Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

social services

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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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Wait Your Turn

by Chattrelle Gillyard

I often wonder what it’s like to be a guest at the OAC:

To come through the door with nothing but faith and hope that I might gain documents to get a Georgia ID.

To not know where my next meal is coming from.

To be unsure about where I will lay my head on a daily basis.

To be afraid to lay down at night, putting myself at risk of burglary and possibly even assault.

To be afraid to walk the streets because I might be stopped by a police officer with no way of identifying myself.

I could never imagine walking in the shoes of the guests we serve at the OAC. I’ve experienced homelessness on two occasions in my life but never to the extent of our guests.

I recently encountered a guest who described experiencing homelessness as constantly standing in line and hoping that at the end of the line he’ll receive some sort of help. Imagine standing in a line beginning at 6:00 am with no idea of whether or not what you need will be on the other side. I barely have enough patience to stand in line for mundane things like fast food or at Kroger. Yet, our guest do it nearly every day, whether it’s for an ID, a meal, shelter, or clothing, without any hesitation and usually a humble spirit.

My first ten months at the OAC have humbled me in ways I could have never imagined. Our guests have taught me to find joy in the midst of a storm, how to be patient in chaos, and how to have hope in tribulation. Sometimes, you have to be patient, trust standing in line, and wait your turn.

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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!