Much happened this week, so a bit longer than usual.....Read on:
Pierce County/Tacoma
Over 100 unsheltered residents living in various encampments were visited by volunteer case workers and/or Medical Reserve Corps Nurses this week.
More vehicles and tents appeared throughout Pierce County nearest two active Tacoma shelters, Tacoma Rescue Mission & Nativity House. Awaiting additional data from these areas.
>Note: there are many more encampments scattered throughout the city and county, many of them underserved.
This past week felt a bit more intense as Tacoma experienced two incidents of random, fatal shootings this week;
one reported shooting death occurred within a homeless encampment in Tacoma.
Some encampments openly display weapons, such as knives or guns. We have been warned by unsheltered residents to also not visit certain encampments due to safety issues. This is concerning due to the continued vulnerability of many living on the street.
Additional incidents of violence include one young woman reporting an
untreated "skull fracture" and another in a different encampment reporting
"a broken wrist" after being "hit by a bat."
Two women were reportedly pregnant and there are many more women than initially realized as many quietly remain in their tents, often "fearful" and vulnerable to such attacks as the ones reported this week. Most women will not talk to men and one woman openly accused a male caseworker of alleged, untrue violations. Trust is difficult to establish in these situations and having female nurses accompany the male caseworker has been appreciated by many women within the encampments.
Mental illness and PTSD are frequent issues among those living on the street which occasionally cause persons to venture out on their own, away from group encampments, leaving them vulnerable in other ways.
It was reported by an encampment resident that one young woman, recently discharged from a mental health facility "against her wishes, [was] forced out of " her chosen encampment by the encampment residents for unruly behavior and disturbance. As she was crossing a nearby street to leave,
she was struck by two vehicles and killed instantly right outside the encampment.
Among the usual cuts, scapes, wounds, substance use, aches and pains of being homeless, care provided to unsheltered residents included the following:
Project Homeless Connect-June 24 (https://associatedministries.org/supportive-services/phcvolunteer/)
Two unsheltered residents were recently discharged from the hospital to the street, one was ambulatory and one presented as significantly weak as he crawled into his tent*.
85 year old Veteran with CHF* remains in his broken-down vehicle, has lost significant amount of weight, converses, has some cognitive challenges; grandson took the second van that was able to be driven-unknown when he would return; there was outreach follow-up, but he has no phone so there was no way to follow up on the Veteran's resources he was told about; a caseworker from TPCHD to follow up with him, providing a community phone.
*Interesting to note: Many unsheltered residents have medical insurance through DSHS, but medical follow up can be challenging due to the transient nature of living homeless, having a lack of knowledge of where to get help and knowing what symptoms require medical follow up, an inability to find reliable transportation, a fear of their tent/vehicle "homes" being claimed by others or removed by city or county workers. Missing appointments due to these reasons frequently labels these patients as "noncompliant" by our health systems staff who are also frequently understaffed and overworked, making follow up with these residents equally challenging.
Resources Provided:
A community outreach non-denominational Christain group, "Healing Hands of Hope," provided hot meals.
Water and medical supplies were dispersed as weather heated up this week.
Education was provided by Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Department on the syphilis outbreak that is occuring throughout Pierce County. Condoms distributed.
3 Narcan doses distributed.
Ice pack and wrap provided to woman with hurt wrist.
Incontinent pads and briefs provided to a man reportedly incontinent (was not present, left items in his tent.
Kitsap County: UPDATE
Last week's Kitsap County gentleman, "Mike," who was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, died two days later surrounded by family, according to Kitsap County HEART director.
This was a victory in that he was found, agreed to transport to a medical facility, and died within a facility in the company of family. Sadly, many of our encampment residents are not as fortunate and die before they can get help. Hence, the purpose for supporting continued medical respite efforts for this population.
New Hope Resource (see https://www.tnhrc.org/about) & Bridges for Peace, are two new resources designed to care for unsheltered residents to prevent illness and/or provide an opportunity for medical respite should unsheltered residents become ill or are discharged from a healthcare center in the Pierce County area (https://opengovus.com/washington-corporation/604410871).
Continued support through prayers and other means are always welcome.
