasn’t clear, I am doing the first portion of a course to eventually work with adults with intellectual disabilities. My problem is that the only work experience suppled by my college is with homeless people. That’s what we are being steered towards. I just wanted advice from people with experience so I can get a fuller picture of what to expect if I choose to go ahead with this.

Thanks, but I’m not looking for employment. I’m already on a career path. I’m just looking for work experience. It has to be two blocks of thirty hours on consecutive weeks.