Conveniently attached to the Day Shelter, an on-site Medical Clinic provides uninsured and mentally ill homeless guests with access to primary care, wound care, screening for chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension, and needed prescriptions. In addition to individual counseling, the nursing staff also make regular group presentations in the Day Shelter to increase guests’ understanding of infectious diseases and other prevention issues.

Using a first-come, first-served walk-in approach, the clinic is successful in serving even the most challenging, mentally ill guests who are unable to access a more structured, appointment-based service delivery system. Its location within the Day Shelter enhances the nursing staff’s ability to follow up with fragile clients who have chronic conditions, improving medication and treatment continuity.

The Jobs Program is another component of the Day Shelter. Established in 1989, this program connects homeless guests with day labor and other opportunities for work. Each weekday morning, the staff fields calls from area businesses, contractors, and homeowners requesting workers. Good Shepherd provides each worker with a bag lunch and transports them to the job site.

Typical requests include asking for one individual with some landscaping experience, two able-bodied people to load an elderly neighbor’s moving van, and so on. The program serves as a significant source of skill and resume development for our guests, as well as a significant source of labor for the local community.