By Abina Johnson

On a cold North Carolina morning I was paged to Baptist Hospital’s pastoral care department to provide care to two homeless women. Ushering them into an office and closing the door behind us, I was shaken by what they had already told me. Just before being admitted to the emergency department both had been kicked out of their home. They had spent the night in fear, wondering where they could go and to whom they could turn. Their story was heartbreaking, and as they clutched each other’s hands, I knew I would do all I could to help. Over the next half hour we spoke, they looking at me, exchanging worried glances and half smiles. I busily wrote down what they needed and made connections in my head.

I knew others would gladly help once they knew this family’s story. First, find them food for the morning. My fellow chaplains gave information and advice. I pressed Baptist Hospital meal vouchers into their hands and told them to come back in an hour and I would have some answers. They told me they needed food, a place to live and some way of getting there. Both had been fired and for weeks had been looking unsuccessfully for other jobs. Although they didn’t ask for help in that area I would do my best to find someone to help them.

My first stop was to call the care coordination department at Baptist Hospital. They helped with bus passes to various places in Winston-Salem and gave me information on local shelters. So I checked transportation off of my list. I had 45 minutes to go.

At the suggestion of fellow chaplains I called 211 for information on Winston-Salem’s community resources. A helpful young man gave me homeless shelter and food bank information. I started calling local shelters and grew disappointed that many did not meet my family’s need. But on my fifth call a secretary guaranteed not only a room for the night but for the rest of the time they would need it. She also said that they could eat at different times of the day. I was excited beyond belief. Then she went on to arrange an appointment time for that very day that the two could meet to enroll in the job and home aid programs. If they could get there in the next few hours, she promised, they would have food, a safe place to rest and sleep, and job/home help.

Great! Contacting so many shelters paid off; this family would not only find a place to rest their head, but also a way out of their predicament.

Outside the cafeteria the family met me with smiles and compliments about their meal. When we could sit and speak privately, I handed them the bus voucher and told them about the shelter that was waiting for them. And as I told them about the job and home help they would receive I saw their brows clear of worry. They were incredulous that they could stay at the same shelter until they got a place of their own and asked if I was sure there was such a job program. I smiled to see them so happy and relieved.

We hugged.

They knew there were people who truly cared about them. They knew that various services around the city had come together to help when they could. As they walked out of the office to take a bus that would lead them to their interview, I sent up a prayer, that God would guide them, would keep them and be with them always.