From Streets to Stability: The Critical Role of Expanded Shelter Services-ft. Dr. David Woody
In this episode, Pastor Wayne Walker, CEO of OurCalling, interviews Dr. David Woody, who has significantly impacted The Bridge as its President and CEO, steering its evolution through challenging times, particularly post-pandemic. They delve into the role of The Bridge as a critical low barrier shelter offering comprehensive services and facing a critical need for expanded capacity due to the disparity between day and night shelter capabilities. The discussion also covers the intricacies of care management, the high success rates of those housed, and the urgency for more shelters and actionable housing solutions. Furthermore, they explore the importance of data in strategic planning, community education, and collaboration with faith-based organizations to enhance the support system for the homeless.
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- **Dr. David Woody's Background** [01:31]
- President and CEO of The Bridge for 6 years, involved for 9 years.
- Significant growth and activity noticed on campus since the pandemic.
- President and CEO of The Bridge for 6 years, involved for 9 years.
- Significant growth and activity noticed on campus since the pandemic.
- **Role of The Bridge** [02:10, 02:43]
- A low barrier shelter helping single adults aged 18 and older.
- Provides comprehensive day and night services including food, showers, and canine kennels.
- A low barrier shelter helping single adults aged 18 and older.
- Provides comprehensive day and night services including food, showers, and canine kennels.
- **Capacity and Demand Issues** [03:36]
- Current facilities face a large disparity between day (700) and night (approx. 400) shelter capacities, resulting in many unsheltered individuals.
- Current facilities face a large disparity between day (700) and night (approx. 400) shelter capacities, resulting in many unsheltered individuals.
- **Evolution of Services at The Bridge** [08:56]
- Focus on recovery and crafting individualized care and housing plans based on the specific needs (health, mental health, substance use) of the guests.
- Focus on recovery and crafting individualized care and housing plans based on the specific needs (health, mental health, substance use) of the guests.
- **Care Management and Success Rates** [11:57, 12:42]
- Emphasis on diverse care management teams assisting with recovery, intensive needs, and sustaining housing post-placement.
- High success rate with 93% of housed individuals remaining in housing at 6 months.
- Emphasis on diverse care management teams assisting with recovery, intensive needs, and sustaining housing post-placement.
- High success rate with 93% of housed individuals remaining in housing at 6 months.
- **Importance of More Shelter Beds and Housing** [05:54, 16:24]
- Urgent need for more shelters to accommodate growing numbers, and a push for actionable resources to turn funding into housing solutions.
- Urgent need for more shelters to accommodate growing numbers, and a push for actionable resources to turn funding into housing solutions.
- **Complexities of Housing Vouchers and Collaboration with Landlords** [16:53]
- Challenges with finding adequate and accepting housing options for guests with ready-to-use vouchers.
- Challenges with finding adequate and accepting housing options for guests with ready-to-use vouchers.
- **Data Integration and Utilization** [29:10, 29:48]
- Importance of improving data analysis and accuracy beyond point-in-time counts to better support strategic planning and resource allocation.
- Importance of improving data analysis and accuracy beyond point-in-time counts to better support strategic planning and resource allocation.
- **Racial and Community Equity** [30:17, 32:09, 33:12]
- Discusses the disproportion of African American guests at The Bridge and the need to address upstream barriers and inequities in community resources.
- Discusses the disproportion of African American guests at The Bridge and the need to address upstream barriers and inequities in community resources.
- **Collaboration with Faith-Based Organizations** [39:17]
- The Bridge values partnerships with faith groups to address spiritual needs as part of comprehensive care for guests.
- The Bridge values partnerships with faith groups to address spiritual needs as part of comprehensive care for guests.
- **Individual Stories of Impact** [41:11]
- Highlighting personal transformations and ongoing connections that illustrate the profound effect of The Bridge's services on individuals' lives.
- Highlighting personal transformations and ongoing connections that illustrate the profound effect of The Bridge's services on individuals' lives.
- **Community and Public Education** [34:26]
- Importance of educating the public on effective strategies to support the homeless, maximizing the impact of resources.
- Importance of educating the public on effective strategies to support the homeless, maximizing the impact of resources.
Creators and Guests
Host
Wayne Walker
CEO and Pastor Wayne Walker serves as the CEO and Pastor to the homeless at OurCalling. In 2001, Wayne, along with his wife Carolyn, started serving the homeless community in Dallas. They founded OurCalling in 2009. During his youth, Wayne’s family actively pursued the scriptural commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” by modeling the life of Jesus to scores of foster children whose own origins represented generations of human brokenness, dysfunction, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Early exposure to these destructive forces set him on a path to recognize the long-term effects of trauma, which often lead to homelessness. While completing his Master’s Degree in Cross-Cultural Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary, Wayne befriended and ministered to men and women in the homeless community. During that time he began to establish personal, discipleship-oriented relationships with homeless individuals, many in the same urban setting where he and his family continue to work today.
