Many may be wondering what happened to the clients served in the shelter as we prepared for the construction to begin. Early in May we stopped accepting new clients in the shelter and focused more on guiding clients on solving their own homelessness. This looked different for different people. Some had enough income to rent a room, some were able to reconnect with family. Others needed help with security deposits, which in many cases, we were able to assist. Some received a voucher for housing at just the right time.
Shelter case managers’ duties change depending on the needs of the client. For instance, one gentleman, “George,” had been in the shelter since June 2018. Upon entering the shelter, his Case Manager, Janievette Correa, worked with him to obtain medical insurance and SNAP benefits. She also discussed his mental health concerns and assisted him in engaging treatment. The plan was to continue with mental health treatment while seeking full-time reliable work. George did work for a temp agency, which did not guarantee work on any given day. He was also part of the Ironworkers Union, but again, only sporadically worked.
Janievette referred George to the American Job Center. He began missing appointments with her stating that he had obtained work for the day. Because ImmaCare’s Shelter is a place for clients to work on housing, George was asked to provide proof that he was saving money. He brought a bank statement to Janievette; yet did not have substantial savings. We began to suspect there was more going on than...
