Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Blog Posts

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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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We All Have a Story

by Brenna Lakeson

(TW: abuse, addiction, mental illness)

Each day, dozens of guests come to the OAC. Some of them we know well and others are just passing through. Sometimes, as we do case management with a guest, we get glimpses into their lives as they tell us about their struggles. It can be a heavy task to sit with someone and hear their story.

This past month, it seems as though we’ve had quite a few guests come through the OAC who are struggling with different types of traumatic events, moreso than usual. Sometimes, we’re equipped to help with these situations and, other times, all we can do is listen. It can be difficult to know that the most you can do for someone is hold space for their story, but that can make all the difference.

Recently, a guest came to our door with a particularly heartbreaking story. We had never met this guest before, but we took the time to listen to what they had to say. While I can’t share much about their story due to their safety, I do want to tell you a little bit about them. They were running from someone dangerous, who had had control over them for years, and they were struggling to get anyone to believe their story. We sat with them, got details of their situation, and called the right people to get them started with some assistance. As the guest got ready to leave, they began to cry, telling us that we were the first to take them seriously. “You’re the first one to actually do anything to help me,” they said. It felt like we hadn’t physically done much, but, for this guest, saying “I believe you” lifted a huge weight off of them.

Earlier this week, another guest came in for help with ID. While working with a case manager, he expressed a desire to get into a detox program. He’d been struggling with addiction on and off for years and told his case manager that he was finally ready to get clean. Getting and staying clean on the street can be incredibly hard, so the courage and determination that it took for him to reach out for help was admirable. We were able to get him started with the intake process for a substance abuse treatment program. He was excited and relieved to finally have a plan in place.

Last week, a guest came into our center for the first time. He was staying at a shelter and needed an ID in order to continue staying there. As he sat with his case manager, he wiggled his legs and looked around nervously. It was clear that he was anxious. His case manager finished applying for his birth certificate and Social Security card, so he took his things and left. Minutes later, though, our security guard came back into the lobby to tell us that this same guest was having a mental health crisis. We brought him back into the center and called 9-1-1. A staff member did some breathing exercises with him as we waited for the Grady Mental Health Team to arrive. They were able to take him to the hospital to get the help he needed. He thanked us for our help as he got into the van. It was brave of him to reach out for help in such a hard moment.

Our guests deal with so much on a daily basis, and, often, they just want a listening ear: someone to take them seriously, hear their concerns, and assist them in getting the help they need. While we are not law enforcement, EMTs, or DFCS, we can advocate for our guests by helping them reach out to the right people. Each guest has a story. We do our best each day to hear them, see them, and be with them.