Community Link social worker Shurna.
Shurna, a social worker working at Community Link for almost a year now, always knew she wanted to be a social worker. “I remember reading a book in school when I was about eight that talked about ‘helpers.’ I knew that was what I would do with my life.”
This mother of a high school aged daughter works with some of our most difficult-to-house customers. These are the folks who are chronically homeless, and who have often been living on the streets for years. Many of these chronically homeless men and women struggle with challenges such as addiction or mental illness that make it difficult or impossible to escape homelessness on their own.
Mr. Ward is typical of Shurna’s customer base. In his 60s, he has been living in a tent in the woods for years. He struggles with alcoholism. The years of drinking and living in places not meant for human habitation have taken their toll on his health. He often ended up in the emergency room or in jail.
Community Link is part of a coalition seeking to house all chronically homelessness in Mecklenburg County, people like Mr. Ward, within two years. The strategy being used to do this is known as “Housing First,” which first places people in housing, and then provides appropriate supportive treatment services.
Research backing the Housing First approach shows that people like Mr. Ward are better able to address their challenges when they are stably housed. Moreover, for those who are unlikely to be able to keep themselves housed independently, often due to a disabling condition such as mental illness, this approach is less costly for taxpayers.
Shurna began working with Mr. Ward and searching for a landlord willing to rent to him. “It’s hard to get these chronically homeless housed,” says Shurna. “I might get ten ‘nos’ from landlords in one day.”
In March of this year she was finally successful, and Mr. Ward moved into his new apartment. “At first he had a hard time adjusting,” she says. “He moved in all his outdoor stuff, like his tent.” Shurna coached him on skills for living in his apartment, showing him how to mop and sweep the floor, organize his closet and his food pantry and check the mail. The cleaning was able to be done with the household and cleaning supplies provided to him from donations received from donors to the Community Link Welcome basket program.
Shurna continues to check in with Mr. Ward and work with him to access other resources. She went with him to the Social Security office to help him fill out paperwork to receive benefits. He is hoping to have his grandchildren come visit later this summer, something that wouldn’t have been possible when he was homeless.
Mr. Ward is still struggling with his drinking and his health, and Shurna wishes he would eat more. But she is proud of the progress he continues to make. “These customers have faced so much, and you have to walk with them through their journey,” she says. “Every night when I lay down my head I want to know I’ve done a good job for God, for my clients, and for Community Link.”
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