SOL 10/31 - Why do people think they need to tell tall tales?

I volunteer once a week at the Ozark Center of Hope.  I usually do the financial aspects of the Center, but occasionally I meet with our clients.  The Center is a non-profit organization funded by a coalition of churches in our community and we serve poverty level individuals.  We help them with shut-off electric bills, rent evictions, propane, etc. and we also distribute personal care items and help out in special situations.

Today we had a woman come in asking for help to get her and her kids set up in an apartment as she was being evicted from the house she was living in.  Her story:  another woman had been living with her and had 4 kids.  Woman A said that she adopted these 4 kids from Woman B.  Woman B had a restraining order on Woman A because she was abusive physically & verbally.  Upon questioning Woman A, she said she had talked with a landlord who had a 4 bedroom apartment, but she didn't know who she talked with or where the apartment was located.  The story went on and on.  We said we'd help, but only if she found an apartment and gave us some other documentation.  Off she went.

Later in the day, who should appear but Woman B.  The story was told from a totally different perspective.  And so we heard a different story.

Who are we to believe?  Where do we draw the line?  How deep into this situation do we need to delve?  Why can't people just tell the truth instead of telling us what they think we want to hear?

We want to be able to help, but there are times when we just shake our heads and pray, hoping that we make the right decisions.