Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Central OAC

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Our Purpose Is For Others

By Sonja Hodges (Direct Service Advocate)

Arthur, Nelson Henderson, wrote “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade we do not plan to sit.” The last few years of my life have really brought this quote to life, both personally and professionally.  As a Habitat for Humanity homeowner I saw first hand how so many people gave so freely of their time and talents, Saturday after Saturday.  I mean one really has to take Serving with A Purpose pretty seriously to show up EIGHT Saturdays in a row, rain, sleet or shine to help build a house they or anyone they knew would never live in!

I also see this daily working here at Central OAC. It’s amazing to witness how volunteers, interns and my co-workers serve our guests with so much empathy and patience. Whether it’s ordering documents needed to obtain their ID or finding resources for the simple things we take for granted such as the ability to take a hot shower or change into dry socks, we meet our guests where they are. Most days this is a thankless job, but there are those moments that God allows us to see why we do what we do here. Our purpose is to help, and whatever that help looks like we get it done, day in and day out. To witness someone come back day after day, week after week, month after month, years even, some for over 18 years, makes my soul smile. Everyone here at Central OAC displays just what ” Serving with a Purpose” looks like.

Our passion is for US, but our purpose is for OTHERS.

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Truly Blessed

By Nicole Jiskoot (Summer Intern)

I began this summer as a Clinical Pastoral Education intern at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. I am a student at Columbia Theological Seminary, studying to become a minister, and this internship is one step toward pursuing the call I feel God has placed on my life. I had a choice as to where I wanted to spend my time during this internship. I knew I wanted to work in urban ministry of some kind. Being from a small town, I had very little experience with the types of ministries that center around an urban population. COAC was the first stop on a grand tour of potential sites and it instantly became my first choice. I got to tour the office, meet some guests, see what services were provided, and really get a feel for the difference this organization was making in people’s lives.

As I finished training and began meeting with guests one-on-one, I quickly realized that I was likely to get more out of this summer’s experience than I would be able to offer to anyone else. The men and women I met this summer were inspirations to me. I was able to hear their stories firsthand. Some of them have been shared with you before. Yet, there is something sacred that happens in the spaces behind the walls and inside the courtyard. In fact, my very first day was a sign of what was to come. As I approached the gate prior to opening, a gentleman on the street, one of the unhoused guests who frequented COAC from time to time, greeted me with the warmest smile, asked who I was, and prayed a blessing over me for the summer ahead. Here I was, ready to serve as a chaplain to the “less fortunate,” and a man with no home blessed me.

As the weeks passed, I met some of the most courageous and determined people I’ve ever met in my life. I also met some who longed for a sense of hope for the future, for whom taking one small step in the direction of stability and safety was a heavy task on their own. Regardless of the individual responses to their circumstances, what I found most consistent in my guests was gratitude. They were grateful for the services we were able to provide for them. They were grateful for the nourishment they received as they walked through the doors. As the summer wore on, they were grateful for the air-conditioning. Ultimately, however, they were grateful for the dignity and respect with which they were treated by the staff, volunteers, and interns.

As my time at COAC comes to a close, I am torn between the emotions I feel. I, too, am grateful for the experience I had, and I am sad to see it end. I cannot count the number of times a guest got into my heart, and I have a profound feeling they will stay there permanently. I came into this internship with the desire to make a difference, but as I reflect on my experiences, I realize that I am the one who has been changed. It has been my privilege to be part of this program for a time. The gentleman on that first day was right – I have truly been blessed.

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Life Lessons

by Ani King (Summer Intern)

Living and working in Atlanta has been nothing short of a transformational experience, mainly because of my time at the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. At the end of my first day of work, I could not believe how such a short visit could be the start of a new beginning for our guests. Nor did I ever expect to be able to assist our guests with a fresh start. Without your essential identifying documents, such as birth certificates, state IDs, social security cards, etc., it creates a snowball effect of issues that start with being unable to secure a job, housing, benefits, and more.

I have learned how to be an advocate and a support system for those with limited access to resources. But most importantly, I have learned how to be a resource for people, which goes beyond providing the services here at Central OAC. It means being a listener, being a learner, engaging in conversation, being empathetic, and being a decent person. Frequently, guests express how surprised they are by how respected and well-treated they are when they step into our space. This sentiment speaks to the vision of Central OAC’s vision of being passionate advocates and invested partners for those experiencing homelessness. In addition, our guests are so grateful that we can help them obtain their essential documents.

Our guests often end our time together, giving endless thanks for the services we offer them. However, I often thank them for sharing their stories because they matter! And while the services we provide can be an asset to the guest we serve, my experience with our guests has also benefited my life. With their charisma and lively conversation, I leave the office feeling fulfilled at the end of each day.

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The Fleeting Moments of our Lives

by Natalia Valencia Zometa (UGA MSW Intern)

During my yearlong internship, I had the opportunity to witness our guests’ hardships and listen to many wonderful and sad stories. Their stories have prompted me to reflect on the causes of homelessness and the fortunate state of many. We never consider factors outside of our world, which revolves around us to provide our home and safety. We think it could happen to other people and never to us. We believe that we are safe and that we will never be experiencing homelessness, but after listening to the many histories of our guests, my concept of homelessness changed. Life changes, unexpected situations occur such as illness, accidents, natural disasters, and wars, and suddenly you could be without anything or anyone in your life. Families are becoming smaller and smaller, leaving fewer people to give you support. One or two changes can leave you alone in the world, without any support to help you navigate abrupt changes in your life.

During my experience at OAC, I learned that I should be more sensitive to our guests’ stories, understand their life situations, develop humility in the relationship with them and learn how to change the local and national structure that will lead to a stronger community.

We should not forget that life changes; some of our privileges could be fleeting, and someday we could lose everything and become homeless. I have heard the stories of persons who had all the things needed for a great life, but they regrettably lost everything in one second. They have found at OAC a voice of hope and an extended hand that wants to help them transition through the challenging moments of life.