A-SPAN (Arlington Street People's Assistance Network)
WISH LIST: $100: 75 local bus rides to job interviews and appointments; $1000: eyeglasses for 100 homeless persons; $30,000: a new street outreach van
Economic crises are not kind to the vulnerable. As the number of street homeless rises in Arlington, A-SPAN sees more women and more working homeless; in 2010 it expects to see more veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. So A-SPAN's workers reach out to provide basic needs -- frequenting the wooded areas, overpasses, parks, and abandoned buildings where homeless people live, encouraging them to pick up a bagged meal at one of two outdoor locations and to drop in at Opportunity Place, the hub of A-SPAN's operations. Here they can take a shower, wash clothes, secure a health-care referral, and obtain an address (so they can pick up mail and phone messages -- crucial if you are looking for a job). Resume writing, interview coaching, and application assistance are essential services. Eviction prevention helps those at risk of becoming homeless, while permanent supportive housing focuses on the chronically homeless and mentally ill. Winner of six Arlington County Community Hero Awards, A-SPAN meets each client where he or she lives. Your support matters . . . now more than ever.
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