Volunteer Experiences: Ashley Nolan

My name is Ashley Nolan and I have been working with Antonio, Urban Connection’s senior case manager, to learn the ropes of case management. Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Davis. I first met Jonathan while sitting in the coffee bar.

Jonathan is 23 years old and has been homeless for 6 years. He has been living on and off with his sister who recently kicked him out of the house. He has been living on the streets ever since. After learning thatJonathan has been sleeping in the Midnight Mission’s courtyard we took him over to the Union Rescue Mission to get a bed. Antonio was able to get him a cot for the night and a bed for the following 30 days. However, when we returned to Urban Connection, Jonathan said that he did not want to go. Antonio gave him his cot ticket and told him that if he changed his mind all he had to do was be there at URM at 9, and he would have a warm place to sleep.

A few minutes later I saw Jonathan looking through the clothes at UC. He had a shirt and a pair of pants picked out. He asked me what I thought of them, and if I could help him find another shirt. After spending some time with Jonathan, he asked me if I thought he should sleep at the URM tonight. I said that I did – it would give him a warm and safe place to sleep. He could try it one night and see what he thought. Jonathan then looked at me and told me that no one cared for him, and it didn’t matter if he lived or died. I told him that we cared for him, and anytime he needed a place to go he could come to Urban Connection. Jonathan will be staying at the Union Rescue Mission tonight, and hopefully will be back to UC very soon.