Samuel John

Nursing 360
Kapiolani Community College
Journal - Community Site River of Life
River of Life was an insightful experience. It was a great opportunity to get upclose and personal with a community organization that works to help people frequently
marginalized by society at-large. I got to interact and speak with a variety of people,
some dealing with some type of mental illness and some who were not. I met individuals
who were chatty, boisterous and erratic; others were quiet, calm and sometimes
withdrawn. It was a diverse group that opened my eyes to the wide range of peoples
affected by mental health issues.
Mental health, homelessness and poverty go hand in hand. I saw people from
almost every age group, teenagers to senior citizens, filter through the mission over the
course of the day and all of them were affected by lack of resources in one way or
another. The volume of people that came through the doors was beyond what I could ever
have imagined. I also noticed other things, for instance, the way they were dressed
(substandard) and their grooming and hygiene (for the most part, poor). It got me
thinking and reflecting upon the difficult conditions these people have to face daily.
So I was encouraged to see a place like River of Life operating and providing
outreach services, especially to this population. But in the same light, I was also
distressed to see that River of Life only had so much to offer, and unfortunately, it did not
seem enough. No one argues that people need healthy options in order to stay healthy,
and donuts and sugar pastries are definitely not the healthiest breakfast option out there,
but if you are struggling, living on the street with no home and very limited resources,
well then, pastries are better than having nothing to eat at all. People have to accept

whatever food and/or resources the outreachs budget allows. I just kept thinking to
myself, This isnt good enough, we have to do more for these peoples, which
eventually led to, What do we need to do to fix problems like these poverty,
homelessness, access to care? How can we alleviate these issues for good?
It is really difficult for me to see people in need, to see them hurting and
struggling, and I continuously ask myself what more I can do personally and what more
we can do collectively to help alleviate their suffering. What are the major issues and
what are some practical solutions? What can we as communities do to improve the
condition of those around us living in such difficult situations?
I discussed my concerns with the River of Life outreach coordinator and he
shared with me that over the past couple of years, the mission has seen the number of
people utilizing their services balloon. They are having a hard time meeting the demand.
He also informed me that some of the local businesses in the area now view the mission
as an enabler of the downtown homeless population, claiming the mission is also to
blame for some of more recent unscrupulous actions in the neighborhood, e.g. theft,
vandalism. But can we really put all the blame on the homeless and mentally ill and
organizations catering to them? Is it fair, and more importantly, accurate, to label them
criminals who should all be locked up? Or, just maybe, they are the vulnerable byproduct of a haphazard, overburdened and buckling system that fails to address the root
causes of such abject poverty, breeding desperation and exacerbation of mental issues in
its wake; the kind of issues that can often be mitigated if given the proper attention,
priority and allocation of resources.

Numerous research studies show the correlations between crime and poverty. As
such, it is well known that this is an issue that can and should be addressed and
effectively resolved. However, it is a resolution that requires the correct approach, an
approach that centers on mutuality, respect, sensitivity and caring. However, it is often
easier to suggest solutions than to achieve them. And it is also a lot more convenient to
offer solutions from a distance rather than those affecting you directly. For instance, a
good point is made when one is asked to consider whether or not they would be okay
with having a River of Life mission outreach in their own neighborhood, instead of
blocks away on another side of town. Would one still demonstrate mutuality, respect,
sensitivity and caring then?
As demanding as it is to put into practice at times, especially towards a
marginalized population as challenging and difficult as mental health clients, I believe the
core principles of caring, sensitivity, respect and understanding for others has to be
applied. Communities as a whole will suffer for as long as any one segment of the
community is suffering. And because we now live in a world that is truly a global
community, it means all of us are affected and impacted in some way by poverty,
homelessness and mental health issues. It is incumbent upon us, especially those of us in
a position to affect change, to do all we can to strike at the core issues that exacerbate and
worsen a fellow human beings mental health and well being, things like poverty,
scarce/withheld resources and denied access to care. The path to change and ultimately
improvement starts with us recognizing that every human being, regardless of culture,
socioeconomic status, or health condition, is worthy and deserving.