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.
by Cat Perkins