Father Bill's & MainSpring has Outreach teams that connect with members of our community who choose to sleep outside or in their cars. It's common that individuals staying outside have experienced severe trauma and have difficulties adapting to the structure and socialization that accompany shelter and housing.
Our Outreach specialists utilize a framework called progressive engagement to work with individuals hesitant to accept services. It focuses on taking opportunities to build relationships as soon as contact is made and working to build trust at the individual’s pace.
Particularly in extreme cold and hot weather, our Outreach teams mobilize to hand out essential items, such as water, blankets, food, clothing, and to remind individuals they can, if they choose, access safe shelter offering meals and health care services.
