Meet Pamela

Pamela, age 62, was suffering in an abusive relationship. Then, her abuser kicked her out of their house in Southern Lancaster with nothing but the clothes she was wearing. Fortunately, an Amish neighbor found Pamela outside and recognized that she was homeless and in need of assistance. He was able to contact the local police, who brought Pamela to Lancaster City.

Once in the city, Pamela was taken to the emergency room. Due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), she needed to be on oxygen, and she was also experiencing other medical issues. She had nothing with her: no wallet, no money, no ID or insurance card, and none of the medications she regularly used to manage her health. After having her immediate needs taken care of, Pamela was released. A local nonprofit that works in partnership with Tenfold helped provide her with a hotel room, but this was only a temporary solution.

Due to lack of funds, Pamela had to leave the temporary housing provided for her. Once again, she found herself homeless and sleeping outside, exposed to the elements, this time in an encampment near the outlets. Here, Pamela met Tom, an outreach worker from Tenfold, who Pamela describes as “my angel!” She found Tom to be a very compassionate and understanding person. “He never gave up on me, and I followed the direction he provided me,” she shares.

As one of Tenfold’s two outreach workers, Tom travels to locations throughout Lancaster City and County, seeking out and building relationships with individuals who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness– sleeping on the street, in parks, or in other places not meant for human habitation.

As the number of people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster continues to rise, it is vital for all of us to acknowledge these most vulnerable members of our community. Tom, who interacts with this reality every day, knows that many find it uncomfortable to think about. “I believe the average person doesn’t think about it and certainly doesn’t want to see it,” he states. “But the problem does not go away just because we do not want to see it or look away. These are human beings with dignity and rights, who deserve better than to be pushed under the rug.”

Amid these difficult conditions, Pamela shares, “Tom was there, he saved my life multiple times.” When they first met, she explains, “I had nothing, nothing at all.” Through Tenfold’s resources, Tom was able to provide Pamela with a sleeping bag, a backpack, a few bus passes, and clothes.

Reflecting on their first meeting, Tom shares, “Pamela was at rock bottom. She was dealing with so many things at once, was very sick, and didn’t have the wherewithal to find resources to assist her. She did, however, have the drive to work towards changing her life.”

Working together, Tom and Pamela began the challenging process of accessing permanent housing. Tom assisted her with all the paperwork required to secure a social security card and ID. Without these forms of identification, accessing housing and other resources can be impossible for people experiencing homelessness. Tom also helped Pamela figure out her Medicaid, so that she could get access to the medications she needed.

The process was slow, and throughout their time working together, they faced many obstacles. But despite these challenges, Pamela remained incredibly resilient and continued to persevere. Eventually, Tom was able to secure her a rent-stabilized room at the YWCA in Lancaster, where Pamela is living today.

Tom’s work hasn’t stopped there. He continues to be a resource for Pamela, driving her to doctor’s appointments when needed and just checking up on her. “I consider Tom a friend,” Pamela shares. “I say to myself, how could someone so young, like Tom, be so kind-hearted and knowledgeable? I’m still in awe of him checking on me, following up to see how I am. He is my angel, he has saved my life more than once.” Today, thanks to her own perseverance and Tom’s support, Pamela is living in the safety, peace, and comfort of her own home.

Tenfold’s Outreach Workers provide vital support and resources to the most vulnerable members of our community. Your support allows us to continue helping individuals like Pamela move from homelessness to permanent housing. To see a list of Outreach donation needs, click here: https://wearetenfold.org/get-involved/donate-items/. To donate to Tenfold during this year’s ExtraGive, click here: https://www.extragive.org/organizations/tenfold