I have been Program Director at Haywood Street Respite for a year and a half. Last year we had 12 veterans stay with us. This year, so far, we have had 12 veterans stay with us.
I met Kristie at my first Homeless Coalition meeting. We exchanged numbers and I have called her every time we get a veteran in. She has been so very helpful. She keeps me informed of what services the veteran is entitled to, who their caseworkers are and how to navigate the system. She comes by and meets with ever veteran and helps to coordinate their care. I feel that, without Kristie, many of these veterans would fall through the cracks.
She will schedule appointments at the VA and come and transport them to their appointments. She will often stay with the veteran and help them get to all the appointments that they have. Homeless people, for a variety of reasons, can become easily frustrated when they encounter obstacles and quit. If not for Kristie, this would have happened with a lot of our veterans.
Recently, we had a veteran with COPD come and stay at Haywood Street Respite. He would not go to the Veterans Restoration Quarters but wanted to camp. He had done this for many years. He got to the point where he could no longer go without oxygen. Kristie came and met with him. She arranged for oxygen and scheduled his appointments. She made sure his HUD/VASH worker knew where he was. She even drove him to his appointments. He began to feel better and decided to go back to camping. This did not last long before he was in crisis again. He went to the ER at the VA and then came and stayed with us again. Kristie came and saw him immediately. She worked to educate him on his disease and scheduled more appointments for him. I remember one day she took him to the VA and had to stay with him the whole day, so he would not leave before he made it to all his appointments. Once again, he got better and wanted to leave the Respite. He went back to camping. Kristie kept up with him. When he became too ill to leave his tent, she was able to arrange help and get him to the ER at the VA. She called me when he could not be admitted and we brought him back into Respite. Once again, he began to feel better and left. He went back to camping. Kristie again had to get help to get him out of his campsite because he could not walk. She spent the day at the VA with him. She was able to get him admitted to your hospice program. I have seen him and he is so much better off.
This is just one of many stories I could tell of how Kristie has worked so hard to help the veterans who stay with us. She has made a huge difference to these veterans.
I deal with a population that will never write a letter of appreciation. But I am thankful for Kristie's help and guidance. Her compassion, patience, kindness, and knowledge is amazing. I don't know how I would be able to help the veterans that come to Respite without her. She is truly an incredible nurse and person. Thank you for having her there to help us.