Stories From The Macdonald Center
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
"Linda" had been on the streets for over 20 years, and was well known by several street names. She suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome (she was a victim of domestic violence) and suffered from alcoholism. Her family would have nothing to do with her.
We helped her clear her court warrants for “failure to appear” and “open container” violations. She couldn’t get through a detox program because of her mental illness, and the mental health provider wouldn’t help her while she was drinking. She was hit by a car while crossing in a crosswalk, spent several weeks in a hospital (where she detoxed) and with help from her mental health counselor, we found her an apartment. Since that time, she has maintained sobriety (even through the death of her “significant other” of 4 years), lives in an decent apartment and has a dog. She goes on all our outings, and acts as a mother figure to other members. She has met and reconciled with her brother.
No More ER
One of our members, “Sam”, came to us about 5 years ago. He was homeless, alcoholic, often in and out of jail for minor things, and going to an emergency room for psychiatric care about twice a month. He hadn’t had contact with any of his own family members, who lived in Southern Oregon, for years. We helped him to manage his income for his disability checks – buying him food and finding a room for him to rent long enough to establish sufficient rental history for his own apartment. Then we found him a clinic, took him to see a psychiatrist, and helped him to set up a regular prescription for psychiatric meds. We make sure that he takes his medication daily, as prescribed, and obtains refills as needed.
Today, Sam lives in an apartment where he is comfortable and stable. He has not been to the emergency room or in jail for over 3 years. He has a care provider who helps him to take care of personal needs and keep his apartment clean, so that he will not be evicted. He comes to our Member Services office on NW 3rd and Davis every day, to take his medications and give us his daily progress report (updates such as “he is doing well, not drinking, watching too much television,” etc...). Sam has become an important and well-liked part of our community. He has gained the respect of others, and has people to talk with every day. His father now calls him periodically to check in, and he has even been able to reconnect and exchange letters with his teenage son.
RN Referral
"Stephen", schizophrenic & alcoholic, was in restraints in the hospital repeatedly until a nurse sent him to us at Member Services. Since then, he has settled down to life in an SRO apartment (which we clean on a regular basis), has taken several vacations to Indiana to visit family, gets to the beach, picnics and parties. We have seen him through hospitalization for a minor stroke, the resulting medication for blood thinners and the fight in a losing battle against alcohol.
Professor
"Mary" was a college professor, and has published several books of award-winning poetry. Her daughter had been killed in an auto accident and she had been raising her grandchildren when her mind failed. Her grandson ended up in foster care, she ended up homeless. There was no diagnosis when she arrived at Member Services, but we tracked down her ailments – a blood clotting factor problem, discomfort from prosthetics implanted after breast cancer, and ultimately, the diagnosis of Alzheimers. We cleaned her apartment, saw to her clothes, took her cats to a veterinarian as needed, managed her money, and pled with the state to fund an adult foster home. We put a ID bracelet on her with our phone number, and arranged escorts to get her home to her apartment. Last fall we got the state’s OK and moved her to a wonderful foster home for her and her cats. We continue to take her on outings and bring her downtown for visits.
Thank You
“Sally” was welcomed in to the Center ten years ago. She was in her forties and living on the streets, having been evicted from her apartment. She was struggling with drug addiction.
She suffers from almost daily seizures, mental illness, and the effects of past abuse and neglect. She had lost touch with her family and had nowhere else to turn.
At the Macdonald Center, Sally was always welcomed, accepted, given a cup of tea and a hug. Center staff enlisted a network of resources for Sally including local nonprofits, public agencies, a landlord, and a volunteer attorney to help her off the streets and back in to an apartment.
They helped her through relapses, and gave her the support and encouragement she needed to complete a treatment program and earn her G.E.D..
“I don’t know what I would do without the Macdonald Center and the people here. I needed a safe place to go, people I could talk to. Now I have a place to live and a job. I have earned my G.E.D.. I have been clean and sober for almost 2 years. Thank you for everything." ~Sally
