by Camille Frink
When I describe my job to friends and family, I say that I help people experiencing 
homelessness get access to important documents. And in reality, this is mostly true. I spend a lot of time doing paperwork, calling vital records offices, and problem-solving birth certificates that are difficult to obtain. Because these documents have a real impact on our guest’s lives and are sometimes the only thing standing in the way of them obtaining housing, or getting a job, or staying in their transitional program, it is easy to tell myself that this is my (and the OAC’s) purpose: we get documents.
But this is an oversimplification. Beyond the other tangible work we do for our guests–connecting them to resources, organizing and providing their mail, providing interview clothing and employment support, and connecting them with our partners for housing assessments and food stamp assistance–the true nature of our work is intangible.
Recently, we hosted a Friday bingo event with several of our guests, some of whom recently obtained housing, some of whom are still experiencing homelessness, and some of whom are newly experiencing homelessness. On paper, events like bingo do not serve a tangible purpose. None of our guests are closer to obtaining housing or getting a job after one of our Friday events. Some of them have already achieved stability. But Friday bingo was an opportunity for me to reflect on the intangible effects of our work.
The OAC is a place where everyone, especially those caught in a system and a world of dehumanization, gets treated not only as a person, but as a valued member of our community. We build trust with guests who have been let down in the past. We restore hope. We provide a listening ear. We call guests by their name. We create a community that guests who now have their own apartment still feel called to be a part of. We learn from each other and treat each other with kindness, recognizing that even if we live in a world that often feels designed to make us forget each other’s humanity, we can choose differently. This is how we serve with purpose.