In early 2007, the Real Change from Spare Change initiative was created by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Outreach Task Force as a means to not only raise funds for the street outreach program but to create a community educational component about the issues surrounding homelessness and panhandling
The first strategy that the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness has implemented is to "establish an assertive street outreach program that targets unsheltered homeless people at natural gathering places in Orange County". In April 2007, the Inter-faith Council partnered with Housing for New Hope in Durham to begin a street outreach program in Orange County. Two street outreach workers began immediately building relationships with those in need in our community. Street outreach workers have made contact with over 100 homeless clients already and will continue to make a difference with additional outreach workers.
Real Change from Spare Change's goal is to raise those desperately needed funds to provide for a team of outreach workers who will be meeting with homeless clients daily to get them the services they need and want.
Although Julie Ransford's job as the PATH Street Outreach worker in Chapel Hill began this past spring, she is a native Chapel Hillian who grew up on the streets she walks every day outreaching to homeless clients.
PATH is a federally funded program that started in the 1990's. Only seven counties in North Carolina receive PATH funding. PATH clients may be mentally ill, have a substance abuse problem, be chronically homeless or a combination of all three.
The goals of the PATH program are to identify these clients, determine their needs and assist them in getting services to meet those needs. Ultimately every PATH client would complete their journey by ending up in permanent housing and getting all of the services they need. Julie's personal goals extend beyond that. With every person she meets Julie begins to build a relationship; she connects them to needed services but she also leaves them with hope for their future. There is no typical work day for Julie. At any given time her fluid caseload is between 20 to 30 clients. Everyday brings new challenges as she checks up on her severely mentally ill clients, arranges substance abuse treatment appointments, gets clients signed up for housing wait lists, refers people to a myriad of agencies or simply hands out much needed socks and toiletries.
Some days Julie measures success by a human factor; a smile or a soft spoken 'thank you'. And for some clients that may be the only success Julie sees. When funding was lost for a second outreach person Julie had to discontinue offering services to some clients. She was no longer able to return to the homeless camps in Orange County where she had previously met many clients.
Julie has found one clear need for many clients' is the desire for a job. Many factors make it difficult for clients to get and keep a job; lack of official identification, clean clothes or simply not having the skills to maintain a regular routine. Many have little education and literacy rates are very low. With additional funds Julie and other outreach workers will be able to devote more time to actively engaging homeless clients in job skills and life skills training.
A crucial element to the work Julie does is build trust. Her clients are a vulnerable population; those with mental illness or a disability are an easy target to be taken advantage of. Clients are often cautious of allowing anyone into their lives. With much needed additional funds, Julie will have other outreach workers with her. One position will be held by a formerly homeless person who will be able to bring valuable knowledge and experience to the outreach process; and an inherent trust that will help to bridge the gap between service providers and homeless clients.
With additional outreach workers, Julie will then be able to return to the homeless camps and hopefully be able to continue to build on the relationships she has started with so many clients.
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
308 West Rosemary Street, Suite 202
Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-967-9440
partnership@downtownchapelhill.com
http://www.downtownchapelhill.com
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