Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Blog Posts

By

Did Anything Positive Come Out of COVID?

by Kimberly Parker

Mask up. Social distance. Wash your hands. No travel. No gathering in large groups. No visits outside of your household. No eating inside restaurants. 

The list could probably go on and on. I think a lot of us remember the bad, the negative, and the things that were contradictory to the life we normally lived. It’s sometimes hard to see beyond the negative aspects of what this last year and a half have brought to our individual lives and to our society as a whole. 

It was hard enough on the average person or the person who has everything they need, but it was even worst for people experiencing homelessness.

Shelters either closed or drastically cut the number of people they could host. Direct service agencies closed or limited the number of people who could receive services. Soup kitchens shut down. Government buildings like the Department of Driver Services or the Social Security Administration closed their doors.

Life got even harder for those experiencing homelessness.

I have tried throughout the last couple of months to find positive outcomes for Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. We were not able to have a fundraiser in 2020, so, in 2021, we decided we needed to be creative. We wanted to have a virtual event, but at the same time, we were keenly aware that people were fatigued of doing things online.

We created something brand new for Central OAC: “In Their Shoes: 10 Mile Challenge,” based on research that shows a person experiencing homelessness can walk an average of 10 miles per day. This was our most successful fundraiser we have ever had! COVID pushed us out of our comfort zone and forced us to try something new.

We also changed the ways that we operate on a daily basis, with fewer people inside at one time. We are using some of our outside areas for seating while guests wait. We are performing our daily mail checks, a huge service that we offer, at our doorway, cutting down on the chaos and conflict that can happen when too many people are packed into our lobby. These may not sound like positive outcomes to the general public, but it has created more peaceful environment for our staff and our guests, allowing us to give more direct focus to those we are working with each day. 

For me, one of the most positive aspects is eye contact with our guests. With everyone wearing masks up over the nose and mouth, we can’t see the mouth, the normal place to look for a smile or a frown or another emotion. I found myself really focusing on a person’s eyes while doing mail check each day. A lot can be communicated in the eyes and I found this to be a very positive outcome for me. I want to hold on to this focus with people, all people whom I encounter each day. It helps me to pay more attention to them!

What are the positive things that came out of COVID-19 for you?

By

Building a Foundation

by Rubi Rodriguez
I’m an intern at Central OAC, and I am currently working on obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Georgia State University. Before arriving at Central OAC, I didn’t know what to expect because I had no practical social work experience. The only experience I had before joining Central OAC was the education I was receiving at GSU. Central OAC has opened my eyes to the fact that there are many people in the world screaming for help, especially the homeless population. Many of those individuals come from complicated situations that led them to experience homeless, and others don’t have a support system that they can depend on. Those individuals look upon us to provide them with services and programs to help them thrive. It may seem like what the OAC provides is not a lot but believe me, I have seen it all. Providing them with services like ID and birth certificates gives them hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

I also want to thank Central OAC for allowing me to be part of their team. I can say that my love for social work has grown tremendously while being part of Central OAC. The social work practice skills that I have gained through my internship are some of the most relevant and valuable skills for social work. The interactions that I had while being a case manager had a significant role in my professional identity as a social worker. Those are skills I will take with me, and I will use them on my next journey as I continue to work toward my goal of becoming a social worker.

By

The Hardships of Trauma

by Chattrelle Gillyard

Often we see homelessness as a choice. There is stigma surrounding homelessness that causes many of us to believe that people experiencing it are lazy. They’ve chosen to be homeless or unemployed or that they’re the reason why they are currently experiencing homelessness. But most people in this situation did not choose it. What’s more, many people experiencing homelessness have endured some sort of trauma in their life. According to SAMSHA, homelessness in itself is considered a traumatic event.

Could you imagine losing your home and your job due to a natural disaster such as a hurricane? Can you imagine aging out of the foster care system with no stable living place to go? Can you imagine growing up poor and never really having a place to call home? Or what about having to run away from home due to abuse or neglect at a young age? Though many are fortunate enough to overcome these particular traumas, others aren’t that fortunate. Mental health conditions, substance use issues, and even paranoia and lack of trust can develop from unresolved trauma. These conditions are also all barriers to employment, affordable housing, and proper health care. Many people experiencing homelessness battle with unresolved trauma every day and are constantly reminded of their situation and looked down upon. It’s easy to see what’s on the outside, and it’s easy to judge and make assumptions. It’s even easier to label people who are different from us. It’s harder to look past someone’s appearance or current station in life to sympathize with where they’ve been or what they’ve been through.

Though many of us have experienced the same or similar traumas as our guests, we still choose to believe the stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness. We still speed walk past them, frown at a particular smell they carry, ignore them when we see them, and even talk down to them. We put ourselves on a pedestal to make ourselves feel better, all while ignoring the reality that we could be one traumatic event from experiencing homelessness too. I challenge you to follow the tenets and values of Central OAC when it comes to interacting with someone who is experiencing homelessness. Meet them where they are with patience and humility. Treat them with respect, and dignity. Trauma is all around us and affects everyone differently. Don’t be in a rush to judge more than you are to understand.

By

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