UMCR received a call regarding two males loitering in front of a Starbucks. Upon arrival, the UMCR team located the individuals and immediately engaged with them in a compassionate and nonjudgmental manner. The team provided both individuals with clothing, Narcan, snacks, water, and hygiene products to address their immediate needs and ensure their safety and comfort. During the interaction, UMCR was able to reconnect one of the individuals with his father by contacting him via telephone. The two made plans to reunite the following day, creating an important opportunity for family reconnection and support.
In addition to offering immediate care, UMCR staff utilized the HMIS/Clarity system to locate the individual’s case manager information and sent an email providing updates regarding the individual’s whereabouts, current needs, and desire for additional support services. This coordination ensured continuity of care and strengthened communication between service providers involved in the individual’s support network.
Throughout the interaction, the UMCR team observed that both individuals were resourceful, communicative, and motivated to improve their current circumstances. They openly discussed their needs and expressed interest in being connected to temporary housing and additional supportive services. By taking the time to listen, build rapport, and provide practical assistance, UMCR helped create a moment of stability and hope during a difficult time.
This interaction highlights the importance of compassionate outreach and the impact UMCR continues to make in the community every day. Through patience, empathy, and collaboration, the team was able to provide immediate crisis support while also helping individuals take meaningful steps toward reconnecting with loved ones and accessing longer-term resources. These moments remind us that even small acts of kindness and connection can make a lasting difference in someone’s journey toward stability and healing.
On April 13, 2026, UMCR Day Team 1P12, Serena and Ana, responded to a call regarding a gentleman outside of a local emergency room requesting assistance with finding shelter. Upon arrival, the team introduced themselves and compassionately engaged with the individual to better understand his situation and immediate needs. He shared that he had been residing in a sober living facility but experienced a relapse the night before. Feeling ashamed and uncertain about returning, he instead checked himself into the hospital seeking safety and support. After being discharged that morning, he found himself without a plan or safe place to go and expressed his desire to find shelter and regain stability.
As the team actively searched for shelter options in the area, Serena and Ana took the time to build rapport and provide emotional support. During their conversation, the individual opened up about his long-term goals, including his hope of eventually returning to school. UMCR staff gently encouraged him to think about the steps needed to achieve those goals. He thoughtfully shared that his first step would be maintaining sobriety, followed by finding stable housing and getting off the streets.
With those goals in mind, the team encouraged him to reconnect with his sober living facility and ask if he could return. Although hesitant and fearful of rejection, the individual agreed to try with UMCR’s support. Serena and Ana assisted him in placing the call, but unfortunately, they were unable to reach anyone at the facility. At the same time, the team was unable to locate any available shelter beds in the area. Despite these barriers, UMCR continued to provide support by offering the individual a warm meal, shelter resources with phone numbers and addresses, and a TAP card so he could utilize public transportation if housing became available later in the day.
Before closing the call, UMCR reminded him of the goals he had shared and encouraged him not to give up. They reinforced the importance of stable housing in supporting his sobriety and future aspirations and encouraged him to continue trying to contact his living facility. A few hours later, dispatch informed the team that the same individual had called back expressing his gratitude for Serena and Ana’s kindness and support. He specifically requested the same team return to assist him because he had successfully reached his sober living facility, and they agreed to take him back.
UMCR responded once again and transported the individual back to the sober living facility. During the ride, Serena and Ana continued offering encouragement and reminding him that he had already taken an important first step toward reaching his goals by choosing stability and returning to a supportive environment. The individual expressed sincere gratitude for the compassion, patience, and active listening the team provided throughout the day. He shared how meaningful it was to feel supported without judgment and thanked UMCR for helping him reconnect with hope during a difficult moment in his life.
This success story highlights the heart of UMCR’s work—meeting individuals where they are, providing compassionate crisis support, and helping people recognize that setbacks do not define their future. Through empathy, encouragement, and practical assistance, Serena and Ana were able to help someone move one step closer toward healing, stability, and renewed purpose.
