Unseen to Uplifted:Why Rural Outreach Matters

*Names changed to protect client privacy

In rural Southern Oregon, homelessness often hides in plain sight. When Maslow Case Manager Nicole first met Jacob through our school partnership, he said he was living in a trailer and doing fine. "I don't really need anything," he insisted.

“But you could just tell,” says Nicole. “He wasn't fine and there were needs that he had.” Maslow Case Managers are certified Community Health Workers skilled at recognizing the signs of youth homelessness, even when youth attempt to hide it, as they often do.

“But you could just tell.

He wasn’t fine and

there were needs that he had.”

The Intervention: Trust-Building Through Consistency
Rather than pushing, Nicole showed up regularly with food and genuine care. This patient approach worked, and Jacob eventually revealed his reality: his parent had died, and he was living in a tent with his girlfriend McKenna while they both tried to finish high school.

Despite their circumstances, Jacob and McKenna remained committed to their education, attending school regularly even while living in a tent. One request during a routine outreach visit stood out: "Could I have some cat toys for my cat?” Jacob asked. “He lives in the tent with us." Even facing homelessness, Jacob didn't ask for things for himself but for his beloved pet.

Escalating Support as Needs Grew
When McKenna became pregnant, the stakes rose dramatically. Living outdoors during a heatwave with no power, water, or cell service posed serious risks for delivery. The couple had a van but it had flat tires, leaving them with no transport to medical services.

"We had some scary moments where it seemed like she was going to deliver on the river," Nicole shared. "She was going into pre-labor with dehydration."

“We had some scary moments where it seemed like she was going to deliver on the river.”

Targeted Supports
Case manager support is highly individualized, supporting with the unique needs of a client’s situation. For Jacob and McKenna, Nicole’s targeted supports included:

• Connecting them with local healthcare services and pre-natal care.

• Educating the couple on labor signs and postpartum depression.

• Repairing their van for reliable transportation.

• Providing a car seat to safely transport the baby.

• Securing a hotel in town before the due date.

The Outcome
Today, Jacob and McKenna have welcomed a healthy baby boy, and Maslow has secured stable housing for them with continued case manager support.

Jacob is completing his final school credits while developing employment skills. McKenna graduated high school and is focusing on her new role as a mother.

“Thank you so much for the help,” Jacob wrote to Nicole recently. “We really like the place you picked out. It’s very homey and has lots of kids roaming around. You could tell a lot of the people here are in the same boat as us which helps us feel less judged.”

“Thank you so much for the help.

We really like the place you picked out.

It’s very homey and has lots of kids

roaming around.”

Maslow Project's youth-centered approach meant meeting Jacob and McKenna where they were and understanding what they needed most.

Thanks to you, our supporters, this family is safe and on a path to long-term stability.