"I've found my life again!"

 

"I've found my life again!" A Christmas story of setbacks and of triumph!     Jackson was motivated, and he was only 18. “Do you know what motivates me, Mr. Terry?” he declared. “It’s my baby son!”    COVID-related closures were in full force. He hadn’t been sober, wasn’t even as he spoke, but he had just gotten an ID card. As I did when I met each of our 577 clients last year, I wondered how things were going to go for him.    Fast-forward a few months and, unfortunately, any progress Jackson made had vanished inside a bottle of alcohol. He had adopted two other young street youth as brothers, and they too had absorbed severe setbacks.   “Everyone in my life is a gang member, drug addict, homeless or in prison, Mr. Terry,” he told me when next we met. “The only family member who wants good for me is my grandmother. But I’m still gonna do it. I’m gonna leave all that behind.”    Jackson returned this fall. He sat in peer support group, awaiting his turn to share. When it came, he exclaimed loudly and joyfully, “I’ve found my life again! I’ve found my joy again! I dance and sing in my own house! I buy my own groceries! I visit and support my son!”    From a nearby chair, another group member shared similar experiences and provided encouragement to all. Two others – a couple – listened quietly, taking it all in. They had just begun the same journey and were yet to taste success.   It’s really a gift to walk beside these awesome people as they find themselves. Sometimes it’s self-discovery. Often, it coincides with their discovering the Creator. It’s always beautiful to behold!    We could not sustain this ministry of guidance, rebirth and growth without the faithful Creator and Author whom we celebrate this season. We also wouldn’t dare attempt this ministry without you! Merry Christmas and thank you!    Blessings to you and yours!

SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022 -- Central Library Outreach

 

We have always known that young adults need different development guidance than older homeless adults. We invite them to shop at no cost in our Sunshine Store, but changes in their lives occur through repeated, sustained guidance counseling delivered in a cost-effective mix of individualized and group interactions, including our Help Line and private messaging via text and social media.
   Prior to the pandemic, we were about to launch something new. We know street youth typically have few problems getting hired, but they have great difficulty keeping jobs. They are rarely fired; rather, they quit because they lack the “soft skills” like negotiating, successful confrontation and anger management.

SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022

   “Jackson,” another client, said this: “It’s so important that you have a place for people who aren’t yet ready. Many programs require that you’re sober and get cleaned up first.” Sometimes clients come just to take naps. This might not appear productive, but it gives them a safe place to rest, and they are greeted by a friendly, encouraging staff. Though apprehensive at first, our entire team is now welcoming the changes and seeing the fruits of their labor. They are a fantastic team, but we would never attempt this ministry without the backing of amazing supporters like you.

SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022

 

A former client I’ll call Robert told us this: “It’s so important that you offer the skills upstairs in the Learning Center to help people get jobs, keep them, and move up to better paying jobs. If all the homeless organizations in Austin worked together and provided different services to fit together, it could be so awesome!”
   Alan, one of our team members, had this to say about our new services: “It’s really great that we have a place where the six people who want to move forward today can go and not be distracted by the entire group of 20, many of whom are not yet ready for a change.” Our in-person events as well as our virtual groups allow clients to progress at their own pace and with convenience that makes it more likely they will engage.
   We haven’t abandoned fun engagements. Our Event Center still hosts clients in a relaxing environment several times each week. One client I’ll call Adrian was frequently observed drinking outside before we added these events. Now he attends the events because he loves playing board games with our volunteers. The other day, instead of playing games, he was filling out benefit forms.

SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022

 Our major changes started this fall. It was a worrisome, difficult time, but one of our clients – I’ll call her DeeDee -- sent this feedback soon afterward: “I love coming to groups in person. They are helping me make the decision to stay away from meth and keep sober. Thank you so much!”

    During the pandemic, we responded to public health requirements and moved to virtual and outdoor services. We also responded to the crushing need for clothing and food by people of all ages, and we relaxed our client criteria. We provided so many meals and so much clothing because we were often the only source available. It strained us beyond our capacity. As the crisis appears to have diminished, we are returning our focus to young adults only.

Our reach-outs in Austin, San Marcos yielding results!

   Thanks to your continuing generosity, we have been able to expand our services to additional locations in Austin while maintaining our outreach to San Marcos and the drop-by services we provide from our base at the Drop-in Center.
   Here are some examples of the impact your gifts, volunteer efforts and prayers meant to us during the month of June:

• We reached 20 clients on our various Austin outreaches to places like the Central Library, Skatepark and several recreation centers.Two of them engaged in the kind of deeper conversations that steer them toward making major changes in their lives.
• We met with 156 clients a total of 955 hours to provide services from our drop-by, engaging them in 102 deeper conversations. That's just in June!
• Fifty-four clients reached us over our Help Line, making a total of 137 calls that included 113 deeper conversations.
• Our five group events -- Bible study, prayer, women's, peer support and Talent Night -- drew 34 clients over 62 hours and included 116 deep conversations.
• Our outreaches to San Marcos reached 11 clients.
• Donors of non-food items gave us $4,288 worth of supplies and served a total of 87 hours while doing so.
• Donors of food served 87 hours and delivered and helped sort or process $2,526 worth of food.

SYMin client's talent blooms!

 

Azul was 19 when she came to Austin. She expected to get her first apartment and begin her adult life, but soon after her arrival, she encountered difficulties that eventually left her no place to go but the streets.

A chance encounter!

   Then one day, outside a Starbucks near the SYMin drop-by, she had a pivotal encounter: one of our staff members, Tondra, took an interest in her plight and let her borrow a sleeping bag for the approaching chilly night.
   Since that moment, Azul has been a familiar face in our on-line group sessions and at the drop-by, where she often visits with the team. She began to achieve goals that led her to a series of positive steps in her life.

A good job, personal growth!

    Azul is rightfully proud of her progress and loves the benefits that accompany it: being housed, seeing a therapist regularly, and keeping a good job with a company that offers growth potential and treats her like a professional with a clean slate.
   Azul is an amazing poet and expresses her creativity and lived experiences through her beautiful words. We are so glad to know her!

Days of our lives during August!

 (Notes from the team about client progress, events, news)

Mon 8/2 -- Six clients braved the rain to come for needed supplies. Thank you to volunteers Amanda Hyde and Rachel Durkin-Drga (pictured) for organizing our third floor arts room, and thanks to Keep Austin Fed for the sesame orange glazed pork, rice and veggies for clients! We have begun outreach in East Austin on Mondays.
   The rainy weather today actually was a boon: We served three groups by stopping at two locations -- near the Boggy Creek Greenbelt and under the parking cover at a boarded-up Sonic near the HEB on East 7th Street. Clients included two older folks who got meals and referrals for housing through HACA.
   We served all of them meals, toiletries and canned food. We explained what we do, gave out flyers and answered questions that they asked about Jesus. All reported dangerous situations and one was healing from gunshot wounds.

Tue 8/3 --  Today was a nice, cool, overcast day with 12 clients looking for snacks to help make it through the day. One told about maintaining housing, and another told us of prospects for a new job.
   Our men’s group today was a hybrid, with both in-person and on-line participants joining us in the newly dubbed “hideout” inside our Drop-in Center. All first-time participants get SYMinU (SYMin University) credits sufficient for a weekly bus pass. Great donations came today from St. Luke's of the Lake Episcopal Church near Steiner Ranch. Included were coloring books from a local Austin illustrator.

Wed 8/4 -- Seventeen clients dropped by today, one of them newly homeless, to get food and learn what services were available. Thank you to Jean and Dennis Brender for generous food donations!

Thu 8/5 --Today was cloudy and overcast with a little rain early, but it stopped before we closed and gave us enough time to serve nine visitors. The food bags given to some included items with pop-tops, ready to eat!

 “Cooking with Yoly” class today taught us to make delicious tuna salad sandwiches with our camping bag supplies and some very special homemade pickles! Participants shared food and cooking stories, and Terry was our tester. A tough job!

   

Fri 8/6 --Today, a mess outside greeted us when we arrived at the drop-by, but when clients realized we would not open unless it was cleaned up, they took action and did the job! Eleven of them managed to get food and service as a result. One client redeemed SYMinU points for a Bluetooth wireless headphone. Rosie and Terry were able to connect with four clients in San Marcos

Mon 8/9 -- Thirteen clients came today, and one of them wants to go back to high school and turn his life around. Interns Emma and Molei made some paper fans as part of Chill Week, and clients loved them!
   Terry and Rosie worked East Austin, spreading the word about SYMin services for young adults 28 and under. At the drop-by, we gave out 20 meals, cold water and lots of clothing and toiletries. Keep Austin Fed provided meals of teriyaki meat balls, rice and veggies.
    A wonderful youth group from Christ Church of Austin joined us to learn what we do and why it matters. Then they helped decorate our planters and make a new trash can for visitors.

Tue 8/10 -- Today we welcomed 13 visitors to the drop-by. One received a bag with frozen meats and veggies; all were looking to fulfill daily needs, including clothing and a hot meal. Unfortunately, an illegal camp re-appeared overnight in front of our walkway, and for a time it looked like an old “skid row.” SYMin will not open while camping and littering the sidewalk and walkways prevent safe access for our clients.
   Austin Public Health gave its fifth vaccination clinic this summer for us, and five clients received their shots so they could work, not worry about getting COVID later, support their decision to turn their lives around better, and receive a small gift card as a thank you from SYMin.
    Wed 8/11 --  It took a while before the clients understood we would not open for service until camps were cleared from the walkways around the drop-by. We stayed closed 1.5 hours while homeless neighbors cleaned the area; eight clients received food and drink once we were able to open.
    Thu 8/12 -- Today the illegal camp was present and quite unsanitary when we first arrived at 11, so opening was delayed ‘til 12:30. We had to close early at 3 p.m. because of overcrowding at our gate with loud noise and inability to mask or keep social distance, but we made sure anyone who came specifically to see us was served. We had two visitors in the Cooking with Yoly class; they earned enough SYMinU bonus points for weekly bus passes and helped make sandwiches for visitors too old to receive other services. The team celebrated our summer intern Emma Ward and wished her good luck as she leaves to return to school, where she is studying to be a teacher.

Clients convert work, learning to helpful rewards via SYMinU points

 

We get our best ideas from clients. They want to volunteer and they want to “earn” goodies that are available only in limited quantities, so we folded these into our SYMinU experience.

    Clients earn points for the effort and duration of helpful tasks like taking out trash, sweeping sidewalks, raking leaves, breaking down boxes for recycling and cleaning up neighborhood messes. The points are redeemable for things like:

   ● phone chargers, phone banks, and charger cables

   ● reset phones capable of wifi calls without service or activations without contracts

   ● headphones (both low- and mid-range)

   ● entry level smartphones

   ● guitars

   ● laptops

   ● monitors

Clients can earn points in other ways, like studying life skills on-line and passing quizzes over what they learn, but we get them started with volunteering. 

It’s something they love.

"Chill Week" carries a message of peace

From Aug. 9-14, we carried out a “Chill Week” theme, aiming to lessen the effects of the heat by focusing on snow, ice, cold treats, etc. We handed out fans, water balloons, ice cream and popsicles at the drop-by, and we held Bible studies about cooling our anger and trusting fully in God -- sort of “chilling” in His capable hands. Some clients took these messages to heart; others, unfortunately, made less wise choices. When this happens, we enforce boundaries, including closing until clients are willing to obey the rules, which meet the needs of us and our clients. We try hard not to be the authoritarians. Suggestions: Give our team and visiting clients what is critically needed -- safe and clean conditions to interact.

   The Aug. 10 barbecue/game night in east Austin was held as scheduled -- a peaceful island in a stormy ocean caused by high anxiety of homeless people about the camping ban and changes, the ongoing rise of COVID issues, and the rising temperatures. Five clients, two team members, one volunteer and barbecue vendor Mrs. Val attended. One client spoke of a long-term plan for sobriety. Another’s spirit was lifted by a new fun job and relationship that feels life-giving. A young family of five talked of the hope of finding permanent housing, especially with a fourth child on the way. A volunteer shared organizational tips and spoke of being more intentional about letting friendships grow in difficult times.
   “Jesus did not have peace following His ministry,” team member Suzanne Zucca wrote afterward. “Quite the opposite, drama and devilish schemes followed Him continuously. But He WAS peace. He shushed the wind and the waves. He drove out demons and healed sickness. He shifted perspectives and brought the kingdom of heaven in exchange for the hell in people’s lives.
   “We carry the person of Christ in our bodies. Our job is to abide with Him and let Him abide with us enough privately that we overflow with His love, joy and peace publicly. The beauty of this is that no matter how scorching the circumstances around us may be, we have the Prince of Peace under our tent, and any who choose to engage with us will enjoy the peace and rest that exist in the oasis of His presence.”