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The Street Outreach video series is designed to equip homeless service providers
with the skills and knowledge they need to do their jobs well.
Rather than theoretical discussion, these training videos depict providers practicing
in real world settings.
For more information, training and episode discussion guides,
visit pathprogram.samhsa.gov.
VENICE, CA SATURDAY MORNING
FINAL ENCOUNTER
The PATH program is a federally funded program
called Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness.
And it funds outreach workers like us, all over the country,
to reach out to people who are homeless
and who are experiencing mental health problems.
Jeff and I are going to go and approach LD and see what his status is
and kind of check out to see if he's gone to the clinic,
taken care of his arm and hopefully
with our relationship and our rapport building with him
we can see if he's ready to move onto the next step
as far as some sort of housing.
One indicator of success to me is that
someone you're working with is happy to see you.
So that would be one way I would measure success.
Another thing would be for LD to really reach out to us.
So what are your hopes for this visit today?
Well, follow up with the arm.
And make sure he went to the clinic.
And hopefully get him into some sort of housing program
maybe if he's ready for that.
Hi, LD.
How's it going? - Hey how you doing? How you doing?
Alright, how are you today?
Oh, I'm alright. I'm alright.
Jeff has been doing this for an extremely long time,
where as myself, I've just started this.
And I still have a lot to learn. As does he.
And everyday we grow and we learn more.
What I see in Tina as a relatively new outreach worker
is an enthusiasm about the work,
a desire to connect with people,
a willingness to learn and keep growing.
And I think those are absolutely essential characteristics
for someone to be effective in this work.
My confidence is building a little bit more as will my education
and knowledge in this area.
We've finally brought you that sleeping bag.
I'm sorry I ran out of them the other day.
But that's all yours.
OK man, thanks. Thanks.
Man, it's been cold out here. Man, thanks.
I really appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you.
When we approach LD this time
he is warm with us, he's more open.
He's certainly more talkative than he's been.
And to me that indicates a real openness to begin talking about what's on his mind.
How's your arm? Did you make it to the clinic?
Oh, yes. It's much better. Much better.
Some friends of mine told me where to go.
Thank you. -Really?
Good, so you didn't have any problems getting down there.
Oh no, I'm alright. I'm alright.
He said that he found the clinic. He did it on his own.
That right there says a lot.
That he has the initiative.
He is wanting to make a few changes in his life.
And so I was extremely pleased.
What else is going on with you?
Well, not much. Not much.
I kind of heard some things about your services.
Like what?
About how you help people into housing.
Housing? - Yeah.
We can get something going really quick.
-Yeah, because it's really cold... Just make a phone call.
Yeah, it's really cold out here at night.
I'm just... I'm getting fed up with it.
It's time to make a change, you know.
When LD brought up that he had heard about our services
and that we do actually have a housing specialist
and provide housing, I was amazed.
I thought, wow, maybe he's really doing some homework.
The word on the street might be this and that
and he's really keeping an ear out.
Alright, so if you're interested in finding out more about that housing program
I could make a call right now to our housing director.
Would that be alright?
Sounds good. Sounds good.
I'll call her right now and we'll at least get it going, OK?
OK - Alright excuse me.
In the meantime, I've got some shampoo or lotion, or socks!
I have some socks and a hat. Sun block?
Yeah, let me see what you've got. - Sun block there.
And let's see... - I don't really need that.
You don't need that? OK. - I don't need that.
Are you hungry right now? I have granola bars...
Yeah, I'm a little hungry. - OK, there's that.
Thank you.
You thirsty? I've got some juice.
OK. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.
You're welcome. - This is alright.
You want another hat? -Yeah! Yeah.
This one is a little warmer than the one you have.
Oh, OK. Thank you. - You're welcome.
Hey, LD, I just talked with Susan, who's our housing director.
And they do have some units right now
and we can get you in to see her in the next couple of days.
What we need to do today is just, at least get a little bit of paperwork going.
Are you interested in doing that right now?
What do you want though?
I mean, what type of information do you need?
Well, it's kind of minimal at this point.
Basically, kind of a name and date of birth.
And then we can at least get things moving.
There's nobody going to know about this, right?
This is totally confidential. It only has to do with our program.
Nobody else is going to see it.
Alright, because I don't want the government...
I don't want my name with the government.
I don't want to have nothing to do with the government.
OK, this is for this housing program.
Now, it's a federally funded housing program,
so your name would be with the government in that sense.
But it will only be used in regards to the apartment and stuff like that.
It doesn't go beyond that.
OK. Alright. I'll give it a shot.
OK, so at this point, all we need is really, just your name and date of birth.
And you can just check Venice right there.
And that's all we're going to need right now.
And then we can get an appointment set up.
OK, but I'm not from Venice. I'm not from Venice.
OK, that's just where you're staying now, that's all.
Outreach workers in Los Angeles and all over the country are
not only going to check in with people and bringing them socks and water,
but actually connecting them with housing programs
that can end their homelessness.
And to me that's a really exciting shift
and an exciting new direction for what homeless outreach looks like.
We can give you a ride over there.
Do you want to get going with that this afternoon?
Or do you want us to give you a taxi voucher?
What would be the easiest way for you to get there?
Yeah, I'd really... Have some bus tokens
and I can make it on my own.
Just tell me where it's at. - OK.
Is this all the information you need?
I think that's good. Yup. - That's all we need right now.
And this is Susan's name, and the phone number.
The address of our program is on the other side there.
She said she was going to be in all afternoon, tomorrow.
So do you think you can make it down there tomorrow?
Here's a bus token. It will help you get there.
Alright, thank you.
Be open minded.
Don't prejudge,
especially on first encounters.
Things do get better.
And if you do get a setback, something does not go the way you planned,
don't get discouraged.
Alright, well it's good to talk with you, LD.
We'll see you soon.
See you later. - See ya.
Bye! - Thank you! - You're welcome.
Tina handled herself beautifully on this encounter.
She was engaging, she was relaxed.
I thought she did a very, very good job.
And she's actually come a long way very quickly.
How do you feel like that went?
You know, I think it went extremely well.
I'm pleasantly surprised.
Is that how it normally happens? Does it go that quick,
with him going to the clinic as quick as he did?
You know, everybody is different. And it really varies.
Some people you can connect with very quickly like that.
Some people it takes days, months, years,
of kind of, being there, being present with people.
I hope he makes it though. I mean, do you think he'll follow through with the housing?
I don't know. But I hope so.
The biggest misconception I had was that
everyone was going to be violent, on the street,
and that everyone was an addict.
Or everyone was choosing to be out here on the street.
This kind of an interaction like we just had with LD
isn't always what happens.
Sometimes people open up over a period of weeks or months or years.
Some people not at all.
And so we measure success in outreach in small steps.
And we celebrate small victories like him giving us his initials.
And like him asking for information about a housing program.
That doesn't always happen.
I think we just have to realize that we have the
honor of walking beside people for just a little while of their journey.
And it's a pretty special opportunity.
You don't know what's going to happen.
You don't know what direction their lives will take from here.