Street outreach is the heart of the work at Friendship Place, the first step in a continuum of care for homeless men and women. The outreach coordinator, under the supervision of the Homeless Services Manager, is responsible for reaching homeless men and women living in the streets, alleys, store fronts, parks and “blanket site” areas of Ward 3. (View Friendship Place Outreach Area in a Google map.)

The outreach coordinator builds trust, assesses needs and works with individuals living on the street to meet them where they are physically and mentally, offering services even if the individual refuses to give their name. Friendship Place is one of the few organizations that will work with Jane or John Does. Eventually, after building that trust they begin to develop a plan to improve their lives. The outreach worker takes a van out at varying times during the week, to search for men and women who cannot, or will not, seek help on their own.  These individuals are always treated with cheerful respect and encouraged to come for help at the Friendship Place drop-in center.  In times of heat or extreme cold, they are provided with food, water, blankets and clothing. The homeless services team also answers calls of concern from area businesses, churches, and residences when they see someone in need of our services.

Friendship Place works with highly vulnerable people on the street.  The majority of chronically homeless people in our area suffer from some form of serious mental illness.  Therefore, reaching them involves many intensive hours of case management on the street.  It can take months or longer.  For them, coming in from the street is a complex and difficult decision.  We are the only organization in Ward 3 reaching out to these individuals.  Without our program, many of them would die on the street.

Building a trusting relationship with homeless men and women is the primary objective of the outreach workers, in order to convince them to come to Friendship Place.  For those consumers who refuse to come in, the outreach worker is committed to be present for them for as long as it takes.  Those individuals who eventually come to Friendship Place receive support and services from the outreach worker and the other members of the homeless services team.