It’s 3 a.m. and Tony is in our parking lot walking laps with a homeless resident of our addiction treatment program, helping him overcome the anxiety of pandemic amidst newfound sobriety. On the other side of our campus Cheryl is staffing our Haven House homeless shelter, and is struck by just how young a girl is who knocks on our door asking for a blanket and some food. Our shelter is full, but Cheryl helps with a few items that were donated the day before.
A little after 4 a.m., Dennis and a small team of additional staff and volunteers arrive to make coffee and breakfast burritos, our “dine out” version of what used to be a large congregate meal for the most vulnerable and unsheltered. More than 50 people will also safely enter our building to use a private bathroom and shower. By 6 a.m. Manny and Cesar are picking up food donations from local grocery stores. Around 7 a.m. our clinical therapists Brenda, Faye and Valerie arrive at motels where we’re helping the older and disabled shelter in place while we work together to end their homelessness.
These are the frontline essential workers providing basic needs, shelter, treatment, counseling, benefits access, employment , housing and access to healthcare for those most disproportionately impacted by the economic devastation of COVID-19. These are the frontline essential workers helping the poorest and most vulnerable, helping the already low-wage workers and families who used to clean hotels, who used to serve food in restaurants, and who now fear losing their own housing and are desperate for food for their children.
It has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of appreciation for our healthcare workers, our grocery clerks, and other retailers and delivery personnel. They deserve our appreciation and much more. When I was asked to write an article for The San Diego Union Tribune, I knew immediately who I wanted to write about: the frontline essential workers in our social services and nonprofit organizations. They are my heroes.
Nonprofit organizations employ 1 in 10 San Diegans. On average their workers are paid far less than their for-profit counterparts. Amidst COVID-19, it is these nonprofit organizations who are providing safety net services which can only be delivered in-person to the communities most negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Our teams at Interfaith Community Services are energized daily by the outpouring of from the community. That is allowing us to meet unprecedented needs. We have seen a 400% increase in the number of families turning to us needing food. We are seeing even more households fearing homelessness as they have lost work and are facing an ever-growing mountain of bills. We’ve created new online, virtual mechanisms to provide some services like rental . But when that doesn’t work, when a disabled senior is having difficulty with the new online system, our teams are there to visit their home in-person, safely distanced and with personal protective equipment, to help keep that senior safely housed.
There is a tidal wave of needs coming among our low-income neighbors. Evictions may be on hold but rent and other living expenses are still accruing. Unemployment regionally may be rising above 25%, but for communities of color and for low-wage workers, the rate is so much higher. Just one example: earlier this year an Interfaith pilot program moved more than a dozen people out of homelessness and into employment; once COVID-19 hit 80% were laid off.
Please understand it is the employees of our nonprofit, social services organizations who are working today, right now as you read this, with those who have lost work and are fearing homelessness. It is essential nonprofit workers who will be there when evictions resume. It is essential nonprofit workers who will help families who experience homelessness to maintain some sense of normalcy and security as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
It’s now 8 a.m. and Tony jumps right into an extra shift. Working with Liz who just kissed her own kids goodbye, they will meet families arriving at Interfaith’s drive-up basic needs services. Staff are working overtime as we recruit new employees to meet new demands (we’re hiring!). Tony loves helping people with food, and in particular bringing a little humor and joy to help brighten their day. He’s part of a team providing help to as many as 2,000 unique individuals in a single week, many of whom have never needed Interfaith’s help before. After his shift ends he’ll go home to get a little sleep, then return to begin his overnight shift in our residential addiction treatment program, one of the only programs in the entire region serving individuals regardless of income and still accepting new intakes.
These are the essential nonprofit workers helping the most vulnerable. They are my heroes. I hope they are your heroes too.
