Being an advocate with Loaves and Fishes is a special calling. Advocacy takes many shapes and is a very personalized experience. Many of our homeless neighbors find it difficult to navigate life in general due to mental illness or physical disability. An advocate is present and helps the person navigate tasks that are difficult or impossible in their condition. For example, the task might be applying for Social Security or Disability Insurance. Navigating government bureaucracy can be very difficult when your mind doesn’t function normally. The advocate would help the person obtain benefits for which they qualify. That might mean a few phone calls. Or a trip to the Social Security office. Advocacy can be a one-time event; or an on-going relationship and support. Advocacy will often be a team effort.
CASE IN POINT: George is a 60 year old with mental health issues. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed very powerful drugs to control that condition. He developed a debilitating side affect of the medication: tardive dyskinesia–uncontrollable body movement. That condition has also affected his speech so he is very difficult to understand. Additionally he is illiterate and cannot read. Read the story below told by his advocate.
When I first got to know George–not his real name– I noticed that his body movements and general demeanor varied over time. Sometimes his symptoms were exaggerated; other times not. In conversation with him and his older brother, I learned that he was often without the medication that controlled his symptoms. Living on the street in his condition made his life unmanageable.
I became his advocate:
- made his doctors’ appointments and took him to them; George often forgot or had no transportation. He had not seen his primary care doctor in over three years.
- took him to the UP center to re-certify for his medicaid and food stamps
- took him to his monthly required blood test
- picked up his medicine from the pharmacy
- scheduled appointments with specialist for unrelated conditions; he also had prostate cancer, high blood pressure and vertigo
- accompanied him to medical procedures
- I discovered he had benefits that he was not aware of; made sure he received the benefit each month
- at each of our encounters, I would bring him a home-made sandwich, a snack and a bottle of water.
I also recruited a second advocate to help with appointments. Sam was able to find an room and negotiated a rental agreement that George could afford on his disability pay. Sam also handled many of the medical appointments. Between the two of us, we have made a difference in George’s life. Today, George manages as well as can be expected and his general health has improved. He is no longer homeless.
If you are interested in our Advocates Program, please contact our director for an interview.