“I have a client who I have been working with for a couple of months before the pandemic. He had a total inability to take care of his diabetes; he would never take his insulin and he’d lose his medication constantly. I would get it for him almost every week. Now, after I was able to place him in a Project Roomkey (PRK) site, he has a little fridge in there so he has his insulin and he’s managed to take it. His feet were so swollen that he could barely move – now, he can walk around!
PRK allows people to take care of their health. When people are on the street, they don’t prioritize their health. They are worried about day-to-day things that are more pressing to them. Once they get inside and can have that safe space they can actually follow up on treatment. You can see the difference in the way people are, even in the way they can comprehend things. It becomes easier to make plans with them and to work toward goals when they’re in a place where they don’t have to worry about the day-to-day survival needs they have.”