5 Comments
Sep 30Liked by Granite Goodness

What an amazing story of what can be accomplished, if one is determined and puts their mind to seeing it happen!

Expand full comment

True generosity is giving and expecting nothing in return. Shouldn't it be the same with basic housing? Socialist governments take much better care of their people and don't spend trillions on arms.

Expand full comment

Isn't this, what normal? Compassionate governments do throughout the world?

Expand full comment
author
Sep 30·edited Oct 1Author

Thanks for the comment Tom! We actually spent some of this convo talking about government assistance. Caitlin and her team opted not to use government services because they felt it added too many strings on who and how they could serve and they wanted to keep their operation as simple and judgement free. Specifically, it was the requirement that they ask recipients personal questions about their family size, employment, housing etc. that Caitlin felt might interfere with the "no shame, no questions asked" part of the Red's Good Vibes mission.

Your comment does make me wonder if we just had a different culture around food, giving, need, government assistance, shame, etc. if that might not have led to a different outcome.

My personal opinion is I think we should generally move away from means testing for government programs so that $$ can be maximally spent on services over admin, and Caitlin's experience almost working with the USDA I think was revealing in how it can complicate things. I also imagine anyone who has ever been on SNAP / food stamps probably wants that process to be simpler. Food for thought!

Expand full comment