Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Central OAC

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In Their Shoes!

by Amy Kirkland     

This year in 2022 I have a different perspective on the 10 miles that someone may walk in a day, especially our guests here at the OAC. than I did last year in 2021. As a team member on the OAC staff, I spend a great deal of my time at the front desk and front door constantly interacting with our guests face to face. I hand out walking directions to a variety of different places to several of our guests on a daily basis. These walking directions are to help them to get to where they need to be or obtain the correct information to get their identifying documents. Many of our guests walk to several  places in order to shower, eat, sleep, and to meet other basic needs. It is always our hope that the work we do here helps these steps add up to a big step one day and our guests are  able to find  permanent stable housing and employment.

As I participated in this fundraiser last year in 2021 I was mindful as I took my daily walks over the course of a week to complete my 10 miles. I was aware that my walks were completely my choice and there was not a necessary destination other than to make it back home. I had comfort in the fact that if I began to get tired I could probably reroute and get home sooner. I was grateful for nice comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing as well as a nice bottle of water. I knew that all of my choices and privileges were not extended to most individuals who  are experiencing  homelessness.

As I reflect on our In Their Shoes fundraiser this year,  I think about how my family has  moved across town so that we may be able to have access to more places that are within walking distance. We longed to be able to grab a bite to eat, get coffee, or even enjoy the relaxation of being able to walk and get errands done. Has there ever been a time where you had to WALK over a mile to get food, or WALk over a mile to take shower, or maybe even WALK several miles for a place to sleep. Can you imagine what it would look like to be IN THEIR SHOES?

For our neighbors experiencing homelessness walking  is a way of life and unfortunately many of the things they need are nowhere near the places they may call home.  If you find yourself with the privilege of making the choice to walk somewhere please remember our neighbors that are experiencing homelessness. Place yourself In Their Shoes, and choose to add a little more meaning to your WALK!!

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Blessed To Be Here

by Sharita Stallings (GSU Bachelor of Social Work Intern)               

Interning at the OAC has been a rewarding moment for me in all aspects of life. On the one hand, I can connect with our guests experiencing homelessness by helping them obtain the necessary documents to help them move forward in life. While on the other hand, I can also connect with them by asking them, “How is your day going?” This opportunity has opened my eyes and allowed me to look at things differently. Interning at the OAC has developed me into a much more patient individual. It has shown me that every guest I encounter will always have a different journey and a different struggle to overcome. Because of this, I have become a better listener, and our guests feel as though they have someone who actively listens and cares about their needs.

Many of our guests come in for services and think that we’re the only ones helping and assisting them. However, I have received many blessings while working and supporting them. In addition to becoming a better listener, I’ve also become a more empathic individual in all of my personal relationships. Interning at OAC has improved my overall well-being, allowing me to give each guest an amazing experience while providing services.

I appreciate every guest and their story and the joy they bring to me while assisting them. Being at the OAC has positively impacted my life, and it has shown me that being in the field of social work is something I am called to do. I am beyond blessed to be interning at the OAC.

 

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The Simple Things

by Ke’Andra Hayes (GSU Bachelor of Social Work Intern)                 

 

Many individuals feel the primary way to help someone experiencing homelessness is to give them money or food, which is not always the best thing. Although anything is appreciated, there are other ways to be impactful and giving. This thought is something I learned pretty quickly being an intern at Central OAC and working with our guests experiencing homelessness. I never took into consideration how simple things matter the most. During my first week of internship, my supervisor stated, “You never know when it was last that the guest had someone to talk to and listen to them.” Her statement has continued to stay with me each day. Something as simple as being a listening ear has the potential to make a difference in someone’s day. Simple questions such as “How’s your day going?” and “How are you?” are great ways to help people experiencing homelessness. Sometimes I think we forget the simple things, at least I do. Giving food and money is easy, but it doesn’t hurt to give some time.

 

We sometimes look at a person’s current situation and forget they have a story also, and we can no longer look at individuals experiencing homelessness through one lens. They are simply trying to make lemonade with the lemons life has thrown their way. I challenge you to think about the simple things in your life that you may have taken for granted and then change your interaction with those experiencing homelessness. Give a helping hand, volunteer, encourage someone, advocate, ask them how they are doing, and most importantly, show them respect. Being an intern at the OAC has taught me about social work and myself as a person. I appreciate every guest who comes in and shares their story with me and who makes me laugh. I devote my day to returning the favor and doing everything I can to assist them, hoping I can make their day as great as they have made mine. Being surrounded by individuals at the OAC who genuinely love helping everyone around them is truly inspiring. It taught me to never take life for granted and appreciate the simple things.

 

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New Year, New Beginnings!

By Kimberly Parker


It’s always in this first month of the year that we tend to talk a lot about new beginnings. We hear such statements as …

“I’m going to watch what I eat.”

“I’m going to exercise more.”

“I’m going to spend more time with family or friends.”

“I’m going to cut back on my spending.”

The list goes on and on.

I also think for the past couple of years we have all started the new year believing that a new beginning was within reach, that COVID would be gone and life could go back to “normal.” We are probably realizing that this isn’t necessarily the case, but learning that we simply have to live in new ways while a pandemic continues.

At the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, we are certainly experiencing new beginnings! Two of our long-time staff members left the OAC in December so we are looking at where we are as a team and determining what we need as we move forward. Amy Kirkland has joined our team as a new Administrative Assistant. We have added two new volunteers and a new Clinical Pastoral Education intern. And we have just completed a new three year strategic plan that will guide our work over the coming months.

New beginnings are happening at the OAC and we are excited!

I believe that the services we offer at the OAC help our guests to experience new beginnings also. Think about what it would be like to not have any identification at all. Without proof of your birth or your Social Security number, it’s as if you don’t exist. Without state identification, a person cannot really do anything else. So, for our guests, it is a new beginning when one holds their birth certificate for the first time or has that all important Social Security card in their hands. It’s a fresh start or a new beginning!

I hope you will stay tuned in to Central OAC. Follow us on social media. Watch for our monthly blog posts. We are excited for new beginnings!