Running head: Lydia place 1

Community Outreach Project: Lydia Place

Kristine Krumdiack

Western Washington University

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Community Outreach Project: Lydia Place

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A community without homelessness is the driving mission of Lydia Place. Lydia place

was started in 1989 by church woman united that found a need for safe housing for woman and

children. Since then, through a series of private donations and contracts with the state they have

grown to help support on average 300 people per year with their caring and generosity. They

have a variety of supportive services form early parent child education, work skills retraining,

woman child and family housing, and a new mental health counseling is available.

Internet Search

During the internet search portion of this project many factors were discovered about this

program that where very interesting. The population at which this program serves has a

population of around 212,284 estimated in 2015. 19 percent of this population are under children

under 18 years old. Within this number 37 percent qualify as low income with free school

lunches. There are an estimated 719 individuals that would qualify for Lydia place services with

10 percent being children under 4 years old, 35 percent between 35-54 years old, 47 percent are

women and 8 percent veterans. Approximately 50 percent have stayed in transitional or

emergency shelters with in the last day. Percentages where found during a google search for what

home county health department. During the search, I found as I continued to read the statistics

became more and more alarming. As I read on learning about all of the resources that are

available was absolutely wonderful. The down side of this being that although the resources are

there and being utilized there are just not enough to help everyone. This was a humbling moment

when I realized these statistics. I understand working in healthcare the idea of having far more

need than there are resources. I cannot say that this is the first time that I have felt this way in

regards to the knowledge that there are families that are without a home. It is comforting to know

that resources like this are out there but is it enough?

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In Real Life

During our meeting with the representatives from Lydia place I was really amazed at how

passionate these ladies were about every program and service that they have to offer. I felt that

they represented their organization in a very positive way. I was not sure going into the meeting

what to expect. The location of the housing is kept pretty quiet so I have never seen nor heard of

this housing. The facility was clean and well kept. With listed expectations for the residents of

the complex listed plainly on the wall. They treat every person with respect no matter what the

reason for the housing and believe that everybody needs a change and sometime a helping hand

is all that it takes. In the future when we or other students come to the facility I think that it

would be helpful to give a hand out with some of the information that is discussed such as

different things that their organization has to offer and thing of that nature. It was there first time

hosting the students so with that being said I think that they did a wonderful job.

Population Served by the Agency

This agency is unique in a since that they help and have services for a wide variety of

people. They provide services for men, women, children, families, young and old. From any

walk of life or ethnicity. No matter what the reason for the housing displacement they will try

there hardest to assist you. They went on to explain that there are a number of reasons why

individuals would seek out help from Lydia place. Whether it is due to domestic violent, lost job,

or any other hard time they have found a way to help as they can. In regards factors like

institutions, social structures and conditions that my lead on individual to seek the assistance of

Lydia place it was discussed in a study conducted by Tebaldi, E., & Mohan, R. (2010). They

stated Corruption, ineffective governments, and political instability will not only hurt income

levels through market inefficiencies, but also escalate poverty incidence via increased income
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inequality. The results also imply that the quality of the regulatory system, rule of law, voice and

accountability, and expropriation risk are inversely related to poverty but their effect on poverty

is via average income rather than income distribution. Social structures leading to poverty was

discussed in Browning, C. R., & Cagney, K. A. (2003). They stated findings indicate that

neighborhood affluence is a more powerful predictor of health status than poverty, above and

beyond individual demographic background, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and

insurance coverage.

Application to Nursing Practice

In conclusion of this assignment I am asked to reflect on a better understanding of social

conditions and structures that my patients might face and the stories and identities that these

individuals have. In this assignment, I have found some comfort in having another resource to

offer my patients, should they choose to share their worries or struggles with me in the way of a

place to live or new mothers that are struggling to survive on their own much less with a new

unexpected child that they must care for. I am able to hopefully give them some hope in a

resource that I now have personal experience with a trust in their mission for autonomy,

advocacy, awareness and educational support (Lydia Place, 2016).

References
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Browning, C. R., & Cagney, K. A. (2003). Moving beyond poverty: Neighborhood structure,

social processes, and health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 552-571.

Tebaldi, E., & Mohan, R. (2010). Institutions and poverty. The journal of development

studies, 46(6), 1047-1066