[SOFT MUSIC]

A lot of the times when I've had a client just yell at me, I stay firm, inside, I'm like, oh my gosh, I don't know what's going to happen. But I do remain calm and I do take a deep breath. I know the client. I know that he's not going to hurt me. I know that he's going through something. And just listening to him, I think, is what a lot of times helps.

This program is supposed to be helping people that are either becoming stabilized within housing or have been stabilized for a while for housing but have not been able to get back onto the job market yet.

And really trying to look at this in a holistic way, where we get people from an encampment into shelter, from shelter into housing, and then from housing into the workforce so that they can eventually stop receiving the assistance and start doing it themselves.

Maybe we could start off with what did we learn, what did we go over, so that you can have that refresher and stuff and helps solidify learning.

In Washington County, there's a high demand for workers in supportive housing, sheltering, case management, outreach, all of these things related to housing instability. And there's also a recognition that individuals who have lived experience with housing instability, or anything really, substance use disorder, maybe being justice system-impacted, you have firsthand experience with that system, you're better able to connect with somebody who has that experience and support them in navigating through those challenges.

So the idea behind this program is to create pathways that meet folks where they're at and support them into careers where they are leveraging their own lived experience in supporting folks in navigating similar challenges.

What I hope to learn from this is more knowledge on helping individuals out, their families and people that's homeless. Because I've already been trying to do it, but just by myself. So to be with an organization is the best feeling for me. You know what I'm saying? I probably don't want to do any other job.

To learn your triggers, to learn your communication, how to talk to others and help others in a way where no one else can because we know how it feels and I've been through it. I've been homeless. I'm a recovering addict from crystal meth. I've been clean for almost three years.

One of the big successes that we've had with this is just the positive feedback from the interns. Even some of the interns that didn't quite make it felt like this was a good experience for them. And I think that Dana, for instance, is doing an amazing job. And he's an exact success story of what we're trying to do and what we're trying to accomplish.

I actually used to be a client here about two, three years ago. And I would just come here and I would hang out during the day and I would take showers and stuff. But I like to come out here because there wasn't a lot of people. And the people that did come out here they were like a group or a clique. They all got along with each other, mostly, and I just needed somewhere to go that I wouldn't get harassed.

When you're dealing with people that live on the streets and stuff, they're usually a lot more accepting than the average person that goes to work and raises a family and stuff. Most of my time is spent in the office, but I like to come out here and mill around and say hi to people and see everybody and stuff.

I don't really feel like I'm on the other side of the fence or anything. I still feel the same way I used to. I still feel like I'm one of them. I don't feel like I'm one of the workers. I suppose eventually that will change, but it hasn't yet. Hello.

Hi.

How are you doing?

Good. How are you?

Good. How was your evening?

It was good. Yeah, I just went and worked just now.

You had a good birthday?

Yeah, I did. Thank you. That food was so good.

And I'm starting to get into the concept of helping people and it does make you feel better about your situation or about what you're doing in the world.

What's up brother?

Hey. How are you doing?

How are you doing?

Good?

Good.

I'm doing very good.

Yeah, I hear somebody talking.

As we address many of the complex challenges that come up in our community, connecting folks that have lived experience with navigating those systems and know what it's like is a key missing piece.

I would say that employment is the ultimate goal, and every individual person is on their own journey. And so their individual goals, their intermediate goals to get to that goal is really tailored. And the career coach and the model really help meet folks wherever they are.

I don't know if I'll ever be a case manager. I might. I think I might be really good at it. I would like to help people that are having problems in that direction.

[SOFT MUSIC]