Reentry Wednesday

(Photo courtesy Beach House Family Shelter)

Wednesday was pleasantly busy.

FIRST STOP: At 9 am, I went over to Mercy H.E.L.P., the division of Mercy Health Partners that handles Medicaid cases, to talk to them a little about the Ohio Benefit Bank. It was very informal, just an informational presentation in a woman's office.

It was my first solo presentation and I think I was a little sporadic in my explanation/delivery, but luckily the two people there already had a pretty good idea what the Benefit Bank was about, so it was fine and now they are on their way to becoming a site, yay!

SECOND STOP: Next up was a monthly meeting called the Family Support and Reentry Resource Meeting (top photo). It's an informational meeting for ex-offenders and their families, a place to hear about area agencies that can serve their needs and connect them with help.

There were a lot more people there than I was expecting -- probably close to 100. One of these months, I'll have to give the little schpiel about Benefit Bank in front of them (eeks!), but this time my VISTA leader did it. Afterward, if people are interested in what an agency said, they'll come up and talk to you about it -- some actually interested and some because their parole officers make them.

The meeting was held in the County Commissioner's Chambers, which I'd never been in before. I got lost trying to find the place -- the first time Mapquest has failed me in a long time. I had to stop and ask for directions. When I finally made it, it was SUPER windy -- I thought I was going to blow off the parking garage.

Just before that meeting, I got some bad news. The just-released prisoner I met last week at the library who'd lost his food stamp application called to say he'd just gotten his letter from Jobs and Family Services and his appointment wasn't going to be for another month.

He has no income, no way to buy food, and should be eligible for expedited food stamps, which mean within 3-7 days instead of 30. I said that didn't seem right and I'd ask around, but when I asked, I was told JFS is so swamped that that is the soonest they are getting people in. There's apparently no such thing as expedited food stamps right now. All they can do is shrug and tell people to make do with food pantries until they can be seen. So I had to call back and tell him that. But I guess at least it gives him some time to collect his documents, etc. And find a ride.

THIRD STOP: Next was a site visit at Beach House Family Shelter. It was their last step in becoming a site and the caseworker I met with was about to be trained as a counselor, yay!

Beach House -- isn't that a great name?! I figured it was called Beach House because a connotation of luxury and relaxation is perfect for an emergency shelter where women, children and families might have a real roof over their heads and be relaxing under someone's attention and care for the first time in a long time. But it turns out Beach was actually the last name of the shelter's founder. So that's even better - a clever double meaning. I love it. (I know, I'm a dork.)