Alcohol and Serenades

Every week Isaiah House has about two referrals for intakes.

Homeless and mental health outreach organizations desperately seek places for their clients to go during the day, especially as the cold weather is rapidly arriving.

During the intake, clients are given a tour of the building and told about the services our program offers.

Breakfast, lunch, groups, showers, referrals for doctors' appointments, etc.

Then clients are asked a series of questions about their mental health diagnosis, medication compliance, criminal history, suicidal ideations, homicidal ideations, other major health problems, and what kind of a support system is present.

I am expected to take diligent notes during this process.

I am also expected to not react to responses to said questions.

Quite possibly, the hardest part of my job, is pretending to be unphased.

Unphased when Eddie tells me he was hospitalized for attempted suicide two weeks ago.

Unphased when Ms. D tells me she has used every drug except heroine.

Unphased when Ms. L pees in my office.

Unphased when Nathan tells me he's staying in an abandoned house.

I have found that I absolutely CANNOT remain unphased when my client's sing.

I have heard the most beautiful songs come from the mouths of the most "undesireable" members of our society.

Edward on Thanksgiving.

And Jessie Mae Paul yesterday morning.

I gave Jessie Mae a tour of Isaiah House and then took her to my office for the intake.

We sat in my office across the table from eachother.

When I asked her what her name was, she said, "jessiemaepaul."

I wrote her name down "Jessie Maepaul."

I finally figured out her name is Jessie Mae Paul.

The intake was challenging.

She dropped out of school in eigth grade.

She was unable to recall details about her background.

She didn't know what a mental health diagnosis is.

It took her several minutes to sign her name.

She wrote "JESSIEMAEPAUL."

All capital letters.

No Spaces.

Jessie Mae told me that she drank alcohol on Saturday, but not Sunday or Monday because she ran out of money.

She said she was excited about doing chores because she loved to clean.

After filling out several forms, I described the different groups to Jessie Mae.

When I mentioned karaoke, her face lit up.

She said that she loves to sing and that she was going to sing me a song.

Jessie Mae sang "Jesus Loves Me" in her loud, raspy voice.

And it was beautiful.

Then Jessie Mae sang "This Little Light of Mine."

She proceeded to tell me that I should think about that song while I'm at work everyday.

JESSIEMAEPAUL reminded me that most days I learn more from the Isaiah House clients than they learn from me.

She promised me she would return.