Sometimes I think we get equality and justice confused when working with people who are struggling with their basic needs living in poverty. Rules are established as one-size-fits-all though serve people in different life situations who desperately need advocacy for justice rather than equality.
This morning I was met by a woman coming into the outreach center looking for assistance with rent.
With her permission, this is her story with only her name changed:
Michelle worked for 34 years of her life as a successful chef. She was the breadwinner in her family and lived comfortably. Not even two years have passed since that defining day that changed everything. While coordinating a wedding reception, she tripped backwards over a metal door track in a walk-in refrigerator onto her back. Rather than immediately seek medical attention, she was concerned more for the bride, groom, and guests of the wedding to have the most amazing day they had dreamed of. She dusted herself off and continued serving champagne, cutting the cake, and completed the evening as planned. The next morning she was unable to walk.
She was diagnosed in the emergency room as having a broken tailbone. There is no treatment nor cure besides rest and time for her tailbone to heal. Her employer argued because there was no incident report completed at the time of her fall, they are not responsible in accepting her workman's compensation claim. She then filed for unemployment. 34 years of contributing to unemployment from payroll taxes to then fall again, backwards, as long-term unemployment ended in December 2013. She received an unexpected letter from unemployment dated December 28, 2013, 3 days after Christmas and 3 days from the beginning of a new month in a new year with rent due. She has no income.
Today she has two collapsed hips from an initial misdiagnosis and surgery scheduled for next week to begin the grueling process of back-to-back hip replacements. Her extended family is helping her to keep her lights turned on and survives by simply getting through each day with love, as she describes. Her husband struggles with his own disabilities and love, is what allows them to live. Love for each other, love for her life, lucky to wake up each day, and knowing love will surmount the countless challenges that await as she painfully and cautiously moves one leg and the other from the bed to the floor each morning.
She is looking forward to having the surgeries though hesitates as there will be risks involved. She knows the alternative is to most likely drowning in poverty. She has an unwavering belief after the surgeries and the upward battle to become physically well again, losing the 45 lbs. she has gained, she is most looking forward to going back to work again. It has been more excruciating to be denied access to resources that she has contributed to, rather than the physical pain that she endures daily in addition to finding all of the resources for basic survival in the community when she has no money.
She is grateful for the outreach center and the food she receives, because this is all she has after her nominal amount of food stamps are spent each month. Without the food, she doesn't know what would become of her. She cannot afford bread, she cannot afford eggs, and she cannot afford the basics to survive every month.
Though she absolutely does have the motivation and unquestionable desire to remember and return to what she once had - stability and for now, love is her life raft and taking each day as it comes.
SO when you think about equality vs. justice, I have found this visual widely helps illustrate:
When we are given the opportunity to listen, please listen. So many voices are unheard when empowerment and advocacy matter for those who need a little more. Equality is not always Justice.
