The basic necessities @ Saver Queen

The basic necessities

Posted on August 26th, 2009 Saver Queen 6 comments

Something about Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s blog post yesterday, Our Love Affair with Stuff, prompted me to share something that’s been on my mind for a while now.

I’ve been volunteering at a local AIDS Service Organization (ASO), interviewing clients (recipients of care) and writing their stories. All of the clients, who are PLHAs (people living with HIV/AIDS) have contracted the disease in different ways, shattering the myths that unfortunately still proliferate about how the virus is transmitted. One of the clients I met had been raped. One was infected by her abusive, cheating husband. Others had been chronically homeless and addicted to crack cocaine, which put them in precarious positions. Others suffered terrible tragedies and loss, and temporarily lost the will to protect themselves.

But the client who had the biggest impact on me goes by the name Alex*. Alex has suffered through a very traumatic upbringing, and he was diagnosed with HIV when he was just 17 years old. Although he is only 31 - just a few years older than I - he looks about 10 or 15 years his senior. He was homeless for years and addicted to drugs. But thanks to the ASO, his life has changed dramatically - primarily because he now has a roof over his head. The Executive Director helped him find subsidized housing, which is something that has impacted every area of his life. The ASO has also provided him with some clothing, food, and counseling, and helped him to learn how to make his doctor’s appointments. (Meeting appointments is not something that comes naturally to someone who has lived on the street for many years.) With the assistance of the ASO, Alex has been drug-free for over 1 year. When I asked Alex if he is happy, he looked at me as though the answer was obvious:

“Well I have a roof over my head and food in my belly, so hell yeah, I’m happy!”

What a difference the basic necessities in life can make.

*name has been changed.

6 responses to “The basic necessities”

Freckles August 26th, 2009 at 11:50

Very thought provoking indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Amber August 26th, 2009 at 12:50

I think there’s a basic level of material wealth that brings happiness. It’s the level of having your needs met plus a little extra. Alex has mastered that, and should be an inspiration.

Unfortunately, so many of us seek ’stuff’ beyond that level. I think that’s at the root of a lot of our problems as individuals and as a society. It’s not enough to have the basics, we want it ALL. And then when that doesn’t make us happy we want MORE.
psychsarah August 26th, 2009 at 13:35

Such a great reminder. People’s resilience in difficult circumstances never ceases to amaze me. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Jessie August 26th, 2009 at 14:33

Thanks for sharing this, great story.

If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it makes sense that with shelter, clothes and food this man is happy. For so long his basic biological and physiological needs weren’t being met.

It sounds like with the support he’s been receiving he’s starting to satisfy his safety and belongingness needs as well. It’s great that you can be a part of that in some small (or large) way!
Org Junkie August 26th, 2009 at 22:30

Such truth, thanks for sharing that!
Gean Oliveira August 29th, 2009 at 01:25

That’s nice to read and thanks for sharing with us.

Take care!