Workers that help the homeless say they are seeing more psychotic episodes by those seeking help than ever before.
The majority of these situations is unfolding in Old Town. At Blanchet House, they say it's happening almost every day.
So while workers prepare meals inside, Jennifer Coon, a peer support specialist at Blanchet House, prepares for what could happen while people wait for their meal in line.
"Just to talk to some people, it can be very scary because they’re so unstable and so unpredictable," Coon said. "Completely unprovoked, you can get attacked, it happens daily."
As a peer specialist, Coon keeps the peace while helping people get the resources they need. As someone who used to be homeless, Koon says she understands what many of the people Blanchet House serves are going through.
"I have lived experience, and that’s very valuable. It’s not something you can learn in a classroom. I’m able to relate to the folks outside, and we have that unspoken, unconditional bond. I'm one of them, so to speak. I have been homeless, I have eaten out a garbage can, I have been there," she said.
Coon says she uses this understanding and connection to keep herself safe. She says she only calls police if it is an emergency.
"I have that connection with them, that police, when they show up, they have their guns and they are very intimidating. They can escalate a situation, not just with the situation at hand, but everyone in the area as well," Coon said. "You can feel the tension and you can just feel everyone shift. I avoid calling 911. I will if I have to, but that’s my last resort."
Coon is the only peer support specialist at Blanchet House. Executive Director Scott Kerman says not many people want the job, but if they did, Blanchet wouldn't be able to afford to hire a team. The same goes for other organizations, despite knowing how vital the role is.
"Many people have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen. Why? Because kitchen fires happen and you wouldn’t say, I don’t need a fire extinguisher, I’ll just call the fire department if there’s a fire. The fire extinguisher may actually prevent you from having to call the fire department," said Kerman.
Since Blanchet House isn't the only organization with this need, Kerman says organizations could share one team, having it rotate between locations at times when situations tend to break out. At Blanchet House, that's usually during mealtime.
"If I have peer support or mental health support out in the sidewalk, we can intervene before a situation gets out of hand. For instance, if I see certain people coming towards the line, and I have a sense of how they react in certain situations, I’ll grab coffee and a pair of socks and intercept them on the sidewalk before they get to our window," Kerman said. "Now, service at the window is continuing, but this individual is getting her coffee and socks and connection that she really desires."
Despite the need, this plan requires funding that Kerman says organizations like his just don't have. But he is optimistic that they could get the help from the city, county or state one day.
Until then, Coon will continue to keep the peace while Blanchet House serves hot meals to those in need.
"Often times, people just want to be heard and we don’t have enough ears out there, we don’t have enough people out there that are on their side, so to speak," she said.