An Inside Look: How Families Together Works During a Pandemic
Written by Holly Nelson
On Monday, March 30th at 5 p.m. the stay at home order went into effect. This order, put in place by Governor Roy Cooper, instructed people in the state of North Carolina to stay at home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
This order, although it would save lives, disrupted many routines. It forced people to find a new normal. Many people are working from home. Classrooms have shifted from schools to dining rooms. People are filling roles that they may not have had to take on before.
Although things have changed due to these unprecedented times, the housing crisis in Wake County has not. In 2019, it was reported by the Wake County School system that over 4,000 students were experiencing homelessness. At a time when home means more than ever, Families Together is working diligently to bridge that gap.
Families Together has served in Wake County for 40 years and worked towards the goal of eradicating child homelessness. COVID-19 has changed the ways the organization operates and communicates with the families in their programs.
Jacquelyn Saunee, a Families Together Pre-Housing Mentor Advocate, gave a quick overview of what all her job entails: “I work with families enrolled in our shelter, transitional housing programs, and Rapid Rehousing. I provide case management, support, resources, and referrals to families experiencing homelessness.”
A significant portion of her work includes communicating with families and a majority of that was done in person. She has, of course, changed her approach to communication. No longer can she meet face-to-face with clients, unless it is an emergency. She now has to rely heavily on technology to check in with her clients. This might be by either phone or video calls, depending on the resources the families have.
This transition has been difficult. Families Together takes pride in their commitment and service to the families in their programs. It is difficult not seeing clients almost every day and making sure they get the resources that they need.
Some of the things Jacquelyn is proud of is the hard work her team has put in.
“I am proud of all the hard work that the program team has been doing to support our families- ensuring that our families have the supplies they need, internet access in order to help their kids with virtual learning, etc. I am proud of how quickly we’ve adapted and jumped in to continue providing on-going support to the families we serve.” Jacquelyn said.
Since the start of the stay at home order, Families Together has been able to provide computers and internet access to all the families in the program who need it. There are currently six bridge housing/emergency shelter units and all have been provided with internet and Chromebooks. These resources will allow children to continue their schoolwork.
Although efforts have been successful and have provided the most needed resources to their clients, Families Together is still concerned about the following,
“I worry about children falling behind in school and parents being out of work for long periods of time or not being able to go back to work due to their kids being out of school,” Jacquelyn said. “I worry about the uncertainty of this situation and the lasting impacts that COVID-19 will have on our families.”
Families Together will continue to work at providing affordable housing for families at risk. They continue to provide the resources that their families need in order for them to succeed. On May 5th, Families Together will be participating in Giving Tuesday NOW. A worldwide day of community that will help support organizations in need of funding, awareness, and strength during this pandemic.
Families Together is hopeful that people who share a concern for their mission will give in support of families experiencing homelessness during this time of crisis.