We take in some people over 21 years old who know little about caring for themselves. They don't know how to clean a living area. Make a bed. Prepare their own food. Find a job. The list goes on.
We once had a man in his early twenties who had a strange look on his face as he paid his rent.
"You know," he said. "That's the first time I've ever paid to stay anywhere."
And he's not alone. We have many in his situation who know little about the real world. Whoever raised them didn't teach them the fundamentals of survival.
It seems like they wanted their children to like them above all else. So instead of making them work and take care of themselves, the parents did everything. We've even had children whose parents paid for their drug habits. They didn't want their baby to suffer withdrawal.
So some of our job is to help clients unlearn bad habits. To teach them they're responsible for themselves - including their addictions.
And, once in a while - especially if the parents stay out of the picture -we succeed.
