GMC offers a safe place for service-resistant individuals experiencing homelessness to meet their basic needs. These are things most people take for granted like access to a bathroom, showers, and a place to do their laundry. GMC has three flagship programs – Drop-In Center, Street Outreach, and Winter Program.
Drop-In Center operates as a low barrier-to-entry club house model and offers a safe haven from the streets 6 days a week serving an average of 73 guests a day. Guests can use computers to check their e-mail and apply for jobs. They also have access to a shower, bathroom, laundry services, service referrals, and light case management. Guests are served lunch, snacks and hot beverages. GMC also offers enrichment activities including art therapy, meditation, poetry, life skills, and harm reduction workshops. Starting in June 2021, GMC launched a second Pop-Up location at Georgetown Lutheran Church, that is open 4- days a week. This additional space augments many of the services provided at the Drop-in Center like additional laundry and bathroom facilities. Guests have additional room to spread out and watch movies or engage in other programming offered.
Street Outreach Team meets people experiencing homelessness where they are – whether that is on street corners, or a park bench, or under the Key Bridge. Street Outreach engaging over 350 unique individuals each year, building rapport and connecting individuals to essential services and housing. The street outreach team includes a psychiatrist, Dr. Koshes, and general practitioner, Dr. Jafari. They establish therapeutic relationships and complete SSI and SSDI paperwork for guests. Dr. Jafari, GMC’s internal medicine doctor, screens for diabetes and heart disease and refers guests to indigent care clinics.
Winter Program is a seasonal response to hypothermic conditions. Due to safety concerns from COVID-19, GMC was forced to shut down the Winter Shelter program. GMC pivoted to serving a warm dinner to guests instead by starting the GMC Extends program. Guests receive a hot dinner five nights a week during the winter season. GMC also distributes handwarmers, hats, coats, scarves, sleeping bags, and tents.
One of GMC’s greatest strengths is the ability to connect with and earn the trust of vulnerable people experiencing homelessness who often distrust service providers. GMC does this by addressing their basic needs, providing a safe space to belong, and connecting guests with experienced staff and health professionals.
In Fiscal Year 2024, GMC had 20,416 unique visits to the Drop in Center and served a total of 946 guests. GMC provided 112 Government IDs and 51 Birth Certificates which are critical to accessing housing and future employment. GMC served 14,023 meals, 3,622 loads of laundry, provided 4,797 showers and 4,259 computer hours. Their Street Outreach Team had 2,866 interactions with people living on the street. GMC’s Street Medicine Team had over 1,220 Psychiatry Assessments and Medical Consultations.
