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Our region may see cooler weather this winter.
With severe weather on the horizon, it is important we continue to get as many people experiencing homelessness into shelter and housing as possible. To learn more about how our outreach system is working in Washington County, Assistant Director Jes Larson recently spent a day with Amanda Terpening and Chad Giakas, outreach workers from local non-profit Project Homeless Connect (PHC). They packed up in the team outreach vehicle and traveled the streets of Hillsboro and hidden corners of the exurban scape, looking for unsheltered folks to build relationships, provide resources, and connect them to the hope of housing.
“We went from working out of churches and borrowed spaces, to being able to offer a space where people can find showers, food, help, and ultimately housing. It’s life changing,” Amanda shared, reflecting on the past few years of how the work has changed, all because of the voter approved homeless services measure.
Chad is newer to his role with the organization, bringing important lived experience to this work. Chad's firsthand experience of homelessness and struggle with addiction enables him to relate with program participants on a deeper level.
When the outreach team set out for the day, they were prepared with a box of ham and cheese sandwiches, bagged lunches, bottled water, and a short list of people they wanted to connect with throughout the day. They were prepared to offer resources and support to anyone in need as they make their rounds.
One of the people they were looking for, “Scott”, was at the park enjoying lunch with a few other people. The group represented a few different points on the housing journey with one person housed and another just learning about the “yellow house” and how to get connected with resources.
Scott falls somewhere in the middle and Amanda reminded him that he has a case worker, and they were working on housing paperwork right now. In the past, Scott has refused shelter options, but the PHC outreach team keeps putting in the work to develop the trust and rapport to help Scott move towards housing.
Later that same day, they approached “Nathan,” who was being trespassed by the police. Fortunately, this outreach team has experience working with law enforcement and knew the officers well, with one of the officers remarking “great timing,” as they walked up.
Because of the mutual trust these outreach workers had built with both law enforcement and Nathan, they were able to help Nathan move along peacefully that day with his possessions intact, a bagged lunch, and a continually extended hand ready to offer housing next steps.
Lastly, none of this could have happened without the vital support of the voter backed 2020 SHS measure.
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