Author: Housing First ATX

“Being present when things fall into place, working together to accomplish goals using dignity, respect, an open heart and willingness to help is the reason I do what I do for as long as I’ve been doing it.”

~ David Gomez

What is your role at Integral Care?

I am the Program Manager for Homeless Services and oversee the PATH/ACCESS and Safe Haven programs.

What part of your work is the most rewarding?

Having an opportunity to re-build hope with the staff and the people we serve. It is rewarding and affirming to see how interacting with individuals and accepting them as they are results in happy and successful outcomes.

Being present when things fall into place, working together to accomplish goals using dignity, respect, an open heart and willingness to help is the reason I do what I do for as long as I’ve been doing it.

I am lucky to work within programs that allow me to meet people where they are and see the world from their perspective. Both Safe Haven and PATH/ACCESS provide an opportunity to see the magic that happens when people trust each other and use their combined strengths to overcome life’s barriers and challenges.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

The barriers people face in getting what they need to reach their full potential.

If there was one thing you wanted people to know about Austin’s homeless, what would it be?

That they are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.

What is on your wish list for the next 5 years in terms of housing support for our homeless population?

That we, as a community, will focus our efforts to end homelessness and all the associated challenges it brings to our community.

Part of the Housing First philosophy is to provide residents with wrap-around services that help them re-integrate into the community. Our partnership with Goodwill will provide employment assistance to Housing First Oak Springs residents.  Read what Goodwill CEO, Jerry Davis had to say about the importance of providing employment assistance to individuals living with mental illness.

How will GW support our efforts with Housing First Oak Springs?

I started my career working in mental health before coming to GW and I have always been invested in working in this area. GW serves a lot of people with mental illness and understands the benefit they can provide all of us when they are working.

People with mental illness have an unseen disability. Goodwill believes supporting them with case managers that understand the challenges they face, and who want to help them work through them is a great way to get them into the workforce.

What is your philosophy for supporting people who live with mental illness?

Our philosophy is that we want to be where people are. We go to the same grocery store and movie theaters and want to be a convenient part of the community. Having Goodwill operating in the Arch, Safe Place and Caritas allows folks living with mental illness to get their immediate needs met. Then, once they begin to think about working again, Goodwill can be in their lives and available to help with that next step. Having Goodwill within Housing First Oak Springs is an extension of that philosophy.

The rising cost in livability is eliminating a lot of housing options for people. How is Goodwill doing its part to address this dilemma?

Every day, there are more people that need services in Austin. People are motivated to come in from out of town and follow opportunities even though they may not have the resources to attain those opportunities. Goodwill’s job placement and training services allow people with complex needs to find solutions that result in the recognition of their productive value as employees. It just works.

Now, there are anywhere from 200,000-500,000 people in need of our services and they sense, like everyone else, that this is a place of opportunity. Goodwill understands that people with mental illness are people first and believes they can be contributing neighbors as well. We have a huge responsibility to the community and wonderful tools with which to serve it.

Ali Khataw is the CEO and Founder of Encotech Engineering Consultants, INC. He is very involved in the community, including being a Housing First Oak Springs Leadership Advisory member. Mr. Khataw recently attended an Integral Care Housing First tour where we had a chance to ask him some questions.

Why do you consider yourself and advocate for the homeless community?
Homelessness is not only an issue to the individual who is actually homeless but also it is an economic strain on our society. Addressing the issue of homelessness provides a double return, both for the individuals experiencing homelessness and the community in which they live.

How has your work as a PhotoPhilantropist shaped your view of the world we live in?
My desire to help others and use art to make a difference has inspired me to delve into the world of Photo Philanthropy. Images have an undeniable power and I want to harness that power and use to make the world a better place.

Your son volunteers for Hands on Housing, an iACT program where volunteers and skilled professionals repair homes for senior citizens and people with disabilities living in deep poverty. Why do you think it’s important for the youth in our community to advocate for individuals who are less fortunate than others?
I believe teaching youth to advocate for individuals who are less fortunate than one’s self is an important lesson to learn early in life.

What kinds of services do you want to see for the homeless community in Austin?
Housing First provides a home first and offers the supports necessary to help improve the lives of individuals living a new apartment. Services can include, but are not limited to, job training, mental health and primary care.

To learn more about Ali, read the Austin American Statesman article.

The Housing First teams provide care, support and crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The mobile, multi-disciplinary staff tailors services to meet each person’s unique needs and provides them wherever the person lives – on the streets, in a shelter or in permanent supportive housing. We will spotlight a staff member each month and share their insight. Read what Christine A. Laguna, PhD, Practice Manager, Healthy Community Collaborative at Integral Care, has to say about the importance of Housing First Oak Springs.

1. What is your role at Integral Care?  

I am the Practice Manager of the Healthy Community Collaborative program – we focus on serving individuals who are chronically homeless and struggle with mental health and substance use issues and helping them get into stable housing.

2. What do you find the most challenging aspect of your job? 

Knowing that the number of extremely vulnerable individuals living on the streets, and the need for affordable low barrier housing, far exceeds what we have in our city.  It is hard to reach out to engage people who have been marginalized by society and not be able to put a roof over their head as quickly as any of us would like.

3. What is on your wish list for the next 5 years with Integral Care? 

I would love to see more housing first projects – housing is a healthcare intervention and our involvement in this fits perfectly with our agency’s mission.

4. What is the favorite part about working for Integral Care? 

Without a doubt, the best part of my job is the leadership in our department.  I have incredibly knowledgeable mentors who have entrusted me with building and leading this program and to know that they have that kind of confidence in me feels great.  Within our program, we have the flexibility to do what is best for our clients and are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box, which is energizing and inspiring for all of us in this work.

5. What is your proudest moment at Integral Care? 

I am most proud of the Healthy Community Collaborative (HCC) team that has been assembled and the amazing work they are doing in our community.  In less than two years, HCC has gone from only me to a team of 30 incredibly dedicated and passionate staff.  Last month, the team held a memorial service to honor clients who had passed away.  The level of support the team showed each other and the relationships that have developed among the staff was an incredibly bright moment during a somber occasion.

6. What is your favorite go-to snack?

Pizza Goldfish (has to be the pizza ones, and not the flavor blasted either)

The Housing First teams provide care, support and crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The mobile, multi-disciplinary staff tailors services to meet each person’s unique needs and provides them wherever the person lives – on the streets, in a shelter or in permanent supportive housing. We will spotlight a staff member each month and share their insight. Read what Darilynn Cardona-Beiler, Associate Director for Adult Behavior Health Services at Integral Care, has to say about the importance of Housing First Oak Springs.

1. What is the most challenging part of housing someone who is chronically homeless?

Our teams work hard each and every day to meet people were they are and help individuals work on their recovery goals including housing. Assisting a person who has been chronically homeless obtain permanent housing is extremely rewarding but it takes time, compassion and dedication. Working with landlords, locating apartments and the needed subsidies to assist a person who is chronically homeless is difficult but really the hard work begins once the person moves in. The transition from living on the streets for years into housing can be unsettling for many. We often say, that’s when the hard work begins. Our teams work hard to build trust and to provide the necessary supports to help individuals stay housed and they do a fantastic job.

2. What is your favorite part of working towards housing vulnerable individuals?

I strongly belief that having safe and stable housing is one of the most important social determinants of health and a basic human right. For many of us, a shower, a bathroom and comfortable place to live is nothing but ordinary. At times of stress or sadness, we long to be home. Home provides hope for a renew sense of self. For those who are chronically homeless, they either stand in line or go without. Our mission, Healthy Living for Everyone inspires me and guides what I do. Supporting our mission and our teams by providing opportunities for people to have healthy lives is what I find the most rewarding. I feel privileged to walk alongside someone who has allow us to be part of their journey and to know that we were able to help them achieve recovery.

3. What is something you are working on right now that you are particularly proud of? (Relating to housing first)

We are working on building the first single site housing first building in our community- Housing First Oak Springs. I am very proud of the work we have been able to accomplish as a community. This project is not only an Integral Care project, but a testament of a large group of committed and passionate individuals who are coming together to make it a reality. This building will have a clinic to expand access to integrated care services in our community, a supported employment program and will be the home to 50 formerly chronically homeless individuals.

4. What is on your wish list for the next 5 years in terms of housing support for our homeless population?

More affordable HOUSING and Supportive Services! We have over 2,000 homeless individuals in our community and over 40% report mental illness or substance use disorders. Our last point in time count estimates a 20% increase from 2015. On my wish list I have more specialized programs to help homeless women and trauma informed services to help this population. Overall, more support services to help secure housing and provide the supports necessary to our consumers so they are able to stabilize and sustain their housing placement. For this population, these supports need to be ongoing and readily accessible.