Central City Lutheran Mission

"Doug" (not his real name of course) came into the emergency shelter during the winter.  We weren't sure we could help him.  He had been discharged from a nursing home to the street after losing his health insurance when his employer terminated him while he was receiving medical care.  All he had when he arrived was in a plastic grocery bag tied to the walker that he was dragging himself behind. 

Doug struggled.  He was in pain.  He ended up in ER a couple of times.  With some help, he straightened out his own Medi-Cal and applied for disability benefits... and appealed... and went to doctor appointments, some helpful, some not, but he worked through the process....filed more paperwork...and waited...and tried again.  Doug was not patient, but thankfully he was persistent. 

He understood more than most the importance of medical insurance so he helped recently qualified shelter men get their Medi-Cal.  He became a "resident volunteer".   Those are men staying in the shelter who take responsibility for the landscaping, maintenance, cleaning, kitchen, shelter security, computer lab, some office work, and also work alongside our students, church groups, donors, and other community volunteers.  

It's all those volunteers who allow CCLM, with less than a dozen total staff, to provide 5000 meals/month, shelter 70 men/night, operate a more than a dozen houses including for 36 folks living with HIV/AIDS, a house for formerly incarcerated men in cooperation with the CalState Reentry Initiative, and a men's transitional house.  Volunteers make possible the daily after school program and community computer lab, operation of a thrift store, NA meetings, and classes for ESL, baking, sewing. 

Eventually, Doug was accepted into our transitional housing program, which offers 8 shelter men a bed in a house with case management support for up to 2 years to transition to permanent housing.  

Twenty months after he arrived at the shelter, having faced many disappointments, and having changed strategies and used many different suggested resources, Doug finally got his disability pay.  This man drove a truck for over 30 years, but his body simply couldn't do that any more.  But he was too young and too vital to not work.   So he's taken the first steps towards establishing a freight-related home-based business.

Twenty-one months after he arrived, Doug, who barely walked himself in, drove himself out.  Off to rent a place in the driver's seat of own set of used wheels, paid for by back disability pay.  His health was better than when he came in - still disabled, but looking forward to work and life. 

I was "Doug"'s case manager.  He gave permission for me to tell his story in general.  I had the privilege to accompany him on this journey through all its hills and valleys.  The last 2 years were a long haul, but this trucker is home at last.   

CCLM is a stop along the way.  Like the inn near the Jericho road, we provide a place for people to heal, to rest, to recover, to receive and give kindness.  All of us give and we all receive.  The people who stop by, whether initially for help, or initially to help, take a step of courage.  They know the answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"  THIS ONE who is right here in front of me today.