PATH team outreach workers describe finding unhoused people in hidden camps and conducting rapid needs assessments for medication, mental health support, and basic needs. They provided blankets, snack packs, and information about disability benefits, then committed to follow-up visits to build trust and help people get back on their feet.
You wouldn't think that they would be some of the places that they are, but they are out here in the woods and up under bridges and places that's not meant for human habitation. It do look like it's hot.
I actually found some extra camps out in the back. We didn't think anyone was in there. They looked deserted. So I went back there and this 6-foot-tall guy comes out, you know. And so, you know, I outreached to him, talking, assessing him, what he needs, and learning how life has, you know, taken him from a family and a wife and kids to, I'm in a tent living by myself. So, you know, I was kind of saying, what kind of things do you need? And, you know, just kind of asking like, do you take any medications? Do you need any medications? Do you need any medications? Do you need any mental help? Like, what do you need? How can I assist you? So he basically let me know, you know, I don't need a lot. I just need— it's cold out. I need a blanket. So, you know, I said, well, I can get you a blanket. Or, I'm hungry. And we had snack packs, so I made sure, well, here's some Viennas. Here's a snack pack with some chips, something that'll last you for a while. I link them to resources like their disability, food stamps, just anything that they would need to help them get in a better place than where they are.
The mission of Supportive Housing Community is to provide affordable housing and to alleviate homelessness and human suffering. There's not enough housing, we know that, but we try to go in and do what we can and try to It's a humbling situation to kind of like, you know, really understand that their resilience and what they go through.
Just letting them know that I will be back, I'll come back out to check on you, it won't be long, you'll see me again, just so they kind of know like someone's actively trying to help.
We work together to help, you know, truly give them hope and to, you know, build them up, and that I think that makes a difference, you know, in the community, and we're reaching one person at a time. We're trying to help people get back on their feet. One person at a time. So it's, it's a good feeling to know that we make a difference in this community.
