Taking Care of Business
Whenever OFC has an open position available, I am always extremely impressed by the caliber of people who apply. And not just professionally, but ethically as well. As I read through their resumes, I am invited into each applicant’s story and get a brief glimpse into the passion they have for helping people, for serving the marginalized and disenfranchised here in Fort Collins. If I eventually get the honor of meeting an applicant in person for an interview, that impression is often bolstered. These are good people, compassionate people, intelligent people–people we need more of in this world.
What most newcomers to OFC may not know, however, is that a vital component of our work is entirely exclusive of people experiencing homelessness. Every day when we hit the streets for proactive outreach, it is our team’s priority to engage with local businesses to check in, say hello, and occasionally introduce ourselves and offer our services to those we have not yet met. A community based outreach team is only as effective as its partners, and we have found that our relationships with local businesses have been fundamental to our success. Feedback from merchants comes from their own unique experience and point of view, one that we as service providers often miss when we focus too myopically only on the homeless population. Through our conversations with local merchants, we learn how we can best support each of them in their own specific need, whatever that may be. Sometimes businesses call us to respond to an escalated individual near or even inside their workplace. Others call for questions or concerns about folks camping nearby. Some request a training or presentation about who we are and what we do. But as one downtown business owner succinctly said, a great deal of our calls come from merchants when they simply have those “I don’t know what to do moments.” I love that line, and it’s the perfect reason to contact us.
Whenever I have the privilege of speaking with someone unfamiliar with Outreach Fort Collins, I insist on emphasizing that OFC is not merely a homelessness organization but instead a community organization, here to help as many partners as necessary in order to maintain Fort Collins as a safe and welcoming place for all people. So while our most visible role is to support and care for those experiencing homelessness, it is equally our job and our responsibility to take care of merchants, their staff, and their customers.
In short, taking care of business.
And yes, I’m proud of that little pun. . . .