What makes my service site unique is the population we serve. I have been working for Hope Cooperative, which serves more than 10,000 people who are unhoused, experiencing substance use, or facing mental health challenges. The organization offers a wide range of services, including crisis intervention, outreach, psychiatric services, co-occurring substance use treatment, and housing support. At my site, the wellness center, people can come in to spend time on site, connect with others, and receive outpatient mental health services. When comfortable, clients can also meet with case managers, access job support, and begin the process of securing housing.

When I first started, my first couple of months were primarily spent in training. I learned how to properly engage with clients, document interactions, and enter information into a homelessness information system. Now that I am more settled into the role, my days can be very unpredictable. We do a variety of food pickups in the mornings, which helps keep the wellness center stocked and ensures clients have consistent access to meals. Part of my role includes assisting in the kitchen with serving breakfast and preparing lunch because it feels like the easiest way to interact and check in with the most clients. When I am not in the kitchen, I help with housing applications, job searches, and running group therapies. I also give out bus passes, organize a clothing closet, and transport clients when needed. Most of my day, though, is spent hanging out with clients, playing card games and dominoes, and sometimes simply being there to listen. In my role, it is important for me to adapt quickly and support people in the moment. Seeing clients take small steps forward, like finding a job, securing housing, or making progress in their mental health, constantly reminds me why this work matters to me.

One of the hardest parts has been supporting people who are my age or even younger than me, as well as people who have been unhoused for most of their lives. Occasionally, I have had the opportunity to go out with the outreach team, bringing water, snacks, and bus passes while talking with people, sharing resources, and inviting them into the wellness center. One experience that really stuck with me happened when I returned to an area to bring a family in for screenings, only to find that the city had just completed a sweep. Their tents and belongings were gone, and the family was nowhere to be found. Other people shared that they had lost everything, including their phones, IDs, and important documents. Seeing how quickly people can lose the little they have made me realize how many barriers exist that make it difficult to rebuild independence and stability. I love how much this role has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, teaching me patience and the value of building trust by simply being present.

When I decided to join MVC, I did not realize how meaningful the work would become to me or how big of an adjustment it would be moving from the Midwest to California. Outside of work, living in a community in Sacramento has truly shaped my experience and made the adjustment much easier. I have enjoyed the great location of our house, which makes it easy to explore downtown and midtown in our free time. I love the walkable city, how it does not feel overly crowded, and how there always seems to be something new going on. Whether it is a protest, a 5K running by our house, weekend beach trips, events at the Capitol, or tree lightings in Old Sacramento, we never run out of things to do or new places to try.

All these fun new experiences have truly made Sacramento feel like home and have reminded me why I chose MVC. I decided to join during my gap year before starting occupational therapy school to gain more experience working with people facing systemic barriers in a new community. So far, my time with MVC in Sacramento has confirmed that I am on the right path. Working at Hope Cooperative has strengthened my commitment to understanding how these barriers shape daily life. At the end of the day, working as a wellness center associate reminds me of what it means to be alive.

Kamyah Summers: Sacramento, California