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On My Journey

“My goal is to get stable employment,”

Louisa said.

Louisa was at the Community Homeless Outreach Center (CHOC) for about a week before it sunk in. “I had my own apartment for five months prior, and the realization that I don’t have a place to call my own anymore just put me into a slough of despond,” Louisa

said as she looked back on what it was like to be new to homelessness.

Louisa had been her mom’s primary caregiver until

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she passed away in the fall of 2013. “She was so much a part of my life. She believed in me, prayed for me, spoke words of life over me. She always said, ‘God is not done with you yet,’ ” Louisa said.

Louisa described the extreme depression she experienced during her first few weeks in the shelter. It was like being stuck in cement. One day she prayed up the energy to approach one of the Life Coaches for prayer. The combination of asking for help while receiving prayer lit whatever spark was left deep inside Louisa’s soul.

Her Life Coach was her connection to accessing the medical, spiritual, and behavioral healthcare she desperately needed. Louisa was told about a program on campus called Thrive, which enabled her to gain help with her depression, diabetes and something Louisa craved deeper than anything—spiritual guidance. “You could have the greatest doctors in the world, but because everything is so professional they can’t go beyond it [and pray with a patient]. When you are going through something, you need the spiritual,” said Louisa. She equates praying with the medical, dental and behavioral healthcare staff at Water Street to her progress. In addition to her medical support Louisa was assigned a prayer counselor, made possible through our partnering agency Refuge of Healing and Hope, who met with her weekly.

Louisa’s Life Coach and Case Manager worked with her to set up a plan of action for acquiring work and managing her health. She took a career-planning seminar through one of our partners, CareerLink, which gave her the tools needed to perfect her resume and connected her with a staffing agency. Louisa

accepted two part-time jobs within walking distance from the Mission. In her free time she is taking financial courses held at Water Street, learning how to budget and manage her income. Louisa sold her car in order to pay off a few bills; a financial step foward is helping her reach her goal.

“My goal is to get stable employment—to get permanently hired so that I can settle into managing my budget and then transition into an efficiency apartment,” Louisa said.

Louisa knows that big boulders remain on her path, but she is gaining the tools and strength to climb over them. A team of professionals, passionate about making homelessness a thing of the past, surrounds Louisa on her journey. There is more for her to experience on the other side of homelessness. God is not done with her yet, and she believes it. •

On a typical day at Water Street the main lobby in Kuhns Hall is the door to new beginnings. This is where a person struggling with homelessness can gain access

accessing Help

Louisa’s story is one example of many journeys happening at Water Street. Take a moment and watch Kevin’s Journey at wsm.org/heritage. •

Kevin's Journey

to a Life Coach, a Case Manager and over a dozen services provided at Water Street. We have a 24/7 team of staff to meet with our men and women seeking shelter. Our Case Managers guide guests through an assessment plan, and this plan becomes the guests’ road map out of homelessness. Goals are based on the individual’s needs, and a monthly check-in is scheduled with each guest to assure progress is being made. The Life Coaches, Case Managers along with Water Street’s medical, dental, and staff act as the guests’ team, enabling them to reach their goal to heal and move into a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. •

Holistic Care for the Homeless

Enriching Lives

Water Street focuses on helping the whole person as we recognize that homelessness is a symptom and not the main problem. When homeless individuals arrive at Water Street, they have made a choice to accept help, and that choice can lead to hope. A Life Coach sums it up best: “One of the greatest blessings that I can receive is when I see hope filling in someone's life. The inflection of their voice changes, their body language changes, there is a certain glow within them that says ‘I’ve found what I was looking for,’” said Ron James.

Individuals staying here have access to dental, medical, and behavior healthcare. The lynchpin to our approach is through a program called Thrive, which addresses mental and physical health. Janae Allgire, The Behavior Health Administrator at Water

Street, says Thrive is able to help our guests become mentally stable enabling them to engage with other services and find employment. “Our guests can touch base with me, or our nursing staff, throughout the week rather than needing to wait until a next appointment. It speaks to the relationship we are able to provide and foster with Thrive participants,” Janae said.

The medical clinic is open for sick visits, lab testing, physicals and routine immunizations. The clinic also provides health education. Our dental clinic provides teeth cleaning, x-rays, fillings, extractions, dental prosthetics, oral hygiene education and specialist referrals for our homeless population. There is no shortage of opportunities for men and women to get healthy while with us. •

The heartbeat of our holistic care is found in the Enrichment Center. “The purpose of the EC is to provide services that will address the specific needs of each guest so that they can overcome the obstacles that hinder their advancement in life,” said Mark Noel, the Director of the Enrichment Center Services at Water Street.

It is here where all our guests can access a variety of classes and programs, like the ones Louisa took that enabled her to get a job. “We offer services such as educational and spiritual classes, individual tutoring, and access to our computer lab. Guests can take

Microsoft Word classes and access job search and preparation assistance,” Mark said. There are plans for future classes in the areas of Health and Fitness, Smoking Cessation, and Spiritual Restoration. This is where community partnerships come together with our core values to serve the individual. •

Water Street focuses on helping the whole person

as we recognize that homelessness is a symptom

and not the main problem.

Congratulations Jack

On December 12, 2014 Water Street’s Board of Directors announced the appointment of a new Mission President, “Jack Crowley’s 20-year commitment to Water Street paved the path to be a valued leader and collaborator. As the Mission moves forward with a continued effort to serve those in need, Jack has demonstrated his professional ability to lead as it grows. On behalf of the Board of Directors at Water Street we are pleased with his appointment,” said Mike Burkholder, Chairperson of the Board.

“It is a privilege to be a part of an organization that is trusted by and has received so much support from our community for the last 110 years. I look forward to working with all of our staff, volunteers, and supporters into the future,” responded Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission. •

This is a big year for our Mission as we celebrate 110 years of serving the homeless and hungry in Lancaster County. Thank you for being a part of our legacy and helping us to continue our mission. Watch the encouraging video Continuing Our Mission about our history at wsm.org/heritage. •

Louisa has access to services because of your generous gifts. Did you know that 99% of our annual operating budget comes from individual financial donations?

Please prayerfully consider giving today.

•use the enclosed envelope

•Call Sharon at 358-2028

•Visit wsm.org/donate

Leave a LegacyMany people maximize their giving by making a gift to Water Street in their will or trust. Giving a gift through your will or trust can also be a way to make a gift in honor or in memory of someone. This gift also creates a tax deduction. If you have questions or need assistance, I am here to help. Call me (Tim Farrell, Director of Stewardship) at (717) 358-2025.

15WSM01

Are you interested in making a difference in the life of our homeless community? We have volunteer positions open in our Enrichment Center and beyond. E-mail or call ashley at awilliams@wsm.org or (717) 358-2069. •

Be a Volunteer

110th year anniversary

Jack CrowleyPresident of Water Street Mission

2015

Fundraising Events

Top Chefs Dinner auction April 24, 2015

City Wide Clean up May 9, 2015

Drive away Hunger Golf Tournament June 19, 2015

110th year Celebration Fall of 2015