We recently told the story of Deanne, a Bridge Shelter client, who had agreed to enter into the shelter after living in her car for eight years.
Unfortunately, since then, Deanne had more medical issues that needed to be dealt with and she was hospitalized.
Her panic and breathing issues continued to be problematic for her at the shelter; however, staff kept in contact with the local hospital to ensure that they were aware of her discharge status and on top of her new medication requirements.
This involved receiving the medication list from the hospital and forwarding this to Deanne’s primary care physician so that new prescriptions could be filled. Additionally, her medication had to be stored and dispensed correctly, which involved a great deal of time for shelter staff because Deanne has difficulty understanding and following instructions.
While this was going on, shelter case managers were continuing to seek housing options, as well as obtain financial information necessary for her to receive Medi-Cal.
At the urging of shelter staff, a Full Service Partnership (FSP) housing provider finally agreed to interview Deanne. Because she is a senior with a behavioral health diagnosis, the provider attempted to qualify her for housing.
After undergoing two required medical clearances, Deanne was accepted into an assisted living facility in Orange County!
Deanne is thriving there and now has complete control over her bank accounts. The assisted living placement will allow her to be protected both financially and medically since they have 24-hour staff who will monitor her on a daily basis.
Helping clients like Deanne through difficult times is just one of the many services individuals have come to expect from our caring and dedicated shelter staff.
The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter is run by a combination of City outreach staff and staff from Mercy House, an experienced, well-respected shelter operator. If you have questions for Mercy House about the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter please call 714-836-7188 ext. 222 or e-mail CostaMesaBridge@mercyhouse.net.
To learn more about making a donation, volunteer opportunities and how you can help, please visit www.costamesaca.gov/homelessness.