Railton Place case managers meet needs

BY JOAQUIN GALVAN

At The Salvation Army Railton Place, case managers Desiree Vaesau, Kristine Roth and Georgia Shaw wear many hats.

Whether it's teaching independent living skills, donating clothes, mentoring or taking clients on field trips, assisting those in need makes a significant impact on the lives of individuals served.

Railton Place is a 110-unit, state-of-the-art single room occupancy (SRO) apartment complex in the heart of the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. The case managers assist those who were formerly homeless or at significant risk of becoming homeless, and who have either aged-out of the foster care or probation systems or have a history of chronic chemical depen-

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“It makes me feel good to help others and connect with the community,” said Vaesau. “It also makes me sad to see so many homeless people on the streets.”

In March, on a cold winter day, while many were indoors, Vaesau led the team down Turk Street to provide those in the streets with food. With the additional help of two clients, the team prepared 40 lunches with ham and cheese sandwiches, a bag of chips, a water bottle, a brownie, roses and an inspiration card.

“We prayed that we would be able to serve our community and spread the word of Jesus,” said Roth. “They were all smiling. Everyone was excited to see what was in the bags.”

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