Nov 29-Dec 2, 2022 Inclement Weather Meetings-Pierce County

An inclement weather group has been formed by a member of the Lived Experiences Coalition in partnership with many others in our community, such as many Pierce County employees trying to create sustainable solutions for our residents living unsheltered especially during this time of inclement weather.

Many may already be aware of these efforts. For those interested, please consider attending one of these scheduled meetings via zoom from 9-9:30 am the remainder of this week to learn what's needed and what's being done to meet the needs of our vulnerable neighbors. I'm including the invite in case you were unaware of these events and to continue to ask for prayer: 

Join Zoom Meeting Daily until Dec 2 from 9-9:30 am https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/95416584180 Meeting ID: 954 1658 4180 Dial by your location +1 253 205 0468 US 888 788 0099 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 954 1658 4180 Find your local number: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/u/ab3ZhMWNFr

There are many in our community banding together to care for the most needy within our community and this is another attempt to organize efforts and materials to provide shelter and care for these persons experiencing homelessness, especially those without shelter. 

Keep in mind, there has been up to three times the need for shelter than we have available:

• https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7405/Homelessness-in-Pierce-County#:~:text=As%20of%20July%202022%2C%20there,in%20Pierce%20County%20experiencing%20homelessness. 
•  https://www.piercecountywa.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/19092 

If you have a need or something to share, please follow the link below to view what's needed and what has been donated to help: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10Ec_bw5KKsFQidzRN7XkM6yea6vHzD0Yf0m5IfjgdpU/edit?usp=sharing 

Thank you for whatever you can provide, physically or spiritually. And thank you to those who continue to seek solutions.

November 15, 2022 Update

We welcome & encourage the following partners to our efforts to care and serve our unsheltered neighbors. Please offer prayers for these additional individuals and their organizations who daily serve our community's most vulnerable neighbors: Update from Kitsap County & NW Hospitality's Annual Fundraiser, held Nov. 4: 60+ fantastic supporters were able to join Anton and NW Hospitality for a fantastic party. Together, through all the planning and buildup, they raised $18,175.22 of their $25,000 goal and it’s not too late to donate to get us even closer! 

• Update from Pierce County: Ideal Option 
• https://my.idealoption.org/recovery-starts-here/?utm_source=G_S_B_WesternWA&campaignid=10097137430&adgroupid=101495901036&adid=522203714545&gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-
• Rebekah has continued to search for and get women at risk off the street and into recovery. Sometimes she finds others in need: This week, please pray for a gentleman ("Mark") who was living in the area of 152nd & Pacific and was unable to walk due to swollen, wounded lower extremities. He was asked to "move" despite his health challenges and declined medical services at a healthcare facility as many frequently do. We have not been able to locate him since Wednesday, Nov. 9 and our hope is he reconsidered seeking services in a healthcare center and may be receiving care there now.
• Brotherhood RISE, located on 23rd & MLK in Tacoma, directed by Gerald Daniels. Brotherhood RISE serves the community of Hilltop through the provision of meals, services, and support. (https://www.risecenterofhilltop.org/). Another gentleman who has been chronically homeless, confined also to a wheelchair and weakening was discovered by Brotherhood RISE caseworkers and later transferred to a facility where shelter was provided; no "on street" care was provided because care was provided through another service provider. 
• Spanaway United Methodist (http://spanawayumc.com/) Pastor Samara Jenkins and husband Antwone serve our most vulnerable neighbors in the Spanaway and Parkland areas. We had a scare this week when Sheryl (of Comprehensive Life Resources) reached out to me and our Parkland Davita social worker, Shelby, when our homeless dialysis wheelchair-bound gentleman (Jorge) had "gone missing." We found him "alive and well" at Pastor' Samara's United Methodist church. He had been robbed again (which included his cell phone so no contact was able to be made with him), but was in good spirits and physically appeared to be improving as he reported his kidneys were "working again" (cannot confirm this, but it was great to hear he was feeling better and safe within the church's shelter). Additionally, we also learned that Pastor Samara has been able to provide shelter for 12 other individuals, 7 of whom were children in addition to Jorge within her church! 

These organizations know the personal stories of many who are living on our streets and I ask that you continue to pray for them and others serving now especially as our weather changes and it becomes cold and dark.  Pierce County officials are also combining efforts to alert advocates such as Rebeckah, Gerald, Samara, Antwon, and other case workers of inclement weather which increases the safety and health risks to our unsheltered neighbors. Through this organized, systematic approach AND your prayers, the three examples noted above have been able to have needs met in impossible circumstances. Please don't stop prayer intentions for all of those--known and unknown--on the street and for those committed to serve them as well. This work takes its toll and there are workers right now who need direct prayers for healthy minds and bodies to continue to serve. Please don't stop praying. God listens and responds!

November 2022 Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for our Medical Reserve Corps Nurses, outreach caseworkers from CLR & TRM in Pierce County, the HEART team and NW Hospitality in Kitsap County, as well as other 'unsung heroic volunteers' who continue to seek & search daily for our unsheltered neighbors, especially as the weather drastically changes to cold and wet conditions. 

The Pierce County Medical Respite Steering committee, led by Elevate Health, have announced the application for NOFA funds for anyone interested in being the owner or operator of a Medical Respite non-congregate shelter: Application and required attachments are due by 4:30 pm on November 18, 2022. All materials can be found on the Pierce County Human Services website at: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/2779/Solicitations-and-Competitive-B. Additional solutions are being looked at outside our state. 

Brett Feldman, a Los Angeles practitioner, and his wife are making a difference in the provision of healthcare for homeless populations. Please review the following if interested in creative ways for sustainable solutions & pay attention to the degree of compassion that our unsheltered neighbors have for others as well in Brett's example that he provides in the following article: https://invisiblepeople.tv/street-medicine-bringing-healthcare-to-the-homeless-community/. 

Brett articulates much of what we all know intuitively is happening within our society as we struggle to meet the medical needs of this population. Thank you for continued prayers and work towards solutions. Data is continuing to be collected on individuals & situations related to medical needs within our unsheltered community in an effort to advocate for those who frequently don't have a voice.