Here is a compilation of quotes written by our volunteers during the ’12-’13 mid-year reflection session about their experiences on the Outreach Van. (All authors have been kept anonymous)
“The most amazing aspect of OVP thus far is being able to see how much the clients appreciate the van coming out each week. Through each trip on the van I can tell that the clients appreciate the consistency of the van and having someone to talk to each week. I can tell some of the new clients are somewhat shocked that we are so compassionate which is extremely rewarding.”
“OVP has given me the opportunity to interact with and get to know people from different backgrounds from myself. I have enjoyed every time I’ve been out on the van and love being able to give back to the Boston community. All in all, OVP has been a great experience for me. I thought it was great to see that our physicians have developed such strong relationships with our clients.”
“My first time on the van, I spent some time serving food, but mostly talked with the people in line that came to the van every week. Immediately, the experience reminded me of my motivation to become a physician. I began to understand where some of our BMC patients came from and hope to reference this memory whenever meeting a new patient, especially those who cannot even afford basic care that we all receive and think of as necessary. Although I could not yet provide medical treatment, I was able to heighten my own awareness and provide those basic needs that begin as basic healthcare.”
“I thought that the experience was a very interesting one in that it was great to get the opportunity to actually be out on the streets where a fair amount of these people are found. I felt it to be great to get to not only serve these people who have been hit by a series of unfortunate events but also the experience through their eyes, how they live their lives and, even better, how they got there. Learning and seeing that these people who are homeless are people that could have been your friend, your family, or anyone you know was eye opening.”
“OVP has been a great experience in that I’ve been able to interact with the homeless population more conversationally in a non-clinical setting. I’ve been able to learn about the challenges that this population faces, and the unique spirit with which they overcome the. I am inspired by their resilience and the courage that they display every day.”
“Obviously, one of the main reasons for joining OVP was to give back to the community and to help others. That was easily accomplished. The other main reason I joined was to have personal interactions with individuals that I would not have interacted with otherwise. While I feel that was accomplished with a could of individuals, but that many of they clients get what they need and leave shortly after. I wish more people would stay and “hang out” so that we could get to know them better and foster friendships.”
“I think the most valuable thing for me thus far through OVP has been developing my understanding that the people I work with, the other volunteers and our clients, are my teachers. Especially the clients. There are things that I can’t learn from anyone else that they know, both from their experiences with homelessness as well as just their own unique life experiences. I think this is exercise in opening our hearts to people we may not know, or maybe that we think don’t have things in common with. But in fact, as we practice approaching others with open hearts and minds, we get better and better at building those bridges. It’s a skill that I feel very lucky to be able to develop.”
“What a wonderful experience to develop a deeper personal relationship with our clients and understand some of the daily struggles they face. It would be so easy to make assumptions about who a patient is during a visit or by not asking the right questions. I feel lucky to have an insight that will help me better understand my future patients.”
“Being part of the Outreach Van Project has given me a desire to learn more about the homeless population within Boston and in other cities within the US. I realize that urban poverty in the US can be drastically different in many ways from urban poverty in other parts of the world and of course rural poverty as well. Seeing the East Boston community through OVP has really placed a face on homelessness for me and I am always curious to know how people end up homeless and how we can use our skills and resources to alleviate and/or prevent homelessness at the source. Working with OVP has also helped me shatter some preconceived notions and generalizations of the homeless and I hope to continue to build relationships and understand the homeless perspective.”
“I saw people’s sense of need handing out food and can’t blame them for taking as much as they can. It was striking to see the interaction between the clients; some offer to take less so others can get more while some come back and demand serves, and I left thinking about how differently people react to these adverse circumstances.”
“I think one thing I find really cool about OVP is how much clients look forward to the van coming out each time- they’re always there waiting for us to come and those who are there regularly stick around and talk to us. It really seems like they have a lot of trust in the group. Even though the people switch out on each van shift, they still seem really connected to the group.”
“I have been out on the OVP van twice so far and both times I have been struck by the response that the homeless and low-income individuals have towards our group. They are very appreciative and thankful for our help and most of them have a smile on their face when they meet us. This has helped me realize how it can be so easy to take for granted what we all have and if these individuals can be positive and thankful for what they have, then we should all try to emanate that each and every day.”
“I am inspired by the kindness and positivity of the homeless clients we serve on the van. Even if we start to run out of clothing and food, all of our clients are still extremely thankful that we are there, and many stay around to talk with the OVP volunteers. Having an opportunity to talk with our clients has been an invaluable learning experience and has really helped me understand the challenges that homeless people face on a daily basis.”
“This experience was very transformative for me, which is ironic because in hindsight I know I assumed that the patients would be the only ones benefitting. Benefitting from what, I have no idea, since I know literally nothing about medicine. However, with just a few experiences to draw from, my entire perspective on the health needs of this population has changed. I have an entirely new set of insights into what the “picture of homelessness” truly is. And I know it will shape the way I look at and treat future patients with similar means.”
“I’ve only been out on the van one time so far, but it was an interesting experience. We tried to help out a man considering suicide who felt he had no one to talk to. We provided food for a mother and her children who came through the line multiple times for food that night. I didn’t really know what to do, because they were working the system to get more food before others received any, but they were small children and hungry.”
“One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of the clients we are working with don’t know what their resources are, so I realized how important programs like this are. Also, having resources to give homeless populations allows us to interact with them and help them in ways that are difficult to do when you pass by them on the street.”
“The experiences I have had so far with OVP have been awesome. It is very rewarding to give back to the less fortunate. To see how they live, and the trials and tribulations they must go through on a daily basis is very eye opening. There definitely are times when I reflect on how lucky I am as an individual.”
“Overall, I feel like OVP has done a great job meeting some of the basic needs of the homeless population in East Boston. One of the biggest surprises has been seeing a very polite, courteous, and outgoing group of regulars in East Boston- something I wasn’t expecting. I’m not looking for this, but it makes me feel better about serving people who are grateful and appreciative. I think this speaks well for how we spend our time and resources to better others. It’s much more fulfilling to volunteer my time and be intentional through OVP instead of donations alone.”
“I’ve only had two van trips so far, so I feel like I have yet to really develop my impressions. But, some things that have stuck out to me so far are the diversity, in many respects, of our clients. Cultures, ages, personalities; it’s an interesting mix to interact with. And a challenge. I have also seen it cause some tension, as some people are more observant of rules or fairness than others. I think the support network is fantastic. Whether it’s students on the van or everyone at EBNHC, there is an impressive amount of work and commitment to providing for this community. Universal health coverage is awesome. When the van pulls up, I was surprised the first time at the sense of pressure there is- everyone is ready to go, except us, at first. I wonder how aware the clients are about what is available to them at EBNHC, and how we can facilitate them using those resources.”
“I thought this was a very good experience. I wish more students at BU were able to participate in this type of program. I learned a lot about the various determinants of health in homeless populations and what medical and health professions can do to improve the conditions related to homelessness. I think physical and medical students are in a privileged position to advocate for increased or continuous support for these services.”
Below is a compilation of quotes written by our volunteers during the 2010-11 academic year about their experiences on the Outreach Van. All names (volunteers and clients) have been changed for privacy purposes.
“A home is something many people take for granted. It is so much more than just a name of a structure, it is a place where we can keep our valuables without fear of robbery, a place where we can keep warm or keep cool, a place we can retreat to if anything were to go wrong, a place where we feel safe, a place where people know they can always reach us, and a place which forms the foundation upon which we build the rest of our lives.”
“One man who made a weekly appearance beamed with pride as he spoke of his 11-year-old daughter’s academic skills. “She’s already reading at a high school level!” he exclaimed proudly. We may think of homeless people as wanderers, people without goals and without drive. And perhaps for some this is true. But others have aspirations and, like any other parents, want for their children what they never had, or what they had and lost.”
“Every week that I go out on the Van, most everyone expresses their gratitude with a “Thank You” and “God Bless You,” and many people (often the same people each week!) give a speech about how thankful they are they we take time out of our lives to come and help them. I wish I could convince them that they are really the ones helping us – they help us learn to be better listeners, better caregivers, and better people in a way that school does not.”
“These “homeless” people were not nobodies, not part of an alternative society. They were just like us, with families, wives, kids, looking for that next job, waiting out this last hardship. They came to us for support, for food and medical advice, and for clothing.”
“It has enabled me to have conversations with homeless people and learn about their lives and needs as I’ve never done before. Through these conversations I’ve learned that these homeless people are just that, they’re people.”
“What most surprised me on my first trip out on the van (though in retrospect, I’m not sure why) is that many of the clients are not homeless, but see the van as another of the many social services that they rely upon to remain housed.”
“He came a bit later in the evening and unfortunately at the time we were all out of groceries, except for a small container of oatmeal holding several servings. He took the oatmeal and did not make any complaints about us running out of groceries. In fact, he still maintained a slight smile, gave a pleasant ‘thank you’ and then just talked about the night. He mentioned that although it always seems like he is looking for food, he is very thankful for having a roof over his head…. While telling me all of this, he still maintained a smile on his face. He did not seem angry with his situation, and wasn’t spending the night blaming others for his misfortune.”
“What I learned was that it wasn’t my job to find out exactly how he had become homeless or why exactly he and his daughter had a rocky relationship. There was no way I’d know what the right thing to say was even if he had told me more. It was the act of being able to relate to him that was important and that I think that’s what he cared about. This is what I believe the first step of outreach should be.”
“My experience on the Outreach Van has had its ups and downs. There have been many instances where I’ve been proud of the contributions I am making, and the will power of our group to help the people who frequent our van. Other times, I’ve felt overwhelmed by feelings of guilt for the life I take for granted and feel helpless in making these people’s lives better. It has been a difficult moral struggle for me every time I visit East Boston on the van.”
“For a multitude of reasons, the clients that OVP serve and the homeless in general are chronically marginalized. Worse yet, when they are not overlooked, they are the victims of verbal, physical and/or psychological abuse, even amongst one another. This vicious cycle reinforces the initial trauma or the series of events that caused them to be homeless. Fear, misgivings and low self-esteem prevents them from following-up with appointments with case workers or when seeking medical care. In response, the organizational philosophy of OVP aims to engage this neglected population in East Boston by being a consistent presence in their neighborhood.”
“Sarah went on to explain to me the effect that Rheumatoid Arthritis had had on her livelihood. She had been trained as a massage therapist, a skill she was very proud of and a good way to earn an income. The trouble was that as her arthritic symptoms intensified she became physically unable to work with her hands- it was just too painful to continue in this line of work. She told me about her children- two boys, the first of which she had had when she was a teenager, and was now grown up to be a tall, strong 26 year old man. She was proud of her family and spoke of her sons with joy. When it came to her financial situation, she was less positive, she lived week-to-week and shared a small apartment with a room mate, paying about $200 each month to stay there. Beyond that expense, there wasn’t much money left for food, which is why she was glad to come out and see us once in a while for a free meal.”
“The last time I went out on the van, I noticed that Bob was a bit down that night; he was more quiet than usual and actually sat alone on one of the park benches located slightly away from the group, a change for him as he usually joins in the conversation with the students. I went over to ask him what was wrong, he said that work had been stressful lately and proceeded to tell me about his job and his frustrations with his boss; although I could not do much, he seemed relieved to have someone who was willing to listen. I, in turn, was touched that he had felt comfortable enough with me to share his problems; several months ago, before we had known each other’s names, that would not have been the case.”
“Tangible goods may provide peace for a few moments, but giving people the opportunity to express their needs can have much better long-term results. OVP gives us the opportunity to do both. Even though as students we may not be able to provide all of the necessary medical care, we are able to form relationships with people who may someday feel comfortable enough to trust us and to allow us to support them emotionally.”
“Those icy months were by far the most humbling experience of my life. While I whined about inconveniences such as completing the medical school application process or undependable public transportation, the people I met on Thursday nights were fighting frostbite and struggling to stay alive. They faced more adversity in a day than I likely have in my life, yet they still managed to smile and never let out a complaint. I was constantly in awe of their courage and felt like I learned more during each 2 hour trip than any lecture.”
“Basically, he pointed out that just a few poor decisions or a little bad luck separated us from the people we were serving. I thought about my circumstances and how I have been almost completely financially dependent on my parents. If I lost their support or they became incapable of providing for me, then I am lucky to have friends and extended family that I know would come to my aid. But, I couldn’t expect the same unconditional assistance and what if my situation became even more complicated, such as if my health deteriorated or I began to suffer from an incapacitating addiction? As different as our lives seemed from those we sought to help, it wasn’t difficult to fathom how quickly I could end up on the other side of the soup table.”
“I’ve felt many emotions while being out on the van. I’ve been shocked, sad, elated, comforted, and scared. I’ve been offered a vista into a world I may never have seen, and it has continued to change my perspective on healthcare.”
“Prior to going out on the van, my idea of what it means to be “homeless” was pretty narrow-minded, restricted primarily to those individuals who lived under bridges or in cardboard boxes, pushing all of their worldly possessions around in a shopping cart. I quickly found that that population is actually a minority of those without a personal residence. Many, many others are forced to line up in the early afternoon for a bed in a shelter, are transiently housed in motels or respites or forced to double up with family or friends. From my experience, it seems like these were the individuals whom we served on the van, in addition to housed individuals who simply needed the assistance we provided.”
“Before being afforded the opportunity to meet and get to know a homeless population, it had been easy to ignore them, to see right through them, as though they were invisible amongst the rest of society. It has been this opportunity, however, which has allowed me to get to know their individual stories, to understand homelessness as a symptom of much deeper pathologies.”
“It has become apparent to me that most of the people at the van would not be there if they had any other options, and that because they do not, it is the least we can do as people of good fortune, and as aspiring physicians, to lend a hand to those who may not have had the same luck in life.”