Program Team Update: Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Hope in a Time of Social Distancing | May 20, 2020

While the day-to-day work of our program team looks a little different than it did at the start of 2020, our commitment to keeping the most vulnerable individuals housed remains the same. Our team continues to connect with and serve tenants while maintaining recommendations for social distancing. 

But, what does this look like exactly? 

We reached out to staff asking them to share the challenges they are facing and reflect on what is giving them hope. They are making calls, sending text messages, writing letters, doing drive-bys, and making drop-offs of essential items for at-risk individuals. They are thinking outside of the box. They are finding creative loopholes. They are doing whatever is possible and necessary to keep the people we serve stably housed. 

“I find the lack of face-to-face contact with my tenants the most challenging part of my day,” said Scott Sithonnorath, an Anawim Housing Program Manager. Taz Clayburn-Stills, another Program Manager, echoed this sentiment. “I worry that they may have basic needs that are going unmet because I am not visiting their home on a regular basis,” she said. 

During a typical week or month, Anawim staff are in and out of units on a weekly or monthly basis. They are constantly addressing the needs and barriers of the people we serve. They are sitting with tenants at their dining tables and on their porches, listening to their stories and concerns, and helping them problem-solve and set goals for the future. This close contact is not possible right now and our staff is noticing the impact. 

“I know that I am the primary or only support person for some of my tenants,” says Taz. When you take away that regular contact, it impacts the emotional and mental health of the people we serve. 

And yet, through all of the distance, we are seeing signs of hope and inspiration everywhere. 

“I have seen surprising self-reliance from program participants. It reminds me that housing stability is the biggest thing we can provide for a person. All of the legwork we do when we are seeing our folks regularly helps them achieve their goals to a successful life much more quickly, but for the most part, we know that our participants have been safe,” says Dan McBee, a Program Manager with Anawim Housing. 

Staff have seen tenants utilize telehealth services to maintain mental health support. They have heard stories of checking in on their neighbors and sharing supplies and resources. “Seeing the togetherness in my community has definitely inspired me and made me more hopeful for the future,” says Scott. 

 Erin Larson, our Office Administrative Assistant, finds hope in the dedication she sees from both tenants and staff. “Some days are certainly better than others, but the tougher days have not slowed anybody down,” she says.