Center for Help and Hope for the Homeless: The IRC

By Ruth D. Anderson

The design on the sign at 407 East Washington Street includes a house with a yellow door with a heart at the center with the sun rising (or setting) behind the house. The sign reads “Help and Hope for those experiencing homelessness” Interactive Resource Center. The graphic and words capture the essence of this day center for the homeless in our community.

As I walked toward the front of the building, with my briefcase and notepad in hand, someone opened the door for me and welcomed me into the large naturally lit room.  Jessie Watkins, Security Officer, smiled and welcomed me again at the front desk. I learned later that Watkins had been homeless and had accessed the resources at the IRC. He wanted to give back and began to volunteer in various capacities at the center. Eventually the IRC witnessed his work ethic and his great personality and asked Lankford Security to train Watkins for the position as Security Officer.

Watkins embodies the one of the center’s missions–as a one-stop shop where people experiencing homelessness can address the many interlocking issues that prevent them from achieving stability in their lives.

Liz Seymour, Executive Director, explains: “We see this as a train station in people’s lives—a space that helps people get to the next place in their lives.” She described other places for the homeless (in other cities) as having a “punitive” atmosphere or an inhospitable environment. She said that part of what makes the IRC in our community unique is that the homeless clients are an integral part of the volunteer pool and staff and that the space is welcoming and hospitable to all who walk through the door.

As Seymour and I walked down the long hall, we stopped to talk with Fred Werstlein, a volunteer and Stephens Minister who offers a jobs skills class each week in one of the many conference rooms. He coaches the clients to tell the truth and to take responsibility for their past and to turn it into a positive new future. For example, if they have been to prison he encourages them to talk about all the skills they learned in their various job capacities while incarcerated. Werstlein grinned: “We talk about how to turn the negative of their past into a positive.”

We turned the corner and went by three offices with volunteer case managers in each room with a client. Seymour said that the volunteers are “trouble shooters” and give information about the resources available at the IRC and in the community. Brenda Gregory, with mental health and addiction expertise and part of the Congregational Nurse Program at Moses Cone Hospital, comes to the IRC each week. She said that the IRC helps the whole person and describes the center as “the best and only resource that meets so many needs” under one roof. Currently Gregory “follows” about 200 homeless and in the past months has referred 600 homeless people to various mental health resources in the community.

We go to another office and meet Tiffany Dumas, the volunteer coordinator. Dumas, coordinates partnerships with outside agencies and recruits volunteers from the community and from within the IRC.

The center encourages clients to volunteer their time in some way at the IRC and provides training in order to bring a professional climate to the volunteerism. Seymour explains: “The clients do a tremendous amount of “stepping up” around here. And this is part of the process to stay connected. Sometimes, when you are homeless, connections get severed and you disconnect from yourself and others.”

We came to another part of the building and saw Watkins, the Security Officer, helping two women access their mail. “Often the person needs to have a birth certificate or other important information mailed to them and they can have it mailed here and know it is handled securely.” Seymour said. This is a great need of the homeless—a secure place to get mail.

We walk past a bank of phones. Each person, working on sending out resumes, can provide a personalize voicemail box for a return call, without letting the employer know that he or she is homeless. This is the kind of practical help that the clients need and the IRC provides each day.

Down the hall from the main lobby we met Sheldon Smith, who does over twenty loads of laundry a day for the clients. Smith had been a volunteer and then worked part time and now works full time in the laundry room and on the grounds. He set up a system for same-day laundry service and also for providing hygene bags to anyone who wants one. This is a zip lock bag containing soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, razors and deodorant. He said he gives out many of these bags each day.

We step inside another room with a barber’s chair and sink for haircuts. Seymour mentions that they could use some volunteer hairdressers for that room. The room has an ironing board set up in it as well. A room next door has clothes for emergencies and for job interviews.

The women’s restroom has lockers and an ample shower stall with a green tile finish. Seymour comments that the green tiles represent the quality that they are seeking at the center. “We want a beautiful space for our clients. A welcoming, beautiful space.”

Then we come to another room with the words Love and Live on the walls and Seymour introduces the staff who help people find shelter and housing. Each day the staff calls all the shelters in the area to ask if there are any open beds. The IRC coordinates with other agencies like The Housing Coalition in order to help those who want are seeking housing.

We come to a large room with 16 computers. HandyCapable, a nonprofit in our county, set up the computer system and BB&T paid for brand new computers through the “Light House Literacy” project. Dr. Lee, a Communication professor from UNCG, walks around the room helping some clients. She is researching the impact that being digital has on the lives of the homeless. She provides some intensive training as several of the clients have little experience with computers. Seymour turns and says: “Another example of the kind of collaborative partnerships from all over the community we have here.”

Will Howard offers a two-week job finding program. Last month he helped 32 people find work. He says that the IRC can help people find jobs and also help people get ready to find work.

The IRC is a beautiful place alive with music, conversation, resources, engaged staff and volunteers. When asked at the end of the tour what the IRC needs right now Seymour says: “Volunteers to help with programs. Also we need rugs, lamps and we would love to have some bag lunches for when clients are working on things here all day.”

Both the sign outside the IRC which says “Help and Hope for those experiencing homelessness” and the graphic with the heart on the door reflect the spirit and work of this center. Seymour summaries: “The vision of the Interactive Resource Center is of a place that is accessible, comprehensive and effective; a healing force, and a place where those experiencing homelessness genuinely feel at home.”

More about The Interactive Resource Center:

For more information about volunteering at the IRC call Tiffany Dumas at 336-544-5423 or visit the IRC at 407 E. Washington St, Greensboro NC 27405

To purchase a cookbook call Teresa Hicks at 336-544-5424. All profits from cookbook sales will support the IRC’s emergency fund to provide short-term assistance for those with urgent needs not covered by other services. The cost of the book is $15.

Guilford Nonprofit Consortium: A collaborative of nonprofit organizations in Guilford County that fosters mutual assistance and support within the nonprofit community to create a more efficient and effective nonprofit sector.

Information: 544-0565; www.guilfordnonprofits.org or dnewton@guilfordnonprofits.org

Ruth D. Anderson, PhD

Executive Director of The Servant Leadership School of Greensboro

Member of Programming Guilford Nonprofit Consortium

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