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.

October 2022 Updates

Many events have transpired in the past couple weeks and wanted to provide updates. Medical care and consultation are still being provided to our unsheltered neighbors. Education on the needs of our most vulnerable populations is being provided to community members in support of efforts being made to care for them. Foot care clinic continues every Thursday from 9-12 at the Tacoma Rescue Mission by the Medical Reserve Corps Nurses. Six unsheltered residents were served this week. Any nursing or medically-minded students can join MRC to help with providing medical or healthcare: http://piercecountymrc.org/. 

A 33-year old homeless female was bit by a stray dog and sustained deep muscular wounds in her lower extremity and hand which required assessment and cleansing.She received treatment for potential rabies, but could not get back to the hospital for her second round of injections. She appeared to be at risk of losing her hand due to impaired circulation. TRM outreach workers have been working very hard to find emergency housing for her and her male partner due to her inability to walk secondary to the injury sustained. They remain vigilant in following up on her weekly. TRM provided an excellent presentation to Tacoma Community College Human Services students on the many services and resources they provide to our vulnerable neighbors. 

GOOD NEWS: THERE ARE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE I reached out to Brett Feldman, a PA-C and director of street outreach in LA. This medical director has been providing street outreach medical care since 2007 and this medical care has now been included as a medical benefit in MediCal medical insurance. See here for one of his webinars: https://nhchc.org/webinars/promoting-safety-in-street-outreach/

He has also provided a clinical tool for taking a history on an unsheltered homeless patient:

https://osf.io/ucve9/ 

I have invited Brett to present at a Medical Respite Steering Committee at a later date. He supports all our efforts and affirmed that this is how they started in LA and now they are able to connect and consult with many other providers in the healthcare community and even get reimbursed for services! 

 Tacoma Rescue Mission and Pierce County council members have vision on a new model that appears to be successful in Austin, Texas. I can vouch for this model first-hand because I visited Austin, Texas a year ago and walked the city, amazed at the lack of encampments and tents in such a big city. At the time, I was unaware of how a city that big could have little evidence of chronically homeless encampments anywhere. I found out why when I watched the following video: (https://thesubtimes.com/2022/10/18/a-community-of-hope-for-pierce-county/). 

If you notice in the video, mobile loaves and fishes (https://mlf.org/) appear to be part of this solution and I shared the work of MLF a few months back. It appears their efforts are effective which is GREAT TO SEE! There are other similar models that I have shared that work--the only barrier to solutions is a lack of faith that systems cannot be changed! 

Your prayers ARE working; please continue to keep our county officials, TRM and anyone else helping towards solutions in your prayers. They ARE WORKING! Thanks to all of you who are "unsung heroes" in the background--your efforts are NOT wasted and the LORD bless and keep you--He sees all you do--THANK YOU! Keep up the great work!!!

September 2022 Updates

Sept. 23, 2022 Saint Augustine writes in his Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

I’m restless as I hear of another unsheltered neighbor dying behind a Walmart only 1 day after discharge from an area hospital. 

Updates this week: 

• Kitsap county: 50 people displaced after an arsonist set fire to a motel in Bremerton: https://www.q13fox.com/news/many-seeking-medical-attention-after-bremerton-motel-fire Please continue to pray for the HEART director and his team as they try to relocate these individuals.
• Central/Downtown Pierce County: Medical Respite Nurses provided footcare yesterday to unsheltered residents at Tacoma Rescue Mission and identified one resident who averted going to the ER by referring him to Sea Mar for care. 
• East Pierce County: Cornerstone Hospice/Respite has recently opened up as a potential option for the unsheltered residents at the end of life. This facility is in Graham. Donations are appreciated. Inquiries? Send messages to andepaa12@msn.com. Note: Referrals need to come from a hospital or program that can compensate for care. 
• West Pierce Couny: Options for housing in east Pierce County can be sought out through Westwynd motel and apartments are located in Purdy. Monthly nightly and extended motel options are available and there are apartments, full housekeeping services. Frequently booked, but worth a try if you find someone desperate for housing. See below for information: www.westwyndmotelandapartments.com "Michelle" is the Office Manager, 253-857-4047 Prayers continue to be needed as there are many caring for the medical & shelter needs of our unsheltered neighbors. 
•  Sept. 29, 2022 Pierce County: Medical Reserve Corps Nurses have started a free clinic,serving the unsheltered within the encampments and Tacoma Rescue Shelter, providing assessments and foot care. In the two weeks that MRC nurses have been providing care, it is evident that the unsheltered residents are incredibly appreciative of nurses coming to them to care for them and this intervention has already been proactive in preventing hospitalizations and worsening conditions. Any nurse or student interested in helping can join as a MRC volunteer through this website: http://piercecountymrc.org/t

There is training, continuing education, and malpractice insurance available, but registering to be a MRC volunteer is the first step. Additional plans are in the works for a future wound care clinic at TRM, manned by Pacific Lutheran University nursing students and St. Joseph Hospital wound care clinic. 

Sixteen unsheltered persons were provided foot care in the past two weeks at the inaugural foot care clinic at TRM which will continue every Thursday from 9-11:30 am through December. We continue to hear of unsheltered residents losing housing after serious accidents hospitalize them, leaving them homeless and challenged to find a safe place to live while medically recuperating. 

An example: One 63 year old gentleman broke his back following a fall and was discharged (while still wheelchair-bound) when he lost his housing and became homeless for the first time in his life. Recently widowed, he had no support to advocate for him. He continues to wait for options and feels fortunate for the Tacoma Rescue Mission's men's shelter, but would like "just a room" to call his own. He has a little over $1200/month in income, but the housing market is competitive and case workers are inundated with requests. Could Westwynd apartments be an option for this gentleman?? Any suggestions can be provided here. TRM's women's shelter remains very well received as well: one young woman, awaiting housing, bragged about the kindness of the staff and the new bunk beds that can house up to 90 women at a time. Thank you again, TRM and all who daily continue to support our unhoused community! 

Kitsap County: The HEART team remains vigilant as elderly patients, some in their 70's and 80's,diagnosed with dementia and weakness requiring wheelchair assistance, risk being discharged to hotels and shelters post hospitalization. Continue to pray for the efforts of all the outreach workers in both counties as they lend support one person at a time in an overwhelming situation. As the fall nights become darker and colder, please continue to pray for protection and unity in our efforts to provide solutions and medical care to our unsheltered neighbors. Thank you again everyone! Keep up the great work and prayers most of all!

Housing Affordability & Sanctuary Cities

For your information: Wonder why housing is so challenging these days? https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/03/23/key-facts-about-housing-affordability-in-the-u-s/ What does being a "sanctuary city or state" mean? Washington State is a "sanctuary" state: https://ballotpedia.org/Sanctuary_jurisdiction_policies_by_state#Washington

September 2, 2022 Encampment Update (Pierce County)

Medical outreach continues despite the "official" end of the Medical Respite Steering Committee encampment assessment in July. Updates will continue to be provided as informational only and for the purpose of continued prayer for outreach workers and unsheltered individuals alike. Homeless outreach workers from Tacoma Rescue Mission (TRM), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)/Tacoma Pierce County Public Health department (TPCHD), Pierce County Human Services (PCHS), Comprehensive Life Resources (CLR), Kitsap HEART team, Community Healthcare (CHC), Greater Lakes & others continue to reach out EVERY DAY as needed when needs arise among the residents living unsheltered in Pierce and Kitsap counties. KITSAP COUNTY: There has been no additional known need in Kitsap County. The Kitsap HEART team remains vigilant and responsive to the needs within their community, but if anyone in that area notices additional needs related to medical issues among persons living unsheltered, please post requests here. PIERCE COUNTY: Continued prayers needed for a woman of Hispanic descent who fracture her right ankle last week. She did not follow up with the Emergency Room as encouraged. It is a scary situation for those living unsheltered who do not speak English and are from outside the United States. Please keep this woman in your prayers for healing. Continue to also pray for the 60 year old wheelchair-dependent male with one leg who is on dialysis three times a week. (He was the person who received the electric wheelchair a couple weeks ago when his WC was stolen). I spoke with the dialysis center social worker who has been working with him today. Continue to pray for housing situation. Although he found a house to live in, with trusted roommates, the house is inconveniently located a greater distance away from his dialysis center which makes it more challenging for him to get to his appointments. A 65 year old male was seen today for lower wound infection from a formerly-fractured leg secondary to being hit by a motor vehicle. The infected wound was cleansed and wrapped with instructions to return to the area free standing MultiCare ER on Pacific Avenue nearest the encampment. He appears to need antibiotics at the very least. He is alert and oriented and able to ambulate with a walker and has several encampment neighbors who showed concern for him. TRM will be following up with him again next week. A second male reported a burn on his lower shin; manuka honey ointment was provided. Medical Reserve Corps Nurses are currently forming a medical street outreach group to continue to provide first aid as needed to our vulnerable neighbors living unsheltered. Thank you to all who continue to remain committed to providing compassionate medical care to those living unsheltered on the streets of Pierce & Kitsap counties.