News & Updates

After finding meaning in street outreach and global service, Nathan Smith now leads Arizona’s largest shelter system

Authors: Jamie Podratz, Madeleine Lovett, Nathan Smith, Brittnie Stanton

Max is a 61-year-old disabled single adult who lives with significant hearing impairment. During his stay at CASS, Max was referred to the CASS Rapid Re-Housing program.  With no case managers on the Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) team proficient in ASL (American Sign Language), Max and his assigned RRH case manager initially struggled to communicate. To overcome this hindrance, Max and his case manager employed makeshift means of communication via writing, ranging from typing messages into Microsoft Word to marking out their discussions on a whiteboard. Max and his case manager could spend an hour in each case meeting session discoursing by way of text. In the course of their textual dialogue, Max shared with his case manager that his preferred means of communication is to utilize an interpreter via video chat, which requires internet access. Max’s phone and tablet were only capable of picking up a weak internet connection at CASS, rendering such video calls technically infeasible to conduct seamlessly. Given his experience with this impediment in shelter, Max expressed concern that he could completely lose the ability to communicate effectively with the outside world once housed alone in an apartment, unless he had a reliable internet connection. With the assistance of his Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) case manager, Max was able to sign a lease for and move into an apartment on the first of July. For nearly a month, Max had to make do without internet service. But on July 25th, Max and his case manager finally managed to have internet services connected to his apartment through Centurylink. Max was offered high-speed internet at a discounted rate due to his disability status. Fast and stable internet connection in place, Max could now be assured that he would be able to communicate with others in the manner that he finds most comfortable and affirming.

Carol is a 38-year-old woman who came to CASS in March after losing her job and becoming homeless. She is originally from Paradise Valley and has lost contact with all of her family. Carol came to case management appointments expressing a strong desire to find a program through which she could complete CDL training, with the aim of beginning a new career as a commercial vehicle driver. Carol was able to enroll in a driving training program and complete all classwork portions of the program. Now, Carol has her CDL learner permit and can start the hands-on driving portion of the program. Carol was excited upon arriving to her most recent case meeting, as she had just received a job offer in Denver. The company is offering to help Carol finish training, relocate her to Denver, and provide her with a guaranteed position upon completion of training. Currently, Carol is waiting for her entrance date into the program. 

Mike is a 63-year-old African American senior citizen who has worked with a number of different case managers during his time at CASS. Most recently assigned to one of CASS’ longtime intensive case managers, Mike was ably guided toward reconnection with supportive services. Mike’s case manager assisted him with scheduling medical appointments and submitting applications to several senior living facilities.  Unfortunately, Mike’s applications for housing were all denied due to his extensive criminal background. Undeterred, Mike and his case manager put through applications for residency at shared living space properties, but, again, each of Mike’s applications met with a denial. At this point, Mike was beginning to give up hope. Then, the opportunity arose for Mike to be referred for an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV). Mike’s application underwent meticulous review by HUD and other supportive agencies before he was granted an EHV. With the EHV to aid him in his pursuit of housing, Mike was finally able to locate an apartment complex willing to accept him as a tenant. Mike signed the lease for his new apartment at the end of July. Keys to his unit in hand, Mike expressed gratitude to his case manager for her assistance and proclaimed his eagerness to move in (“I cannot wait.”) and determination not to squander this opportunity to live independently (“I will not mess this up.”). Mike also thanked CASS for providing shelter and for the compassionate understanding with which staff treated his experience of homelessness and barriers to housing.