Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Central OAC

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In the Midst of Two Pandemics

by Kimberly Parker

I recently looked back to see the last time I had written a blog post. It was March 18, 2020. It was titled, “Pandemic While Homeless.” Here we are three months later, and we are still dealing with the pandemic. Our guests experiencing homelessness are as well. For the last few months, I have been on a call once or twice a week with our City’s Continuum of Care (CoC) to get updates on the effect the coronavirus is having on our homeless community. Thankfully, the numbers within this population have remained rather low, for which we are all grateful. In the midst of this time, an isolation hotel was secured for people who tested positive for COVID-19 and a healthy hotel was secured for people who were at high risk for the virus. The isolation hotel has had low numbers and the healthy hotel has been at capacity. Many of the guests in the healthy hotel came from encampments or the airport. These particular guests are working with the CoC and should be placed in housing units rather than going back to the street. This is all good news in the midst of a pandemic. 

The virus pandemic has consumed our world, but there’s also another pandemic that has consumed our world … racism. This particular pandemic is not new; it has been happening for centuries. We are at a point where people of color have expressed how tired they are and are demanding to be heard. They are tired of family members being sought out by police. They are tired of the injustices that line up against them. They are tired of the inequality in our systems (lower paying jobs even with the same education as a white person, less likely to gain an interview because of their name, voter suppression, etc.). They are tired of family members being killed for jogging, law enforcement going to their home and assuming they have drugs, being accused of having counterfeit money, being accused of trying to resist arrest while intoxicated, the list goes on and on. I have no idea what my brothers and sisters of color endure, because I have never personally experienced any of it. I have lived a very privileged life, mainly because of my white skin. 

This August, I will have worked at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center for sixteen years. I went from doing direct services with our guests in a part-time capacity to serving as the Program Director and then the Executive Director. I am a white leader in an environment that is predominantly Black. We typically serve over 4,000 unduplicated guests each year; 88% of the people identify themselves as Black/African American. As the Executive Director, I am the person with power, serving others with very little power. Ultimately, I have the last word. If a guest is having a bad day and not behaving in the manner in which we desire, I can say, “We can’t serve you today. Come back and try another day.” Or, if the behavior is bad enough in my eyes, we can ban the person for good. This is power and there have been times in the past when my decision has angered another and he has looked me in the eyes and yelled, “You are a racist!” The words hurt, but it’s these words that keep coming to my mind these days.

Am I racist? Gosh, I want to believe that I am not. However, it’s time for me to take a deep look at who I am and how my privilege might affect another. I am sure I have a lot to learn and I am open to doing so. If at any time, you want to enter a conversation with me on this topic of racism, I am open to doing so. Black lives do matter and I want to make sure I do all that I can personally, and as a leader, to get this message across. It is an honor and privilege to serve at Central OAC, and I want to do it justice!

 

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Pandemic While Homeless

by Kimberly Parker

“You Ever Think We’d See Something Like This?”

How many times in the last week or so have you seen messages like these:

“The ‘Whatever Business’ is committed to the safety, health and welfare of our staff, volunteers, and clients/members/patrons/etc. at all times. We are taking serious measures to do our part to flatten the curve of transmission of COVID-19.” 

“Based on current CDC recommendations in response to COVID-19, as of March ???, 2020, the ‘Whatever Business’ will be closed until at least March 30, 2020. We will continue to evaluate the situation and make necessary decisions based on recommendations given by trusted organizations such as the CDC.” 

It seems like everything is closing. Some of the places where we would normally go to deal with stress and stay healthy are closed: gyms, libraries, movie theaters. The list goes on and on. I get it, but gosh it’s hard! When I got word yesterday that the golf course where I try to play once a week was closing, I about lost my *#$@&! It’s outdoors! A person can be totally by themselves if they want to. Come on! Again, I get it, but it’s so hard.

When I start to have these thoughts or when I start to cry at the smallest of inconveniences, I try to think about the many people experiencing homelessness and what they’re going through right now. Things are different for them also. They are at a disadvantage that many of us can’t begin to relate to. No home in which to isolate themselves. No healthcare coverage. No easy access to soap or water or hand sanitizer. And some of the service providers are closed or have limited their services, including Central OAC.

The decisions that I’ve had to make recently have been some of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made as a leader. I’ve tried to hold our guests, volunteers, and staff in the front of my mind through  each decision, wanting to make sure we have as safe of an environment as possible for everyone. My first decision was to ask our volunteers to suspend their time with Central OAC. The next decision was to determine that we would suspend services to our guests except for allowing them to check mail twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am – 12 pm). Two staff members work these shifts rather than all four of us. Our security guard is only allowing three people in at a time with plenty of distance between each.

Yesterday was our first day of this new schedule. We had about 50 people come through the doors during the two hour shift. They picked up checks, food stamp cards, medication, debit cards – items that are very important. We had one guest come in who had been waiting on his birth certificate and Social Security card to arrive so that he could go obtain his Georgia ID. We were able to give him the voucher to cover the cost of the ID. He was so excited! These items are important. And every guest yesterday was grateful!

My heart hurts that we are limited in what we can safely provide right now. My heart hurts for the many who are experiencing homelessness. I am so grateful for the outreach teams who are still out on the street, tending to those who are most vulnerable. Central OAC asks that you pray for people experiencing homelessness and pray for those who are continuing to serve them in some capacity. I hope and pray we can keep doing what we are doing for as long as possible during this global health crisis.

Be well!

-Kimberly

 

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Be the Change

by Brenna Lakeson

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

We’ve all probably heard this quote so often that it’s become a cliche.  We hear it in reference to charity work – volunteering, doing random acts of kindness, and sharing love with everyone we meet.  Rarely, though, do we hear it applied to the political process. Many of us might think of politics as corrupt and inefficient. While that can definitely be true, being involved in the political process, both locally and nationally, is also an important way to affect change.

As hard as it can be to trust the government to get things done, changing policies is actually a huge way to improve the world around us.  For example, a few years ago, people who were convicted of a felony in the state of Georgia could no longer vote – not just temporarily but for the rest of their lives.  However, now the law states that anyone convicted of a felony can vote once their full sentence has been served, including completion of probation or parole. While this still isn’t ideal for some of our guests, the fact that they can now vote after a certain period of time is a huge step up. 

A lot of us don’t see or hear about the legislative changes being made, especially in local government.  But by being informed of and involved with the things that are happening under the gold dome, we can help Atlanta change for the better.  Currently, a few of the bills on our radar include Senate Bill 322, which would create incentives for the development of affordable housing. It only takes one search for an apartment to realize that there is very little affordable housing around the city.  Another bill that affects our guests is House Bill 792/793. These bills are expansive, as they outline the entire state budget, but the section we’re most concerned about is funding for healthcare. Many of our guests have limited or no access to healthcare, so expanding the funding available for them to get the help they need is crucial.

These bill numbers might seem overwhelming, but it’s actually pretty easy to track what’s going on.  You can find out which bills are where in the legislative process by visiting the Georgia General Assembly website.  You can figure out who your representatives are so that you can contact them about issues you support by entering your home address here.  In order to make your advocacy as impactful as possible, check out Presbyterians for a Better Georgia’s gude here.

Be the change you want to see in Georgia by taking a stand on what matters to you.  Be a part of changing policies that will transform lives. Your voice matters.

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When the Holidays are Hard

by Kimberly Parker

I’m curious about what everyone will be doing for the holidays. We tend to think that it’s a joyous time for everyone. We tend to think that it’s a time when everyone sees family and friends. We tend to think that it’s filled with good food and drink. However, I know too well that it’s not always the fun filled holiday that we might hope for. I am keenly aware this year of people who are hurting and grieving. I have friends who are moving toward divorce. I know people who have lost a loved one this year and that it will be the first Christmas without someone who is usually a part of the holiday. I know others who are having struggles with their family. Others simply know that the holiday won’t be quite the same as it has been in past years for any number of reasons. And then I see people experiencing homelessness everyday who I know will not be with family or have a place to call home.

So, in reality, it’s not always the happy, fun-filled time that our society says it should be. People are hurting. People are grieving. In my own life, I’ve been thinking a lot about this reality and trying to figure out how to make this holiday into something that is meaningful and memorable for those I love and care about. We’ll see how it turns out.

As for our Central OAC guests, we do try and make them feel special during this time of the year. Last Friday, we held our annual guest holiday party. This has been going on since long before I joined the Central OAC team fifteen plus years ago. We used to ask volunteers to provide homemade baked goods and eventually decided to expand that to include a variety of treats … oranges, apples, pigs in a blanket, meatballs, cheese, sandwiches, cookies, etc. Board members and volunteers provide and serve the food. There always seems to be plenty to go around. People have donated hygiene items, socks, and hats so our guests could receive a gift.  

The other highlight of the party is always Betty Bolander who has long been the one to provide her talent of playing Christmas carols. Many of our guests share in the singing and I always shed a tear or two as I stand in the room and witness the way in which music brings people together. It’s a special time and my prayer is that our guests felt the care and love that should come with Christmas. It is my prayer that all about whom I care can find even a moment of joy in a season that sometimes can be hard. 

Blessings to you and yours this holiday season!