The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-27
A TYPICAL CASE
LOCAL BUREAU OF CATHOLIC
CHARITIES ILL S TRAIT re S
METHODS USED IN AIDING THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BE-
COMES SELF-SUPPORTlNG-RE-
GAINS ALSO sELF-RESPEcT.


Charities, through cooperation with
needy individuals and families, aims
at making them self-supporting rather
than subjects for continued relief.
The following case is taken from
the records of the Bureau to show
the method used in dealing with such
cases.
The day before Christmas Mr.. A.
was sent to the Office of the Bureau by
Priest who had met him begging on
the street. He was single man ABOUT
forty years of age. One leg had been
amputated, which necessitated his
using crutches-while begging-at
other times he used an artificial limb.
He said that the life of professional
beggar had been forced upon him be-
cause of his handicap. He was also
suffering from diabetes, and this COM
PEELED him to give up his place as
motorman for the Twin City Rapid
Transit Company. His attitude to-
ward life was cynical; he was en-
Uttered toward the world in general
and toward charitable organizations
particularly, as he had been denied aid
by one of them.
Mr.. A. would not agree to give up
begging until the Bureau of Catholic
charities could show him how he
could make living otherwise.
Temporary aid was given him over
Christmas, and then he was persuad-
ed to continue course in Minneapolis
in Show Card Drawing which he had
begun under the Department of Re-
Education, but which he had to discon-
tinue because of weak eyes. This
obstacle was overcome by the use of
pair of glasses recommended by the
eye specialist at the Free Medical Dis
pensary.
The tuition for his course was paid
by the Department. of Re-Education.
he Bureau of Catholic Charities gave
him an allowance of approximately
$1,000 a week, from the eighth of
January to the fifteenth day of June,
1921 This was practically refunded
by his sister. Out of this allowance
he managed to pay his expenses for
board, room, carfare, and other
incidentals. By the fifteenth day of
June he had finished his course and
| secured a position at $3.50 per week.
He considered the allowance from the
Bureau as loan and promised to
refund it in small amounts as soon as
his wages were increased.
For some time this man had been
| neglectful of his religious duties; he
| maintained that his clothes were too
| shabby to go to Mass; but after he
had been fitted out with a suit of
clothes from the St. Vincent de Paul
| Cooperative Shop, and was earning a
! salary, his faith in society as a whole
| lad returned. He was happy to be
| self-respecting and capable of earning
I living in legitimate way. With the
idea of lettering himself in every way,
he began to attend the instruction
class for converts at the Pro-Cathedral
| in Minneapolis, and now is attending
Mass every Sunday.
| What He Now Says.
In refutation of what has been said
1 lcCSubly Ill IIIO ddIly pdpCl0 dSodIlol
| the trained social worker, it might be
| we'll to give the opinion of the above,
mentioned client as stated in his own
| words. This opinion is based upon the
treatment he received from the Catho
lie Charities:
'In the winter of 1920-21 l was asked
to apply for aid and did so with mis-
givings. l was received with courtesy
and was treated with kindness by all
social workers with whom | came in
contact-this in spite of the fact that
was homeless, friendless, manned
and stricken with disease, beggar or
your streets.
| "The personnel of this socia
organization could expect no reward
from me and asked for none, though
clothing, food, room rent and othel
incidentals were furnished to me BY
; them over a considerable period O.
time.
"To sum up, I was treated will
; kindness, tact and sympathy-as ;
human being and not as case. At NJ
time was l ever shown any disrespec
; or made to feel that I was an objec
of charity. Social workers are human
and being so, no doubt, make mistakes
but average UP, and the trained work
er will make less errors in aiding tn
poor than those who are not traine'
; to administer to the wants of Others.