Advocacy and Referral have been a part of Loaves and
Fishes for the past twenty-five years. It began when dinner
guests asked a Staff Coordinator for help with obtaining
housing/shelter, health care services, job referrals or
transportation needs (bus tokens), etc. Loaves and Fishes
used United Way's publications, the Internet or handbooks
that listed agency services in the site neighborhoods.
Referrals were made everyday in an informal, spontaneous
way.
Over
the past several years Loaves and Fishes staff began collecting
and tracking the number of inquiries from the sites that
needed the most help; found appropriate services and location(s);
and referred guests to agencies within the neighborhood.
Housing, employment, transportation and rent and utility
assistance make up the majority of the inquiries. Over
1700 referrals were made throughout last year at five
different sites. Most of the referring now is done through
the Internet and web sites, however, handbooks, hard copies
and one-on-one interviews are still utilized by our Coordinator
and Advocacy and Referral staff. One-on-one interviewing/relationships
are the most effective means of influencing these referrals
so they'll have an impact. Trust, consistency, reliability,
and familiarity are all factors that help promote advocacy
and referral that lead to greater self-sufficiency for
the guests who come to the dining sites for meals.
We will continue to provide these referrals as long as
guests need additional basic services available in the
local communities.
