A-SPAN: Helping Homeless People in Virginia

Everyday on my way to work, I pass homeless people on the street. Sometimes they walk up to me and ask me for spare change. As always I am always in a hurry and my mind is on the job or on something else, so as I walk hurriedly toward my office building; I do not stop and even consider these people. Sometimes depending on what mood I am in, I will give them any spare change I might have. Other times, I pass them by without a word.

What really made me take notice the other day, as I was getting off the subway, and hurriedly walking by, this homeless man was talking to this guy, who had pulled up in a pretty blue and white truck, this women who was walking beside me said, oh that’s the guy from A-SPAN. So I asked her what is A-SPAN, and she proceeded to tell me its the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network. Well I never heard of them, but it did peek my interest. I think the reason it really peek my interest the other day, was I was thinking of doing some kind of community service.

A-SPAN is a non-profit organization that started up in 1991 to help end homelessness in Arlington, Virginia. The out-reach program was targeted to provide direct out-reach to homeless individuals in the Rosslyn area. What I found so interesting is that the out-reach workers, actually go out into the streets and find these homeless people. They go out and approach a homeless person, develop a comradary with them. The approach is hands on, and requires a lot of persistence, flexibility and of course creative ideas to get the homeless to be trusting. I think the main approach here is to offer respect to them and to gain their trust.

It really takes a certain amount of devotion from people to do this type of work. Its hard building relationships with the homeless. Many of them have lost their way in society. Some may have lost their jobs and have no one who will take them in. Some are runnaways, or what ever circumstances it took for them to get where they are. Which makes me realize that many of us are living from pay check to pay check. I think we take things for granted and feel we will not end up like them, but there are no guarentees in life; and the truth is we really do not know if we will be come homeless too.

Once the bond is started with a homeless person, A-SPAN assigns a case manager, who then encourages the homeless person to start setting goals to leading them to self-sufficiency. Having this direct street out-reach approach is the main goal . Some will seek the services that A-SPAN offers. Building a self-sufficiency can be tedious. Once a bond is establish and you get them to go to the shelter, they get bedding, and this is the first step toward self-sufficiency and permanent housing.

If your looking to Volunteer your time this is a good Non-Profit Oganization I recommend. If you do not live in the Arlington, Virginia area. Perhaps you can find a organization in your area. www.A-SPAN.org