Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

covid-19

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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?

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Ripples of Hope

by Kimberly Parker

In January, I carpooled with six other people to an overnight retreat. We had only met each other one other time before the trip, so we were all a bit apprehensive about why we were being asked to go on this retreat together and what it would entail. Everyone was wondering why we were being thrown into the wilderness together and left to survive, or at least that’s what it felt like to us!

We had each been invited to participate in Ripples of Hope, a non-profit organization that accelerates the healthy, meaningful growth of organizations that believe business should be a force of good. The non-profit organization was created by Jeff Hilimire, Central OAC Board Chair. Jeff and another leader in Ripples of Hope, Rachelle Kuramoto, met us at the house where we would be staying. They had lunch with us, went over the agenda, and then they left us. I think we were all still a bit hesitant about what was going to happen over the next several hours. But, we got started. We hiked and got lost. We began sharing our stories of what led us to do what we do. We cooked dinner together. We played games. We laughed and some of us cried as we spent time together. 

It was a pretty intense 12+ hours, but it was amazing! From that time at the end of January until the beginning of March we were paired with others and spent a lot of time together, continuing to share our stories and receive mutual feedback. We were working on visioning our personal purpose for life. Things were moving along nicely, but then March 13th hit. Life as we all knew it changed. A good part of the curriculum for Ripples of Hope is meant to be done together, in person, and we could no longer do that. We were also all trying to figure out how to run our organizations (Synergies Work, Love Not Lost, JOYVIALl, College Aim, NewCrew, Sparke Women, and Central Outreach and Advocacy Center) in the midst of a pandemic. 

We received an email that our time together would be put on hold for a while because of COVID. We were going to meet via Zoom to further discuss how to move forward together. I remember joining that meeting with mixed feelings. I felt relieved that we would not have to focus on the readings and the extra work required. I didn’t feel like I had anything else to give, as all my energy was going toward figuring out how Central OAC could possibly operate during COVID. I was stressed! At the same time, though, my heart hurt with the thought of not being able to meet with this group of people who had come to mean a lot to me in a very short amount of time. Being a leader can often be lonely and this group became a support for me. So, we met; we talked; we were open and honest. It was agreed that we would continue meeting once per month via Zoom, but with a different focus. We would have guest speakers each month to talk with us about relevant topics. We would be able to check in each month and offer support to one another. As I write this blog, I’m planning to join a Ripples meeting later today.

The past few months have been hard and I know I am not alone in that statement. All of us, no matter what we do, have had to shift the way in which we live and work and play. I have felt the struggle of leading an organization that serves those experiencing homelessness, knowing how important our services are to our guests, and balancing our work with also keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible. Continuing to be a part of Ripples of Hope has been invaluable to me and to Central OAC. It’s helped keep me balanced and it’s given me people to talk through issues with as they arise. I know that no matter what happens, this is a group of people that will continue to be a part of my life. I am so thankful for that overnight retreat back in January. It was the beginning of a very good thing!

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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