Iman Graham works on the front line assessing homeless families in the shelter system to find the right long-term housing solution for them. She gets an up close look at the challenges these families face AND she’s a part of the solution.
COH: What is your role at Community of Hope?
IG: I’m the assessment specialist which is a new role at Community of Hope. My assessment determines which families should receive what type of housing assistance intervention, and it assists in determining the intensity of case management services. The assessment tool I used is called the F- SPDAT (Family Service Prioritization Delivery Assistance Tool) and it focuses on the entire family unit acknowledging that issues with even one family member can impact the entire family unit.
COH: So, you assess families. What’s that process like?
IG: First I meet with the client and they tell me their story. We gather supportive documentation and we score the assessment. That score and documents are sent to a committee for review and they match with the right resources depending on need: one-time, short-term, or long-term. If approved for our housing program, I meet with the client, answer their questions and get lots of signatures on forms. Their new case manager at Community of Hope contacts them within a week to start the housing search process.
COH: You meet families experiencing the raw crisis of homelessness, what are the most common challenges they have?
IG: The most common challenges I see for families who are experiencing homelessness are the feelings of hopelessness, not being heard, and being judged. Add that to the sense that there are no other options but to stay in the shelter system. Also, many of the families enter the shelter system with major barriers to self-sufficiency like emotional, physical and sexual abuse, aging out of foster care, substance abuse, mental health issues, physical health issues, legal issues, financial issues, not having a high school diploma and lacking a support system.
COH: From your experiences working with homeless families, what do you think the general public would be most surprised to know regarding the issue of homelessness in DC?
IG: I feel DC really cares about the homeless population and they are working very hard toward ending homelessness one helping hand at a time. It is a process trying to get homeless families housed and DC wants to make sure families are receiving the right services and not just being housed. Not every homeless family needs permanent assistance but short-term assistance to get them on their feet and teach them to be self-sufficient. I believe the public would be most surprised to know that many of the families that I encounter who are homeless and living in the shelters have many barriers which can be debilitating to the point where they may easily shut down and give up on life. Many families feel that there is no way out and that they are just another statistic and that no one cares. Many homeless families want to work full-time and go back to school to obtain a GED or a specialized certificate. Many of the families in the shelter want to better themselves. Due to certain barriers they cannot work or go to school. Many families who are homeless do not have a high school diploma, so it is very difficult to get a job without a high school education.
COH: What motivates you to come to work although you know you’ll encounter more instances of crisis each day?
IG: I really love making an impact in the lives of others. Before I made my big move to the Washington, DC area from Charlotte, NC five months ago my prayer was to be placed somewhere I could help families in need and be a voice. Not knowing what that place looked like God brought me to Community of Hope and I am glad He did. Everyone has a story to tell. I enjoy listening to the clients and being able to encourage them and give them hope for a bigger and brighter future. The stories I hear are very saddening and disheartening but I am able to use their tough stories to assist them in the right services and with getting housed. My favorite part of my job is informing clients that they have been accepted in Community of Hope’s housing program. I get to see the smile on their face when he or she finds out they are going to have their own place after being homeless for many years and feeling that a shelter was their permanent residence.
COH:Tell me briefly about a family you’ve encountered. What impressed you about them? If you had a magic wand, what would you want most to change for them?
IG: Unfortunately, I meet a lot of women in the shelter system that have no education, they have been sexually abused and they have a mental health issue and are willing to go to desperate measures to do their best for their children. I met a family at DC General that really touched my heart during the Christmas holidays; the head of household was really struggling with many issues, including affording Christmas presents for her children. The client’s story saddened my heart. Tears rolled down her face as she talked about her situation. She volunteered at a hospital twice a week to stay busy but all she wanted was to get a full-time job for more income. She said that she did not want her kids to be without. Just recently, I spoke with the client and she received a housing voucher and she now has a part-time job. She moved into her first apartment after 10 years of couch surfing, sleeping in a car and sleeping in emergency rooms. If I had a magic wand, I would grant her a full-time job and a life filled with joy and happiness.
