brake

When we were creating the first St. Lazarus House in Świerczewo, Poznań, I first had to have a vision of how it should function. For this purpose, I developed the House regulations, which assumed a certain order, required specific things from the beneficiaries, informed about the benefits and consequences of cooperation. However, one must remember that regulations are one thing, and life is another.

first inhabitants

We have accepted our first residents. The first two people moved into the House when it wasn't quite fully equipped yet. Our fundraising for furnishings was ongoing. Yes! In St. Lazarus House #1, there is nothing that we haven't received. Everything is a gift. The House has 9 places. They quickly filled up. The regulations also stipulated that one of the residents would be appointed as the House Steward. This person would take on a certain responsibility when staff was not present. In return, they could count on lower participation in the costs of maintaining the House.

therapy

A person who wished to be qualified for admission to St. Lazarus House – if they were addicted – first had to complete inpatient addiction treatment in a closed ward (from 6 to 10 weeks, depending on the treatment facility). This was the first stage. Sometimes (rarely) it happened that a homeless person claimed they were not addicted. Of course, we had to verify this through interviews, for example, with loved ones or family.

work

The regulations stipulated that the ward has 7 days from the date of admission to find employment. This is a very important aspect. Work not only provides money for sustenance but also strengthens an abstinent attitude and a person's self-worth. Work is a therapeutic element. It is the obligation of every resident of the House of St. Lazarus. Therefore, for this reason, we do not accept individuals who, for example, have a pension or disability benefits and cannot work. There have been a few such individuals who have sought help in this way. To help them, we would have to open a separate House for them, as it requires a completely different approach and work with the ward. Perhaps it will be possible someday?

deep therapy

The regulations also assumed the continuation of addiction treatment on an outpatient basis (1-2 times a month) for the first year of stay at the House of Saint Lazarus, unless the therapist decides on a shorter period. Unfortunately, there were individuals who neglected this important duty and, as often happens in such situations, relapsed. Inpatient therapy (in a closed ward) provides tools to work on one's sobriety. Outpatient therapy is an advanced form of inpatient therapy. This is an extremely important obligation.

Interests and talents

When you start working with another person, you begin to get to know them. Then, their interests and hidden talents come to light. Today, I can say without a doubt that people experiencing homelessness are a great treasure, an undiscovered treasure. I will give a few examples:

GregoryHe likes to tinker. He is an excellent carpenter, joiner, and knows his way around renovations. Matthew His work was his passion even before: he handcrafts all sorts of magnets (souvenir fridge magnets). Sebastian Renovation and plumbing specialist. Tomek He's an electrician. He knows his stuff. Christian By profession, he is a chef. I've had the pleasure of tasting his skill more than once. Staszek – the man for hard work. He worked on construction sites almost his entire life. Matthew He is a specialist in the internet and programming. He loves horses – he would like to work in a stable someday. Roland He will apply any plaster, paint, and laying tiles is not difficult for him. Marcin He doesn't have a trade, but he learns quickly. However, he has an amazing gift for listening and supporting others. Richard Despite being ill (he has to go for dialysis treatments frequently), he works as a security guard. We also met Rysiek as an excellent cook. These are just a few of our beneficiaries who are worth supporting in their personal and social development.

Acceptance and forgiveness

There comes a time when our charges confront their past. This happens not only in therapy, but also in our Home, within the community, in relationships, and in memories. Sometimes it is difficult to accept the situation one is in, to accept one's past, and even more so to come to terms with it. Then comes a time for forgiveness: of oneself, of others, and sometimes even of God. This is when friendly conversations are needed. A buddy you can talk to is needed, a soul to whom you can entrust your heart. We strive to build such relationships where we can always count on each other.

Spiritual support

If something is to be lasting, it must be built on a lasting foundation. There is nothing more lasting than Love. That is why we organize sobriety meetings, retreats, and meetings with a priest for our charges. We want them to build their sobriety and humanity on Love. Unchanging Love. All proposals related to faith are proposals, they are not mandatory. But we see a big difference between those who take advantage of these proposals and those who do not participate. It is worth trusting Christ.

empowerment

The original regulations stipulated a maximum stay of 1.5 years at St. Lazarus House. Life, however, has verified otherwise. Our residents often cite fear of loneliness as an argument before becoming independent. But it's normal for them to be afraid of entering the next stage. The hardest part is that you can't fix an entire life in 1.5 years. However, it's understandable, because years of drinking alcohol and many broken relationships due to it can't be fixed overnight. That's why we've made changes to our regulations: there is no upper limit on how long one can stay in our Houses. If someone adheres to the regulations and, through that, develops, they can stay as long as they need.

Today we have 3 Homes, 33 spots for residents, and basically no available spots. And people are still asking for help. Why do you think that is? Could it be that miracles really happen in our Homes?

brake

I will conclude my argument with a sentence that Stasiu, one of our wards, once said:

The House of St. Lazarus is a brake for me. I know I have to be sober here. And that's why I'm still alive!

I'll just add that it's better to be dependent on the Foundation's help, which gives life, than to drink alcohol, which kills.

Maciej Białka

President of the Do Good Spreads Foundation