Colleen Carroll, Nurse Clinic Volunteer & Member of WSCC Associate Board 

As one of the volunteers in the nurse driven clinic at the West Side Catholic Center, I try and be mindful of current events going on in society that may impact the health and wellness of our clients so I can anticipate their needs when I see them in clinic. Usually I worry about hot weather impacting a client's hydration status, or transportation setbacks affecting a client's ability to get to where they need to be for a job interview, or even a hot meal. This past winter, I held my breath as the flu made its rounds, praying that our unique client population would be spared. I thought that was the worst of it. But a pandemic? The thought never crossed my mind until this year. 

I've worried a lot this past month about the clients we serve at the center. Homelessness presents a significant risk for numerous comorbidities. Often, these are chronic conditions, like diabetes or COPD, that stick with these clients throughout their journey to self-sustainability. In the clinic, we see frequent flare ups of such chronic conditions, poor adherence to prescription  medications due to lack of access, and a general feeling of helplessness from our clients when it comes to health maintenance. Often, we are the first healthcare professionals these clients have seen in some time. Combine these factors, and an assortment of others, and it's easy to see how quickly these clients find themselves in the "high risk" category in regards to COVID-19. 

While the virus is designed to attack one's physical health, it may in fact be our clients' mental health that I worry about more. I hear the same thing time and time again from family, friends, and the internet- social isolation is making us feel incredibly lonely. With limited access to our usual distractions, we are finding ourselves with excess time alone with our own thoughts. It's an easy pathway for our darkest insecurities, deepest fears, unresolved trauma, and memories of our worst mistakes to seep into the forefront of our minds. This leaves us feeling helpless and desperate for clarification on our purpose in all this. For the homeless and under-resourced population, this concept is not new. Our clients often refer to this forced chronic isolation brought on by stigma. Clients endorse that this prolonged feeling leads to disturbances in mental health, an aspect of care which we prioritize heavily in our clinic. With increased isolation measures and many of their needed resources unavailable, I worry about the worsening of these symptoms. 

What eases my worries is the creatively driven work being done at the West Side Catholic Center. While the center's many employees and volunteers are well-trained in adaptability, their commitment to continue to serve this community is second to none. They have fine-tuned their to-go meal program so that clients can benefit from the nutrition they need to keep their immune systems robust. Knowing that the in-house social workers and case managers are working profusely to stay engaged with clients via phone allows for a confidence that these clients' social needs and mental health aren't slipping through the cracks, while proper social distancing measures are being used so as to protect the physical health of our clients. The installation of the outdoor porta potties showcases an undying dedication to preserving the rights to sanitation and dignity, rights that need to be honored now more than ever. Watching such committed advocates put their head together to continually produce new ways to be there for our clients has really helped me to maintain a sense of optimism through this pandemic. Every person should feel safe, healthy, and cared for, and the West Side Catholic Center's commitment to honor this in the most difficult of times is something I will celebrate until the cows come home. I am so grateful to get to watch and continue to learn how to best advocate for our beloved clients.

Judi Delorenzo

We miss everyone. 15 years ago I started in April volunteering at WSCC. I Love the heart & Spirit of the place. I have seen mini miracles (I call them) happen a lot. We are praying for all of the WSCC   clients especially.😘🙏😇.  Stay safe & Blessings judiD