First Day: Post 8

Recently, three Whittier College students conducted a research project on Whittier First Day for their Research Methods class. In their paper they discussed the different categories of homelessness, how First Day works with their residents, the diversity among the residents, and the impact relationships have on people. Their research provided an in-depth look into the lives of those who had once been literally homeless to those who are now contemporarily homeless and the alumni of the organization. By breaking down the social aspects of First Day residents and alumni, we are able to see how it is people become homeless and what it takes to escape being homeless.

Those who come across homelessness fall into two different categories, one is contemporary homelessness and the other is literal homelessness. According to the students’ research the people that fall within these two categories have a, “lack of healthy relationships or attainment of toxic relationships have impaired the reintegration process”.   

In their paper they defined those who are literally homeless as having no shelter whatsoever and end up walking around in the streets. People that are considered to be in contemporary homelessness are individuals who live in temporary shelters or halfway homes.

Those who are currently residents of First Day are considered to be contemporarily homeless because although they are no longer on the streets the shelter they are being offered is only temporary. Before arriving at First Day many of the residents were literally homeless and faced the isolation of the streets. At First Day residency may only be temporary, but the organization offers services to assist the residents in finding a job and a permanent home before they leave. 

In the period of which they lived on the streets many of the residents said that they felt as if they were not as valued as other people and treated with disrespect.  This led them to struggle making good social connections with other people and prolonged their homelessness. Once they arrived to First Day they were treated with the respect that they deserved which empowered them and gave them the motivation they needed to move forward.

Unlike other organizations, First Day does not force their residents to take part in all that they have to offer. They ultimately leave it up to the residents whether or not they want to participate in certain activities. The organization recognizes that the residents are adults and are entitled to make their own decisions, even if they may not be the best decisions nobody should be forced to take part in something they do not want to do. By allowing the residents to pick and choose what they want to do First Day allows them to process everything that they have gone through and make decisions that can help them move towards recovery.

Another key aspect the students included in their paper was the importance of the diversity within First Day.  All of the residents of First Day have different stories to tell. Alumni of First Day said that they appreciated meeting people with different backgrounds and personalities. According to the alumni the diversity at First Day helped prepare them for the outside world, because in order to be successful you must be able to tolerate and get along with people who have different values and beliefs than your own.

Diversity is important because it allows people the opportunity to master tolerance and gain new perspectives on life. The residents of First Day grow from the people they come across in one way or another. They learn from each others’ stories and learn how to work alongside each other. Their ability to deal with each others’ differences not only teaches them how to tolerate people with views that do not agree with their own, it also helps to build their confidence so that they may know how to approach future employers and co-workers once they leave First Day.

The relationships people have can affect the way they feel about themselves and the decisions they make in life. In their research paper the students demonstrated how negative interactions with people can lead some individuals in the wrong direction that prevents them from being able to recuperate. When people hit rock bottom it is crucially important that they surround themselves with positive people so that they may have the motivation to reconstruct their lives. By surround themselves with negative people they are only preventing themselves from fulfilling their full potential.

For those who are facing homelessness it is important that they seek out support from organizations such as First Day, instead of engaging themselves with those on the streets who do not care to better themselves. 

Places like First Day help people look within themselves and seek out their potential. The positive relationships the residents have with one another help them to not only reconstruct their own lives but it also helps them to become better people.

Overall, the organization creates an environment in which the residents support one another and form a family-like bond. It is successful in helping individuals become a part of their community and provides them with the tools they need to become productive members in society.