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by Amy Kirkland

Supporting Mr. P Through His SSDI Application Journey

My usual role at the COAC involves checking mail. Over time, by seeing the same guests repeatedly, I gradually learn their stories, often in fragments. One memorable day last summer, I had the opportunity to work with Mr. P and conduct his intake assessment.

The intake assessment process includes asking questions about health and income. During Mr. P’s assessment, two important things became clear: he had significant health issues, particularly related to seizures, and he needed to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). I discovered he was receiving support from Grady for his seizures, but he was still unhoused. To address his SSDI needs, I encouraged Mr. P to meet with our SSDI advocate on Wednesday. Although I had to remind him a couple of times, he eventually visited Suzanne Struble, our SSI/SSDI advocate, who arranged an appointment to start his application.

During each step of the application, Mr. P received letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), detailing subsequent actions. Suzanne or I would read these letters to ensure he followed the instructions. He completed his application at the downtown SSA office, and Grady assisted with documentation. However, the process required further steps. Mr. P needed to meet with a physician to assess his disability status.

When I reviewed the letter about his physician appointment, I found it was scheduled nearly two months away in Griffin, GA, which was inaccessible for Mr. P. I submitted a request for a closer appointment, and the result was only slightly better—his appointment was in Snellville, an hour from Atlanta, but scheduled within a few weeks. Recognizing the importance of this appointment for Mr. P’s well-being and SSDI approval, I approached Kimberly, explained the situation, and asked if we could arrange an Uber for him. Before I finished asking, Kimberly agreed.

On the day of the appointment, I prepared a letter for Mr. P to present at the doctor’s office, requesting they notify me of his arrival and help arrange his return via Uber. I was anxious about sending Mr. P, who struggles with communication through no fault of his own, to an unfamiliar place. To my relief, the doctor’s office confirmed his arrival and ensured he got back safely.

Afterwards, we received several more letters to review. Mr. P needed one final doctor’s evaluation to complete the process. Once again, I turned to Kimberly for what I hoped would be the last Uber ride—this time to Decatur. We believed navigating buses and trains would be too difficult for him, and Kimberly agreed without hesitation. The team worked together once more, and the doctor’s office accepted my letter, confirmed his arrival, and notified me when he was ready to return.

The day was joyous when we received the letter confirming Mr. P’s SSDI check would arrive soon. The best moment came when he checked his mail and picked up his first check. This achievement brings hope that Mr. P will soon have an apartment to call his own. At the very least, it provides options and choices that were previously unavailable to him.

by Corey Jones (Chaplain Intern)

Spring is the season of hope and rebirth. As Atlanta warms up from the winter, the
hope in our hearts starts to warm up, too. New daffodil and daisy blooms remind us that
there are still new opportunities for us to discover. Many of these new and hopeful
opportunities can be found here at Central OAC.

As a chaplain intern, I spend time during my shifts focusing on the inspiring spiritual
stories I hear from our guests, even while I fill out forms and hand out snacks. I hear so
many stories of hope, but I would like to highlight one from guest Cory Crawford. (He
gave me his permission to tell his name and his story.)

First, we connected over our similar names, and then I started asking him questions
during the intake process. I was hesitant to ask questions that seemed way too
personal, but I was rewarded with a story of hope. When I asked him if he was on
parole for a felony, he replied, “I did fifteen, and I’ve been home twenty. I’m so glad
those days are behind me.”

I told him that his story might offer some hope to others. Did he have a message he
wanted to impart to the younger men and women waiting in the lobby and on the
streets? He said he did:

“Make better choices and better decisions because you are responsible for your
choices. You can’t blame other people. Don’t be a knucklehead! Surround
yourself with positive people. Stay hopeful – there’s a positive day ahead. Look forward;
don’t look back. Don’t beat yourself up for past mistakes.”

We chuckled, finished out the form, and hugged. Mr. Crawford’s hope-filled words
were words I needed to hear myself; perhaps you needed them, too! This Spring, don’t
be a knucklehead, but follow Mr. Crawford’s advice to stay hopeful instead. As I always
say, “hope is real!”

by Bella Ragone, Georgia State University Intern

As we near the end of the year and reflect on what we have accomplished, what lies ahead, and what we are grateful for, I find myself thinking most about my time spent at the OAC. Although I have only served as a student intern for two months, I have learned and experienced so much alongside fellow students, dedicated volunteers and staff, and our incredible guests. Everyone involved at the OAC at every level has already made an incredible impact on my own personal journey.

 

During one of my first weeks as an intern, I had the pleasure of attending the birthday party of a regular guest who had recently got her own apartment. During this celebration, I got to know this guest better and was shown the fruits of all the hard work that OAC staff and the guest put in to accomplishing this goal together. For many of our guests, this goal seems a long ways away, but I remind them in my small intake room that they showed up and are doing the work to get themselves there. As much as I hear guests thanking us for providing services, we are also thanking and celebrating them for showing up and working towards our common goal of overcoming and preventing homelessness. I’m excited when I can recognize guests that I have worked with who return to pick up their IDs and take their next steps. It warms my heart to get to know them, share laughs, and see their progress despite all the challenges thrown their way.

 

This year, I am grateful that I get the opportunity to build community amongst my neighbors and play a role in maximizing the potential of every guest that seeks services at the OAC. I think we should all be looking for ways to connect with our communities and make a difference in the lives of those we share this city with. The threats of winter weather, unstable housing, and food insecurity loom in the coming months. As we close out the year, I encourage everyone with the means to do so to get involved and look for opportunities to strengthen connections with everyone around you. Practicing gratitude has taught me to celebrate all wins, big or small, for myself and for others. Look out for your neighbors and get to know their stories. Celebrate them, and they’ll celebrate you back.

by Camille Frink

As fall approaches and the leaves begin to change color, it is a reminder of the potential for change in us all. Everyday at Central OAC, we see examples of our guests taking steps to turn over a new leaf in their lives–-interviewing for a new job, trying to re-establish relationships with family, entering recovery programs, seeking a fresh start after incarceration. Many of the people who walk through our doors have parts of their past that have created challenges for them, but so many of our guests are doing everything they can, despite what may be in their past, despite the barriers they may face, to move forward and start anew. 

One of my favorite fun facts about nature is that the change in color of leaves in the fall is due to a decreased production of chlorophyll, the green pigment fading away to reveal other pigments in the leaf. Many scientists refer to the bright oranges, reds, and yellows that remain as the leaf’s “true color.”

At the OAC, we regularly witness our guest’s “true colors”–hope, determination, forgiveness, as they try their best, despite so many obstacles, to start fresh and move forward in their lives. Recently, I have worked with two guests who are father and son. The father, Mr. F, is facing many physical health challenges, and his son, Mr. J, looks out for him, keeping track of his health and asking for help for him when needed. I have never seen one of them without the other being nearby, and it is clear how much they rely on each other. While I don’t know what events in their past led them to their current circumstances, the love and care they have for each other is apparent.

Every day, I am reminded that though our circumstances are very different, each person in the OAC–staff, volunteers, interns, and guests–all share a commonality. We are all of us, despite our circumstances and our pasts, human beings who ultimately, at our core, want and hope for a safe, fulfilling life, for a future filled with possibility. These are our true colors.