…continued
The four clients I was a buddy to in the hours I worked were all extremely high functioning, bright and able people. They were not the chronic mentally ill homeless that I know from my neighborhood. When I say high functioning, I mean they were clear about what they wanted from the Homeless Connect event, and they were responsive and curious about what services might be available. When I could, I asked them questions about how they managed during bad weather, what services they had used previously, what if any employment they would like; when they had last had a place they felt was a home. I felt empathetic toward them. They were not hopeful, they had low expectations and they were counting on themselves and their friends to get them through, and they wanted clothing, food and shelter. From time to time I felt their resistance to conforming, a defensiveness perhaps to not being part of the mainstream? There were many friends at the event. The network among the homeless indicates a community.
It was disappointing and surprising that the event was not well organized. It seemed that the effectiveness of serving this needy community could have been enhanced with more planning about how to lay out the space and how to communicate the services that were available, through simple signs at the event. These are both things I would happily contribute to another event. What surprised me most were the low expectations of nearly everyone at the event. The serving agencies and the clients had a certain air of resignation, about them.
Adhi Nagraj
I was incredibly impressed with the event today. It was really well organized—I felt like most volunteers knew what their roles were. Also, I was impressed with the breadth of services homeless people were provided with. From legal services to pedicures—there was a bit of everything for them.
Lastly, I was reminded how far simple kindness goes. All of the homeless people I met were so grateful that I helped them. But all I often did was just walk them from one line to another. I think they were just responding to my speaking to them in a respectful way.
I heard about the event in an article in the Oakland Tribune.
All in all, phenomenal event. I’d gladly volunteer next time as well.
Kathleen Hill
I look forward to helping out in more ways with Project Homeless Connect in the future.
In this nation of such wealth and abundant resources we have an enormous population struggling with the basic subsistence issues of life, shelter, food, clean water, safety and access to medical treatment.
I volunteered for Project Homeless Connect because I believe that recognizing hardship and a problem in our community is not enough. Talking about hardships and the problems in our community is not enough. If we don’t take personal action nothing will change and the entire community suffers.
The emotional, spiritual and financial cost of homelessness is enormous for us all. There are solutions. We can all be a part of those solutions.
Thomas Swayne
I am in a Fire Fighter Prep class which lets us know about different events to volunteer for and I wanted to do something to give back to the community.
I learned that people from all different walks of life may need help for different reasons. I was surprised to see all of the different services that were available to the community.
This is most definitely something for everyone to get involved in.
I had a great time and I am looking forward to particpating next year.
Terry Foutz
I was a Homeless Connect volunteer with very little experience with the homeless. I was actually there at the request of my wife, who has been a Homeless Connect volunteer both here in Oakland and in San Francisco. I’m glad I went. Three things struck me yesterday:
First was the civility of the homeless people who came through the doors. I don’t know what I was expecting but, to a person, they were considerate, appreciative and polite.
I was especially taken with two people I met. One was a 30-something black woman named Patsy. When I asked her what she needed help with she sheepishly and softly replied, “Everything.” She was overwhelmed. There she stood. With such a kind face and gentle eyes needing everything—shelter, clothing and food. And this was the order of her needs.
I led her through the crowd to the housing table where she could talk with knowledgeable people about possible available housing and, as we walked, pointed out where the clothing area was and also showed her where she should go for food. About a half hour later, she sought me out in the crowd to let me know she had gotten the housing she had hoped for. She was now on her way to the clothing line and she was so very, very happy. And appreciative.
Another of my encounters was with a 30-something white male pushing a stroller containing his two small boys. They were four and two. I believe their names were Luke and Josh. When I asked him what he was in need of, he said clothes. So off to the clothing line we went. As we walked, he expressed his appreciation for all of the services being offered and simultaneously was so attentive and fatherly to his sons. When I left him and his boys at the clothing area, he thanked me for my help—and he did so with the biggest smile. As I walked away, I wondered—given his circumstances—where and how this man found the inner strength to smile. I also realized that I had just met a man much stronger than I.
The second thing that surprised me yesterday was the number of volunteers. At times, it seemed that there were almost as many volunteers as there were homeless that we were all there to help. It was a good feeling to know that so many people in Oakland had come together to help these very needy folks. There were red and white “Homeless Connect” t-shirts everywhere.
My third observation was that many of the people in the red and white shirts had this look in their eyes that they weren’t quite sure what they should be doing to help. As well intentioned as the day was, I believe that lack of organization diminished the potential end result. I understand that the Oakland Project Homeless Connect is only two or three years old, whereas the San Francisco event has been around for many years. My wife, who—as I mentioned—has worked both, marveled at the wonderful organization of the San Francisco program.
In an effort to make our Oakland event a better, more rewarding experience for everyone, the organizers of the Oakland event should meet with the San Francisco team to learn from their experience. It no doubt took them years to develop the well-organized event they now conduct. We (Oakland) should accelerate our efforts to reach this same level of success by setting up a series of meetings with them now. I do hope this happens. And I do plan to volunteer again.
[Author’s note: The Oakland event has been established for exactly one year.]
Chuck and Jean Busch
We participated in the Homeless Connect event last year and received a letter asking us to participate this year. I’ve always felt rather helpless when passing homeless people on the street, knowing that giving them a little money won’t really do them much good. But the homeless outreach event brought together social, medical, legal, and housing services (haircuts too!) to provide much more than what little help spare change could give.
Most impressive was the foot care given by nursing staff. They had pans of hot water to wash the feet of the homeless. With the washing they were able to check for slow healing wounds and infections which often result from uncontrolled diabetes, a medical problem, along with high blood pressure common among the homeless/poor.
My job was to walk around with the people coming in and show them what was available. All were very appreciative of everything, and it felt good to help them and not feel helpless.
[Author’s note: For some excellent background information on the homeless, I’d highly recommend the San Francisco Chronicle Homeless Special which includes articles about the growing movement towards supportive housing.]
[Editor’s note: See also the two earlier articles in Ken Katz’s series on homelessness in the Grand Lake neighborhood:
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