Library Inreach - Central Library and St. Stephen’s Join Forces to Assist Patrons With a Wide Range of Needs

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Rick Kittock

Roxanna is a woman in her mid-sixties and experiencing homelessness. She has a traumatic brain injury and was having a number of issues because of it. As with so many people in her circumstances, she was vulnerable. People who live in homes often imagine the lives of homeless people and how hard it is, but they can't always envision the exact types of scenarios that homeless people experience. A homeless person is more vulnerable to violence and a whole range of other issues.

Roxanna had made contact with a number of organizations and she qualified for assistance, but no one could find her, literally. When she did make contact, her feelings of distrust overcame her ability to successfully advocate for help, and she would disappear again. Her brain injury added to her vulnerability, and it led the courts to decide to commit her involuntarily as it seemed the best choice to keep her safe. Roxanna was against the commitment, but didn’t know how to keep it from happening.

Enter the Library Inreach, a new project launched at the Minneapolis Central Library on Nicollet Mall almost a year ago. Kathryn Coleman of St. Stephen’s Human Services took the job of running the Inreach at the library. The project came about because of the staff at the library. Staffed by people whose job it is to provide answers, they recognized a need for responses outside the scope of traditional library services. Recognizing that need led to the request for an Inreach worker. Hennepin County and St. Stephen’s joined together to create Kate’s position. Kate has worked at St. Stephen’s for 6 years, and part of that time was as an outreach worker, so the library job was intriguing to her. What exactly does Kate do there?

The position is one of connections, cooperation, and relationship building. Kate works with library staff and security officers. One of the goals of the library is to be an open, welcoming, and safe place for all patrons.  When a patron needs help and the staff being asked doesn’t have an answer, they feel compelled to find the answer. Library staff and security officer can now ask Kate. When asked, Kate will often meet with the patron in a small meeting room, and attempt to assess what is needed and the resources of the particular patron. She helps navigate options based on the answers to her questions. They can include housing, mental health care, eligibility for assistance, employment, chemical dependency assistance, etc. Kate calls it doing a ‘warm hand off’.

Kate serves as the intermediary for patrons and for organizations. She meets with between 60 and 80 patrons a month, about half of which are people already known by Kate and the staff, and the other half are new to the city and some are new to the staff. Imagine being new to a city like Minneapolis and having no idea how to access housing, employment, or any type of help. As an example of these connections, Goodwill-Easter Seals has been coming to the library twice a week for quite some time. They help patrons with resume building, interview prep, and have a list of employers and jobs that are available. On the days they are in the library, Kate can do that ‘warm hand off’ for patrons needing help with employment.

What happened to Roxanna? Kate was able to build a relationship with her and to connect her with resources, case management, and a path to housing. After a referral to another worker, housing was set up for Roxanna, and she now lives in an apartment, is eating regularly, taking her medication, and getting help with her traumatic brain injury. This came about because of an incredible group of people that do this work, a team effort that worked for Roxanna. An amazing conclusion to what had been a tragic set of circumstances.

My last question to everyone I interview is, "How can we all help with the work you are doing?" Kate’s suggestion is to participate in St. Stephen’s program, A Day in the Life. For information, call 612-874-0311 or go online: https://ststephensmpls.org/programs/human-rights/day-in-life. Components of this program include a walking education, led by educators who have experienced homelessness, the shelters, drop-in centers, etc., and will take you on a tour of a typical day. The walking education comes with the opportunity to learn from the trained educators and not only see what a day is like, but ask questions during the walk as well.

I am consistently amazed and awed by the people I meet. People who have a life’s journey that has been so difficult, and yet they persevere. People who have devoted their life to providing assistance and to guiding people to places where there is help, and genuine hope. Connections, kindnesses, humanity, and an open heart! Take that walk with a trained educator. It will change the way you see our beloved city and the people who live here.

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

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Editor's Note - The Minneapolis Central Library is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary on November 5.  Click here for event details.