Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Atlanta

By

I Believe

by Cat Perkins

I believe that hands can tell a story.
I believe that time is an enemy and a friend, but when living on the streets it can be elusive.
I believe that a moment to tell a story can be a precious gift.
I believe that doing paperwork feels unnecessarily formal after the harrowing experiences some of our guests endure.
I believe that free water can heal both physically and mentally.
I believe that it is worth making time for our guests to have a comfortable place to sit and think.
I believe that a brief hug or handshake is a thank you worth a thousand words.
I believe that happiness is like a spirit, fighting to be seen and felt everywhere.

There are many things that I have come to believe since I started working at the OAC. It is hard for me to pick a brief moment in time from this year to share. For me, when I think of serving at Central OAC, experiences flash in my mind from many different interactions. I see the faces of those I’ve worked with and hear their voices as they tell me their stories. The big focus for me is on guests and their stories. All people deserve to know they are seen, but when you are marked as a “person in need”, many people turn their backs, or avert their eyes. We all know this, and yet all of us find ourselves doing it in one way or another. That’s why it’s all about stories. When you see someone who looks like they may be in need, remind yourself that they have a story, and they are human. Everyone deserves to know that someone believes they have value.

I believe that everyone has value.

Make space for people in the ways you are comfortable, and then try to see if you can make space in ways that make you uncomfortable. The program I’ve been serving through, Young Adult Volunteers, focuses on being uncomfortable, and when we find ourselves getting comfortable, the program encourages us to find ways to be uncomfortable again. Not worrying about your own comfort can make you more able to fully care for other people. I have to admit I have found myself comfortable in some of the parts of my work at Central, but I assure you, there is a time every day, that I experience discomfort. I consider it a great gift. I take a deep breath, and then dive in. A little over a year ago, I never would have thought I could do that, let alone learn to love it. I have found a passion in this place, a passion that is shared by the staff and volunteers, a passion for seeing those who often go unseen, hearing the stories and understanding the humanity of those who are rejected or seen as valueless. Central OAC is about helping people to help themselves, building back some confidence, and showing people their inherent value along the way.

As I prepare to leave, I can only express my gratitude to Central OAC for teaching me how to have humility, compassion, patience, and kindness for everyone. I feel God in this place, every day.

Cat is our year-long intern and will have her last day with us at the end of July.  We’ve loved having her on board at the OAC, and we can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish next!

By

6 Lessons from Hurricane Irma

by Kimberly Parker

Last week was a trying week for me. Prior to last Monday afternoon, I had stayed glued to the television, watching all of the news about Hurricane Irma, where she was going to strike next, and anticipating her arrival in Atlanta. I am not a stranger to hurricanes since I lived in Mobile, AL (on the Gulf Coast) for eleven years, but it’s been a long time since I have worried about the fact that a hurricane might hit near me. Irma was devastating to all of the places she had encountered so it was a little scary as Atlanta waited for her arrival.

In reality, Atlanta was not nearly as affected as other places. Yes, trees came down. Houses and cars were damaged. And many were without power, but we still did not have the kind of devastation that others experienced.

For me, loss of power was the only issue. Thankfully, we did not have any trees down at our house and no damage of any kind to our house or car or our very beings. We simply were without power for about 80 hours. It was a long 80 hours for me. I tried so hard not to complain because we did not have any damage. We were not hurt. We still had our family. We still had a home.

I have reflected a lot on those few days, trying to figure out why it was so hard for me and trying to learn from a time that challenged me quite a bit. I know that the number one thing I learned from Irma is that there is a lot in life that I take for granted. I have so much more than others, especially in regards to the people experiencing homelessness who walk through Central Outreach and Advocacy’s doors each and every day.

—

So what are some of the other things I learned?

Lesson #1: Invitation … We had several different friends who did not lose power invite us to stay with them. How often do our guests get an invitation from someone to stay at their place? I would say this almost never happens. And we had more than one invitation.

Lesson #2: Showers … Taking a cold shower is not fun, but it is a shower and, again, we had friends who offered their hot showers to us. Without a home, people often do not have a place to shower. There are agencies and shelters who provide showers, but there are often restrictions that limit how often or how long a person can stay in the shower. Some of our guests may go days without a hot shower. I only went a couple of days without one.

Lesson #3: Cell Phone … One of the things I worried about the most was my cell phone and not being able to charge it. Fortunately, I was able to go into my office on Tuesday, even though we were closed for services, and charge my cell phone. I use my cell phone a lot. I use it for work, news, entertainment, communication, etc. Without it, I felt lost. On our first day being back open, my door was open and I was listening to a conversation taking place in the lobby. Two people were taking turns charging their cell phone. One guest said, “Okay I have 10% battery; you go ahead and charge yours for a little while.” It was a strong reminder that I am way too dependent on my cell phone.

Lesson #4: Laundry … One of my team members said that we could come and do our laundry if we needed to. Fortunately, we had done our laundry over the weekend so the majority of our clothes were clean. We see people walk into Central OAC every day with clothes that appear to have been worn for a while without being washed.

Lesson #5: Food Security … We ate out a lot because we couldn’t cook. We have the means to do that. It might not be the best use of our money, but we didn’t go hungry. Even though there are places for those experiencing homelessness to eat, it’s not always convenient or it may have restrictions that keep some from eating. I know that some of our guests do not have enough food to eat on a daily basis. I never go hungry.

Lesson #6: Darkness … I think one of the things that was so difficult for me was the darkness each night. Yes, we had candles that we lit, but candles can’t light up a room as well as electricity. It made me feel trapped in a sense and I don’t like that feeling. I thought a lot about the people who sleep out on the street. They must experience the kind of darkness that I felt last week, but possibly on a daily basis.

—

Last week was a trying week for me. Through it all, I tried not to complain, but I did. My routine was thrown off, and I am a person who thrives best with routine. I kept trying to remind myself that we really did not have it all that bad, and, even though the power being out was an inconvenience, it would return. Life would also go back to being “normal.” I don’t think I am finished learning from Hurricane Irma. Each day, something else happens or I hear another conversation that reminds me of how privileged I am. I need to do a better job of not taking life and all that comes with life, for granted. I guess I should say “thanks” to Irma for teaching me a lesson or two.

By

13 Years at the OAC

by Kimberly Parker

August 24, 2004

No, I didn’t get the date wrong! August 24, 2004 was my first day as a part-time employee of Central Outreach & Advocacy Center! Thirteen years ago! Who would have thought a new Columbia Theological Seminary graduate who was seeking a call in a parish would end up at Central OAC? I didn’t, and I also didn’t think I would be there very long, but after a few months, I was offered a full-time position and after a few more months, I knew that I had been called to the OAC. My parish was simply going to look a little different than the typical high, holy hour of 11 am on a Sunday morning.

During my thirteen years …  

  • I have worked under three different Executive Directors.
  • The OAC Board has had six different Chairs.
  • Two different Leadership Atlanta teams have completed projects for the OAC.
  • The Main Frame Job Readiness Program was created.
  • Three strategic plans have guided the programs and services.
  • The first Development Director was hired.
  • The first Director of Public Policy Advocacy was hired.
  • The budget has been sustainable and the budget has been in crisis.
  • Two annual fundraisers have been established: Cheers for Change and Central ArtWorks.
  • The staff has been as large as nine members and as small as three.
  • My own role has changed five different times:
    • Outreach Advocate
    • Assistant Program Manager
    • Director of Outreach Services
    • Acting Executive Director
    • Executive Director

It has been an amazing thirteen years! I have worked and continue to work with great people: staff, volunteers, interns, and Board members. I have sat with guests and heard their difficult stories. I have cried with some. I have laughed with some. I have been angry with some.  I have watched some of our guests struggle for thirteen years, something I wish were not the case. I have seen others move out of their dire situations. I have had guests come back and thank me for the work we do. I have had guests yell at me because we can’t do enough to assist them. The work has never been easy, but it has been rewarding.

I have come to understand that people experiencing homelessness are no different than you and I and with certain changes in our own circumstances, we too could be walking in their shoes. I have come to understand that the issue of homelessness is extremely complex and the solutions are not quick and easy. It takes a lot of different organizations working together, each focusing on what they do well to truly make a difference in the numbers of those experiencing homelessness. It takes resources to make it work and not all funders want to support this type of work.

I am certainly not the same individual that I was thirteen years ago, when I first walked in the doors of Central OAC. I have grown and changed as a person. As I said earlier, I never dreamed I would still be here thirteen years later. There were certainly times when I thought I couldn’t do this work one more day and there are still days like that. However, throughout these thirteen years, people have been there to support and encourage me. Without each person (and there are too many to individually thank), I would not still be here. I often say that I hope when it is time for me to leave Central OAC that I will clearly know that. For now, however, I am still serving and I am grateful for the dedicated staff, volunteers and board members whom I work with each day. It truly is a privilege to serve in this place as we all work together to open doors to overcome and prevent homelessness!

Kimberly isn’t the only one celebrating an anniversary: Central OAC is celebrating 20 years of service in downtown Atlanta! In honor of both Kimberly’s time at the OAC and Central OAC turning 20, please consider giving to support our continuing work.  Visit our donations page for more.