The following article is one in a continuing series of short profiles about homeless adults who transitioned from the streets to independent housing. Thanks to the Downtown Homeless Services Team, managed and funded by the BID, more homeless persons in Downtown are getting a new lease on life. The Team, a group of on-the-street professionals headquartered at Pathways to Housing DC, does remarkable work engaging with homeless individuals every day where they are in the community, to build rapport and trust. Using a pragmatic, street-to-independence outreach program called Housing First, the BID partners with the DC government and non-profit homeless services providers to bring outreach services, housing, and dignity to homeless adults while improving comfort and security for Downtown workers, residents, and visitors. The following success story is a result of this special partnership:
WENDELL
Wendell sat slumped on the same park bench, only rising to use the restroom in a nearby federal building. Rain or shine, he was there. And despite the weather, he wore layers of shirts and an oversized coat. Leaving the bench for lengthy periods, he felt, would cause mayhem, forcing him to lose money or his life if he strayed from “agreed upon plans and business” with well-known federal agencies. So, Wendell did not move from that bench despite the snow, ice, heat, and rain.
The Downtown Homeless Services Team first met him in the fall of 2011 and slowly began building rapport and trust. Wendell was always polite and obviously intelligent. He spoke of having served during the ’70s in the military (the Veterans Administration confirmed his honorable discharge from the Air Force) and said that sleeping on a bench could be difficult. Wendell smiled often, always thanked the outreach team for its time and attention, and commented on strangers’ generosity.
Wendell’s beliefs about the government, coupled with his inability to secure affordable housing, prevented him from taking care of his health. But the outreach team observed his pale coloring and the slight yellow tinge to his skin, a symptom indicative of liver failure. Although Wendell would not remove his shoes, it was evident that both his feet and legs were extremely swollen. He was covered in body lice (what he called “Ohio mosquitoes”), which left itchy bite marks and caused him to slowly rock back and forth to ease the itchiness.
Because Wendell refused to leave the bench, the outreach team brought needed services and medical care to him. Nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, outreach workers, and a specialized service and housing team for veterans all collaborated to actively engage with Wendell. Slowly, as trust was established and maintained, he agreed to lice treatment. But he balked at signing forms, getting his blood drawn, or consenting to other medical care. In his mind, government agencies were already monitoring his health, so everything was fine. Wendell continued to politely refuse care.
Then, one day in early June 2012, he asked to shower at the outreach team’s office. The staff knew that this was a huge step in the right direction. Surprised at this sudden change of heart, the team was hopeful that the request could be the milestone needed to move Wendell from the streets and into housing. The team promptly prepared for what turned out to be a memorable day—one in which Wendell got into the outreach van and was taken to Pathways to Housing DC, where he took a long shower and receive prescribed lice treatment. He met with the nursing staff and allowed his blood to be drawn, his vital signs to be taken, and his signature to appear on forms to obtain permanent housing for homeless veterans. Wendell also began taking prescribed medication to help reduce the swelling in his legs and feet.
Test results, however, showed he had few red blood cells and hemoglobin in his blood. Immediate hospitalization was recommended because Wendell was likely bleeding internally and losing enough blood to either pass out or pass away on his bench. The outreach team immediately visited him to discuss the test results and encourage Wendell to board an ambulance. Initially, he politely refused, for the same reasons noted earlier. But because of the life-or-death situation, the team called the Pathways doctor to begin involuntary hospitalization, a move which could cause Wendell to lose trust in it. Hours later, however, Wendell was in an intensive care unit receiving blood transfusions and other lifesaving care, which he comfortably adapted to and appreciated.
Today, he receives medical care and is in transitional housing offered through the VA. Wendell is also on the short-list for permanent supportive housing through Pathways’ Housing First program for vulnerable veterans. With a stable place to call home and 24/7 support from a supportive services team, he will be able to reconnect with family and his community—and ultimately, with professional assistance, address his government collaboration theory after 14 months on the bench.