To whoever this may concern,

The SCN program may have many providers, and we appreciate those who stepped up to provide an important service. But with that role comes responsibility. If you stepped in as a provider, step up your game and do it like a mensch.

For too many applicants, actually reaching their provider has become an exhausting challenge.

Emails go unanswered. Phone calls are not returned. When someone finally does hear back, it can be weeks later. In the meantime, applicants are left completely in the dark - not knowing whether their application was received, reviewed, accepted, rejected, or is simply sitting somewhere waiting.

The biggest problem is not even the waiting. It is the complete lack of communication and transparency.

People understand that programs are busy. They understand that providers may be dealing with large numbers of applications. What is much harder to understand is leaving people waiting for weeks or months with no update, no clear status, and seemingly nobody available to speak to.

At the same time, providers continue advertising how great their services are and encouraging new applicants. That's wonderful - but before bringing more people through the door, there needs to be basic service for those already waiting.

An automated status update would help. A reasonable response time would help. A phone number where someone actually answers would help. Even a simple message saying, “Your application is still being processed,” would be better than weeks of silence.

So yes, thank you for stepping up and becoming a provider. Thank you for offering the service. But once you take on that responsibility, take care of the people who are relying on you. Answer them. Update them. Give them some transparency.

And to any provider reading this: If you feel targeted by this message, then yes, I probably mean you too.

Step up your game. People applying for your services deserve basic communication, transparency, and respect - not months of being left in the dark.

A Fed-Up Resident