The doors opened at Outreach in Burnside at 10 a.m. sharp, as they do daily. A few regular members are waiting with me. A gracious young woman opens the door and lets us in. As I am invited to make myself comfortable while I wait for Dorothy, the members are helping themselves to coffee and snacks. A few sit down just to relax, while another has a question about the whereabouts of his Social Security check. Another member waits to talk to a counselor. Shortly, Dorothy Jensen, the executive director, comes out and leads me back into the office area to tell me about this multifaceted organization.
Outreach in Burnside was started in 1982 by Sister Maria to help the disabled poor of the neighborhood through money management, personal care and advocacy. When she started, she toted a pack around Portland's Burnside area and met with people in hotel lobbies and such before a location was established. Sister Maria, who passed away about three years ago, had the ideas and the inspiration for her ministry to expand.
Although they have many facets, their underlying function is money management, the key to the organization. Money management is critical for the mentally ill community that often faces challenges in handling their own money. Many of the clients have had credit card or gambling problems. The organization's Outreach Money Management Assistance educates them in money management. Although they do not dispense any cash to their members, they provide a multitude of services, such as store-to-door grocery shopping, setting up doctor appointments, arranging transportation, and dispensing medications to those who tend to forget about or just not want to take them. The money management services are open from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday. From 1 to 3 p.m., food, clothing and some household items are available for members. In some cases, Outreach will cover the rent for a member if his or her check was delayed in the mail.
Outreach in Burnside has about 60 members currently using the organization's services. When the ministry began, it catered primarily to people suffering from alcoholism, whereas today it focuses on people with mental disabilities. The typical member is elderly and has a mental problem that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to manage their money. A Social Security Disability check monthly is a minimum of $603. The amount varies considerably between the person who has had a life-long disability and the person who became disabled from a work accident. Those disabled as a child may subsequently receive a portion of their father's social security income.
Outreach has several paid staff and a wide range of volunteers, from school children and college students to nurses from Oregon Health and Science University and laity. Among their staff are Peggy Pillette, a Holy Name sister; Laurie Davis, who handles member payee work and advocates for the people having problems getting social services; Mike Quinn, administrative assistant; Jesse Nava, personal care provider since 1987; and Calvin Martinez, who handles emergency services, including clothing issues.
Located on the northwest corner of NW 3rd Avenue and Davis Street, the ministry was able to acquire additional space next to their same location in 1996, thus doubling their work space. Dorothy came on in 1997 as executive director.
Dorothy and I chatted as various staff members went about their duties and tended to the members' needs. They are a big family; no formalities, on a first-name basis and very hospitable. Dorothy's forte is organization within the many functions of this small nonprofit, making sure, as well, that the organization complies with set standards. Outreach is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
How do people find out about Outreach in Burnside? The majority of the Outreach's members are referred to them by other agencies such as JOIN, Northwest Pilot Projects, the Social Security offices or by other members.
Many small nonprofits like Outreach in Burnside depend on donations in order to keep their doors open. Outreach receives grants from foundations and donations from corporations and individuals. Their mere existence wouldn't be possible without the help of its many volunteers who care about their purpose in the Rose City. Companies such as Albertson's and Starbucks provide coffee and snacks for the members. Donations are picked up by volunteers, who even shop for some of the members. They make doctor appointments and even have an account at a pharmacy to make sure no one is without their needed medication. Outreach even provides wheelchair accessible showers and laundry facilities.
There are some myths about mentally ill people. To many, they are "dirty bums that made bad choices," Jensen said. "We want to educate people and dispel the myths."
The realm of mental illness is fathomless, and often coupled with physical disabilities. Dual diagnoses, which usually involve an addiction of some kind, exist and have to be dealt with. Some of Outreach's clients have been doctors, teachers and programmers. Outreach in Burnside is educating us about this overly neglected population and is doing their job. Thank you, Outreach, for being there and making a difference.
Outreach in Burnside can be reached at (503) 225-0590, or by e-mail at omib@aracnet.com. They are on the Web at www.outreachinburnside.org.