Community Partner Highlight: Justa Center’s Support for Seniors Experiencing Homelessness
More than 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County are 55 and older. Challenges that come with aging can be made worse without the right resources and regular medical care.
Justa Center is working to address this as the only nonprofit in Arizona that provides resources and services exclusively to seniors experiencing homelessness.
Judgment-free support, navigation, and hope
“A lot of our Justa Center members have fallen on hard times,” Dean Scheinert, Executive Director of Justa Center, said. “Some of them have jobs but can’t afford rent. Other members have serious mental and physical health challenges or substance use disorder. As you can imagine, a younger person is in a better position to find help than a senior.”
Funding from the AZ Blue Foundation is helping seniors experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County get the right help and care through Justa Center.
“The funding helps us expand the capabilities of our nurse clinic,” Scheinert added. “One of the biggest issues for our members is that they’re getting ping-ponged around to different places for their care. Part of our expansion is bringing in as much of the healthcare we can provide in-house.”
As they work to expand their healthcare capabilities, Justa Center currently provides over-the-counter medication to members and helps with wound and burn treatment. They support members in following doctors' instructions, taking meds as prescribed, and making lifestyle changes. They also do everything they can to meet the unique needs of their members.
“We had a member who was in a wheelchair, and all he needed was a cane,” Scheinert explained. “We had one for him, and he was able to walk out of the Justa Center on his own. We get to change lives here.”
Justa Center member perspective
“You get treated like a person and that’s because all their workers are very nice and kind to everyone who comes in the door,” Marthe Louis said. “I have a pacemaker, and a Justa Center nurse was attentive. She got on the phone with my doctor’s office when I was in pain. She took the initiative and helped me.”
You can help too!
Justa Center is looking for donations, visit their page for a list of current needs and ways you can help: Current Needs — Justa Center
Want to learn more about them? Check out the video below!