A win at Paul’s Place for a guest experiencing homelessness

Posted on by Paul Place Stories

Hank is a guest who was experiencing homelessness and has been coming to Paul’s Place for several months. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul’s Place helped connect Hank to a housing opportunity and a case manager.

Understanding the obstacles

Intake paperwork and gathering the information required can already take more time than one might expect, but trying to get it completed during a state of emergency is incredibly challenging. Hank has faced additional barriers such as restricted bus routes, cell phone issues, limited wifi access, a lack of funds, and the struggles of the shelter system during a pandemic. But today, we got a win.

Connecting to resources

Hank made his way to Paul’s Place and worked with Ellen and Travis to connect to wifi. This allowed them to help him put the final pieces of his intake paperwork together and submit it! Paul’s Place supplied Hank with a Charm Card. Even with limited public transportation available, a lack of bus fare is no longer a barrier to his next steps. Hank knows he is on a path to achieving his goals, and Paul’s Place is part of Hank’s journey.

The wins may not always seem momentous, but when it is possible to move forward with one guest, the size of the win does not matter.

All of us at Paul’s Place will continue to secure the wins for our guests during – and after – the pandemic.

The wins may not always seem momentous, but when it is possible to move forward with one guest, the size of the win does not matter.

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Doing whatever is necessary to help

August 2, 2020

Months before COVID-19 hit, Bob arrived in downtown Baltimore at the bus station without knowing where his next meal was coming from or where he would put his head down for the night. Bob found Paul’s Place.

Read More »

Doing whatever is necessary to help

Posted on by Paul Place Stories

Months before COVID-19 hit, Bob arrived in downtown Baltimore at the bus station. He didn’t know where his next meal was coming from or where he would put his head down for the night. Bob found Paul’s Place, the closest service provider to the bus station — and Program Director Ellen Levy.

As one of our case managers, Ellen’s first step was to find the best short-term solution for Bob and help him meet his most immediate needs: housing and food. Ellen found him a bed in one of the city’s homeless shelters and started exploring longer-term options. 

But, what happens when services are changed, reduced or halted because of a worldwide pandemic? 

Paul’s Place keeps going

In addition to being unemployed and homeless, Bob had been dealing with a host of health issues.

He quickly found himself in the hospital and unaware that his current shelter needed to relocate all its the male residents due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Not only did Bob not know of the change, but he wasn’t able to connect with the shelter to find out where to go or if he still had a bed reserved. Upon his release from the hospital, he didn’t know what options he had, if any. 

He did know he could call Ellen.

Ellen reached out to the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) to try to find Bob a new place to live and sleep. While they were able to secure a spot for him at a shelter, the curfew was fast approaching. If he didn’t get there on time, he would lose the bed. With no means to pay for public transportation and the potential for a two-hour walk, Ellen quickly called a Lyft and Paul’s Place paid for transportation needed to get Bob to the shelter before curfew. He reached the shelter on time.

Bob reached out to the person and the place he knew would do whatever was necessary to make sure he had a place to rest his head before, during and after the pandemic.

Bob is just one of many guests who need help from Paul’s Place now and after the pandemic. Please consider a gift to allow Paul’s Place to continue serving these many guests, connecting them to needed resources, and doing whatever is necessary to ensure their needs are met.

Bob reached out to the person and the place he knew would do whatever was necessary to make sure he had a place to rest his head before, during and after the pandemic.

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READ ANOTHER STORY...

Doing whatever is necessary to help

August 2, 2020

Months before COVID-19 hit, Bob arrived in downtown Baltimore at the bus station without knowing where his next meal was coming from or where he would put his head down for the night. Bob found Paul’s Place.

Read More »

Former Chef turns to Paul’s Place for help

Posted on by Paul Place Stories

Joseph lost his 28-year job as a chef. He had been diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder (BD) for a number of years, but memory loss made it difficult to work. Bipolar disorder is estimated to affect up to 42% of homeless people and the consequences of BD among homeless people may be severe and far-reaching – even negatively affecting the person experiencing BD, as well as their family.

With the increasing strain on Joseph’s wife to be the sole breadwinner, he and his wife separated. In 2019, now living in his truck and shelters, Joseph knew a change had to come. Joseph shared that, “Paul’s Place was the only place that helped me. I feel safe. I feel respected.” 

A change had to come

Living in his broken truck with his son, one of six children he raised with his wife, Joseph went to a homeless shelter finally in desperation. There, a flyer for Paul’s Place caught his eye. He made his way to Ward Street. Meeting and working with Ellen, one of the case workers at Paul’s Place, would take him from where he was to where he is now.

Giving his son “a fighting chance”

Soon with Ellen’s help, the resources at Paul’s Place, and a little determination, Joseph and his son moved into an apartment. Paul’s Place provided a move-in kit with some of the basics needed in any apartment. He is looking forward to making it a home.

Joseph’s ultimate goal is to have his son succeed, and to give him a “fighting chance.”

Joseph knows there are challenges ahead, but with the support of Paul’s Place, there is a promising future for both Joseph and his son.

What’s next

With Joseph’s culinary background he is considering submitting an application to GroundWork Kitchen – the culinary arts training program at Paul’s Place. For the moment, he is grateful for the roof over his head.

His son was issued a laptop from school so he can continue learning during the pandemic. Joseph enjoys seeing what his son is learning and the two also enjoy watching the occasional movie together.

Paul’s Place has been, and continues to be, here for Joseph and all guests during this difficult time.

“Paul’s Place was the only place that helped me. I feel safe. I feel respected.” 

Joseph, Paul's Place Guest Tweet

READ ANOTHER STORY...

Doing whatever is necessary to help

August 2, 2020

Months before COVID-19 hit, Bob arrived in downtown Baltimore at the bus station without knowing where his next meal was coming from or where he would put his head down for the night. Bob found Paul’s Place.

Read More »