NEST (Navigational Empowerment Services Team) works to provide people with assistance to navigating available resources. Nicole and Theresa speak about their work and some of the systemic issues that they deal with daily. This episode continues the conversation from part one!
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
NEST (Navigational Empowerment Services Team) works to provide people with assistance to navigating available resources. Nicole and Theresa speak about their work and some of the systemic issues that they deal with daily. This episode continues the conversation from part one!
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
Welcome back to White Bird Mutual Aid on 97.3 KEPW - LP, Eugene, Oregon, I'm Hana Francis. Here we look at white bird clinics impacts and interactions within the communities of Eugene and Springfield, Oregon. We take a look at the past, present and future of this organization. This episode I had the honor of speaking with Nicole and Teresa who work in NEST, navigation and empowerment services team. NEST is designed to help adults experiencing homelessness, navigate available resources and sign up to receive assistance. services offered may include assistance in accessing primary medical care, case management and advocacy, outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, group therapy, drug detox, mental health counseling and evaluation, SSI and SSDI assistance and transportation to appointments. As of mid August of 2021, there are only 13 employees working to provide these free services largely to the unhoused population of Eugene.
Theresa Boudreau:I think what the public doesn't really understand people who don't do this work, that it's not as black and white, as they think someone doesn't have a house, we live in a house, that will be fine. It's not how that works. You know, there's people out there who don't feel good go into the mailbox unless they've had a shower. Imagine not having one for three months. And then having somebody tell you look you dead in your eye and say, why don't you just go get a job? Well, why don't you just apply for apartments, because they haven't showered in three months, because nobody wants to let them use their facilities, we just don't have facilities available. Or they can't do laundry, so they don't have any clean clothes. The clothes that they have are what you know, somebody threw away in the garbage, you know, or somebody gave it to them and donation. So yeah, they're walking around in a pair of torn pants and a shirt that's ripped and stained. But at least it's on their backs, you know, it's cleaner than what they had before. You know, to have a clean pair of socks, to be able to take off socks that are rotting to your feet. Because they're so damp, and you've had to wear them for so long and put on fresh ones. Those are the things that they don't tell you in the brochure, when it comes to what our people go through. You know this, these are your neighbors, folks. Yeah.
Nicole Nemeth:Yeah. And I mean, and have you apply for a job if one you haven't taken a shower, and you have to take everything you want to a job interview, right, because there's no public lockers or anything. She we don't even have public restrooms. As far as I know. I mean, there's probably a couple out there that people can use. But for the most part, there's really no bathroom access people, people spend the majority of their days trying to figure out where they can go the bathroom, where they can access food, and a safe place to sleep. And that safe spot to sleep is a really big issue as well, because there's not a lot of safe places, and our people are targeted, and it's really, it's scary. And then we get into the whole other side of that, you know, with our female clients, they're exponentially more in danger out here on the street. And so, you know, I mean, it's, it's honestly, it really is heartbreaking, because we just don't have the services to meet the needs of the people. I mean, we're trying, I think the best that we can hope for right now is more sanctioned campsites, which, you know, is still an act, but nobody comes who wants to live in a tent during the cold of winter or 100 degree days. And then those folks don't want to leave their tents to go to the cooling centers or the warming centers because all their stuff will get stolen. And so it's really, it's a cycle that people are stuck in here. And it's really hard to get out of once you're there. We have a lot of clients that I know if they could just get a leg up, they'd be able to be successful, but they've been out here for years because they can't get that leg up.
Theresa Boudreau:It's amazing how powerful a locked door is. To be behind a locked door. We know that you're safe, where your belongings are safe. So powerful. All. And that has turned the page for so many people that I've met doing this. I've been with it clinic for 11 years. And when I very first started, there was no rest stops or wasn't secure places like that. So yeah, change is possible. It happens, you know, I for you know, as much as Nicole and I right now sound like everything is so dire. There's been great growth. And I am so appreciative of all of the agencies that have come forward and advocate it and work so hard for change. But do I think we can do better by our neighbors? Yeah, I think we can. And that starts with security. It's a place for people to put their belongings and themselves and be secure. It's a place where they can get a hot meal. It's a place where they can shower, and feel clean and feel good about themselves, so that they can pursue the things that they want to pursue, like mental health, like medical health. But I think the narrative is that well, this is a choice. Let's go ahead and talk about that yet. For some people. It's a choice. You're right. Now what? And I think that people get attached to that narrative, because it makes them feel better. If they're not proactive. Well, everybody's an armchair quarterback, right, you can win them on the Super Bowl Monday morning, with what you could have done. Doesn't do anything for us now. So if you really want to soapbox it, let's do it. Put your money where your mouth is donate to these organizations, we absolutely could use funds, if you don't want to put forth the funds if you feel better about purchasing supplies, sleeping bags, socks, tents, so shampoo eventually, here soon we'll have a with a wish list that will be attached to our site where people can see what the needs are. This is what we're asking for. You want to help bias a case of soap, but also support places like community supported shelters, help purchase land, if you've got land that can be used. Speak up, talk to the city, let's get some of these neighborhoods felt because that's really what they are. People want to talk about, you know, these temporary shelters are these rough stops. Really what they are is they're their own neighborhoods, they look out for one another, they take care of them. They are supportive to one another, they take care of their area the same way that you do in your neighborhood. So why do these people deserve anything less than what you want in your own home on your own street?
Nicole Nemeth:One thing I think, too, that influences people are like, Oh, well, all the trash and all the you know, feces and all of these things was like Yeah, but there's like next to no public trash cans out there. There's no public restrooms. And be like, Oh, well, they left their camp and they left everything behind. Well, okay, so they own a tent. And they maybe own an outfit or two. And then they hopefully have a bag that's got their personal stuff, IDs and things like that. But that's rare, because people's IDs and stuff get lost often. And so yeah, when you are told to leave where you've been living for a while, by the police, and you'd have just a couple of hours to get your stuff, obviously, you're not going to pick up your trash and take that with you. Because all you can do is carry what you own. And you might not even be able to take all the things that you own, you may have actually gotten four outfits to get you through the week. But you can only carry one because that's all your bag is gonna fit. And so you know, these things come down to a human rights issue, in my opinion, having place to sleep having a place to the bathroom, and food should really be the basics that people shouldn't have to fight for that or walk five miles to access it either. Our people walk around and they spend more calories in a day than they can receive just trying to get their basic needs met. And there's this misconception that people who are unhoused are lazy. They work harder to live every day than I do, I'll tell you that. And they get to go home at night sleep in a comfortable bed, whereas they worked their butts off every day to get their basic needs met, and then have to start all over every day and don't even have a safe place to go sleep. So you know, those are some pretty glaring things, I think, need to be paid attention to. Yeah.
Hana Francis:And also it's like, I don't know, wouldn't wouldn't you be angry if you're dealing with that? You know, like, people get really frustrated or like, oh, well, they're not even being nice about it. But it's like,
Nicole Nemeth:exactly. Well, I mean, that's another thing. It's like, okay, so if I have a nightmare, I don't sleep very well. Needless to say, I'm not my best. I might be grouchy or moody or whatever, not like my normal chipper self. Like, these folks live really difficult lives. And then, you know, people are like, Oh, well, I offered this guy a hamburger, and he didn't want it. Well, okay. Maybe for when he doesn't eat meat, or maybe for two, he's afraid to put something in it. So then be like, Well, I tried to help somebody and they didn't want it. It's like, it's just interesting the way people view people that are out here, as if they shouldn't have any choice or be able to, like, have opinions about their own situation, because they should just be grateful for what they have. And yeah, I just don't see it that way. How would you say stoneware out when you're when you're here? I mean, it's an awful situation, right? I don't think I could be unhoused and be sober. Like, what little bit of respite or escape would you have? Right from the situation? I mean, and I have to tell you, I've heard some women out here say that they started using meth because they were afraid to sleep out here because they get assaulted so often. And that might be a little bit too much for listeners to hear. But, but shoot, if we're gonna do it, let's put it all out on a dice. That's the reality of our situation. We have clients out here that are sexually assaulted on a regular basis, and they don't do they can't do anything about it. Because they're, they don't have anywhere to go. They're not safe. And reporting, it hasn't done them a lot of good in the past. So these are very serious issues. And I'm not talking just you know, young, pretty women that are out here. I'm talking about like older ladies that are out here to elderly women. It's like it's awful. And it isn't just women that are being victimized out here, but it's much worse for them.
Theresa Boudreau:Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's, that's the reality. And if you're, you know, if people want to explore how this happens, that's how, that's how it happens. You know, trauma begets drug addiction, we get something else. And so it can happen to anyone at any time. Right? So, instead of trying to play you know, chicken or egg, which came first doesn't matter, this is the circumstance now. What can we do? Now? You know, there's a reason why you see, homeless women wear everything that they own. You know, it's a safety thing. You know, most of us and part of my crassness, but we'll look at a Bronx punishment, like we can't wait to take that off. Soon as we get home right, bras off, I'm staying home. That's it. For some of these women, it's a safety net, to be able to have a bra and underwear. So that's an additional layer might help keep them safe. That's the reality. That's the reality that we deal with. Those are the things that people don't want to talk about at the dinner parties, because it's much more comfortable to us. And then we can look down because we're better. It's not helpful. It's not supportive. It's not how we're supposed to treat members of our society. If we are an advanced society. That's who we are, then let's act like it. Let's have the hard conversations here the hard truths, and then figure out what we can do together.
Nicole Nemeth:Well, I think one thing happens is that the police department receives hundreds of calls a year about illegal camping. There's nowhere else for people to go. So if the only issue is that, you know, like the way the tent looks, or something, like maybe call some services call Cahoots call nest and see if we can check in and see what those people might need would be more helpful than having more police contact. and then you have a better way of helping out somebody. Yeah, there definitely are a lot of calls that go into Cahoots, that are for welfare checks that somebody could have just said, Hey, man, are you okay? And then that would have safe goods call because they get spread really thin, too. And then they could actually help better with the things that need attention right now, people that need transport to the hospital, stuff like that. So that would be a big help. If people could just take that extra step to just make contact with the person and figure out who you're helping, you know, are you actually helping this person? Because you want to help this person? Or is it for you? You know, is it to feed your ego? Is it to give you something to talk about next time you run into your values? And go? Well, yeah, I tried to do this. You know, is it a way for you to justify your position on why there shouldn't be any more services and why people should pull themselves up by their bootstraps? Because I tried to do this, and, and they didn't want it. So that means that that's how it is for everybody. And that doesn't make any sense, right? Yeah. And you can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps. If you don't have boots, if you're right. I think just I don't know, being a human being and treating other humans, like human beings, We need were empathy. I really think that that that was, that was made so much. I mean, we need more shelter, and everything
Theresa Boudreau:personally know and respect, great deal. Use the phrase, you know, calling people into calling people out, we're so good at calling people out. We love that part, right? Where somebody gets there, they just got got, but what we don't like doing is the work calling people in, you know, and that's where you, I think doing these kinds of interviews, really, really help like you are effective in what you do for that particular reason. It calls people in people who really want to help people who don't understand how they can help or what that looks like, you help them hear that message. And that's really important. So thank you for the work that you do as well. Yeah, thank you, it's important to call people in and I think you do a good job at it. So
Hana Francis:thank you so much, I really
Theresa Boudreau:that's how we can do that. Start calling, like, don't be so fast to call somebody out. You know, when you hear somebody with that kind of negative image, like if you know, the facts, help them learn, you know, help them learn that statistically, you know, these aren't people who are coming from, you know, Sheboygan or whatever. here to take your precious services. No, they're from here. They're part of your community.
Nicole Nemeth:Yeah, there. Yeah, that's another thing is I think people look at people and they make judgments, but they don't realize that this could easily be your grandma, your grandfather, your sister, your brother, your mom, your dad, like, you know, and yeah, it's just it's a rough situation out here for folks.
Theresa Boudreau:The conversations, it's not all hopeless. This is how it starts. This is the light at the end of the tunnel that gets brighter. Yeah, when we have these conversations, and we have people like yourselves, like your listeners who care enough to hear the message, to want to know what the needs are, and then be proactive. So
Nicole Nemeth:and we need this more now than ever, because this problem is only going to get worse, it's estimated that a additional 60,000 People will be enhanced by the next by the end of the year, or by within a year because of COVID. And and so it's the problems are only going to grow. And so we really need community support to make it better, even if that's like, again, just a change in attitude.
Theresa Boudreau:You know, even only if you call people in instead of calling them out, then there's an opportunity to learn to grow, to change minds. And so if somebody walks away from from listening, you know, to this and thinks to themselves, yeah, I could actually do better. Alright, then that's one. We'll just keep plugging away.
Nicole Nemeth:And sometimes that can be as small as just smiling have the personnel in the corner and acknowledging that they exist. I can't tell you how many people have told me they feel invisible out here. And to me that just makes me cry. Like, really. So just remember that these folks are people and they have feelings and they're doing the best they can. Like really, truly people are doing the best they can with what they have right now. For sure. You know, I have to tell you, sometimes it's like how do you keep my my sunny because thinks this is just you so saddened by our state of the homeless, homelessness out here and it's like, how do you do it mom? And I'm like, wow, you know, some days it feels really exhausting, but the people we serve are some of the most amazing, resilient, strong people that I've come across. And they inspire me in a lot of ways to be able to get up every day and do this I'm like, wow, they can get up every day and do this I can definitely get up and meet them there then and and I think that that's something that gets lost also, there's so much judgment of people that are unhoused as somehow that makes you less of a person and 100% is not we there's a lot of amazing people out here that are just struggling.
Hana Francis:Huge thanks go out to all the people that made this episode possible. And most of all, to Nicole and Teresa for contributing their time and voices to this episode. Even listening to white bird mutual aid on 97.3 KEPW dash LP, Eugene, Oregon. I'm Hana Francis.