Why Don't People Show Up for Appointments?

[elsporko]

I've had three people make appointments and then never show up. What is the deal? They're the ones who decided when they wanted to come in. Its annoying. I end up getting all the prep work done and sitting around not wanting to start working on a project only to get interrupted and then after I check my email for the third time I realize I've wasted half an hour waiting for them to show up.

I work for an agency that helps the homeless or potentially homeless. The people coming in to see me typically are looking for help finding a job or apartment. Two of the no shows were looking for both. To be prepared takes a little while, plus I have to get rid of anything with client info on it from my desk, and then they just don't come. What is wrong with you people don't you want help?

This guy today even called and asked to reschedule to a later time. But he still doesn't show up. Why couldn't you call again and cancel. Or schedule for another day. Just don't leave me hanging bro.

[Whiskey]

When I was homeless it was fairly hard for me to get around. If the car [that i lived in] ran out of gas I was stranded until someone pitied me enough to give me money, its rather embarrassing to go into an agency when you haven't showered in over a week, or maybe that was the day the police threw them in jail for loitering. The police threatened to tow my car with me in it one morning because I had the nerve to sleep in the back corner of a parking lot. If they're "potentially homeless" they're probably going through extreme emotional trauma which takes a toll. Are they being evicted by a landlord or family? Maybe they're running out on an abusive situation. If they're living out of a shelter, there are rules, regulations, check-ins, etc that change depending on where you're at that night. I didn't have a cell phone when I was homeless (obviously..) so making phone calls wasn't the easiest task either. Do I want to spend 50 cents on a phone call or buying my meal for the day?

What is "wrong with those people" is they're in an extremely horrible situation and the priorities are a little different.