The young woman was sitting there obviously in a great deal of distress, profound pain and in need of help.

The distress and pain were so pronounced that it evoked an act of kindness out of an acquaintance of mine. The only adequate description of seeing this act is “it boggled my mind”. He also stated that something needed to be done.

Her behaviour/situation was brought to the attention of those who should be helping her … and resulted in excuses as to why they weren’t helping.

Leaving the realm of excuses I found the young woman huddled with arms wrapped around herself under a tree. Mr. L, a homeless gentleman residing in his vehicle, was standing there regarding her.

I approached her quietly and spoke with her gently and after a few minutes she uncurled and stood up. With quiet words Mr. L and I walked with her to his vehicle and drove her to MSA Hospital.

Escorting her into emergency we supported and advocated for her through the admissions process. The psychiatric evaluation nurse and the woman doctor on duty were excellent, but the process, for someone in her shape, was far too long and complicated.

We spent 3 hours helping and sitting with her before she was in the care of a nurse. In fact it took so long Mr. L and myself were beginning to worry that perhaps the delay was due to the psychiatric evaluation nurse searching for butterfly nets and straight jackets for the pair of us. We had to stay with her in order that she could stay and get the help needed.

How many others are left suffering great distress and profound pain?

Getting help should not depend on random chance putting someone in need in the path of two strangers who are willing to spend the hours and effort needed to get them help.

This is not the first time I have experienced politicians, government, agencies, organizations or people delivering a litany of excuses for their failure to act to help those in dire need.

It is so normal a behaviour I can remember how surprising and above all helpful it was when, at a Communitas program I was a client of, I was told that something needed was not part of the program – but let us figure out how to get it done – and it did get done.

The issues, the problems that are part of addressing homelessness, mental illness, addiction and poverty are complex and lack nice neat easy solutions. Nobody can guarantee success in addressing these issues.

I can guarantee failure as long as it is acceptable to come up with excuses for why something is not being done. Benjamin Franklin pointed out that “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

As Mr. L. and I demonstrated you can accomplish something or make excuses. To quote Stephen Dooley, Jr. “A man who wants to do something will find a way; a man who doesn’t will find an excuse.”

It is time we stop making excuses, stop accepting excuses and find ways to do what needs be done.