Southern Indiana organization stepping up to help those in need during winter weather
Jesus Cares at Exit 0 tries to connect with and integrate Southern Indiana's homeless community.
Jesus Cares at Exit 0 tries to connect with and integrate Southern Indiana's homeless community.
Jesus Cares at Exit 0 tries to connect with and integrate Southern Indiana's homeless community.
In the wake of a severe snowstorm, a volunteer organization in Southern Indiana is emphasizing the critical importance of outreach to the homeless community.
After a homeless man was found in serious condition, the group Jesus Cares at Exit Zero is ramping up efforts to assist those in need.
At Jeffersonville's West Maple Baptist Church, located just off Maple Street, the organization offers essential services such as food, showers, safe sleeping spaces, ministry and resources to help individuals regain stability.
Paul Stensrud, director of Jesus Cares at Exit Zero, is thinking of Billy Watson, a man found unresponsive near the New Albany Public Library after the storm.
"We actually had a phone call from one of our unhoused friends. Bless his heart. He was the one that found Billy that day," Stensrud said.
Watson is currently in intensive care, suffering from frostbite and hypothermia.
"We do also know that he's got some frostbite as well to the toes," Stensrud said. "This is very common within weather like this."
The organization's trucks are a familiar sight in Southern Indiana, and homeless individuals frequently flag them down for supplies, warmth or air conditioning.
"We know them by name, not by numbers," Stensrud said. "So we get to know who they are and then we provide those basic resources to help them move forward."
Roxie Austin, a volunteer with the organization, shared her personal journey from homelessness to helping others.
"We volunteered and gave our time while we were still homeless, and we still continue to do so even after a year of being in our own home," she said.
Austin's initial reaction to discovering the group mirrors the surprise of many she now helps.
"It's always a look of shock, of surprise. 'I never knew about that.' We didn't know any of the resources when we were out there," she said.
Stensrud hopes for a future where the group is no longer needed, but for now, his focus remains on the community and individuals like Billy Watson, whose dog, Angel, is memorialized on the organization's trucks.
"He's no different than us. He's somebody's uncle. He's somebody's son, you know, and he's somebody's friend, you know? And we just, we pray that things are going to go well. It's just. It's hard," Stensrud said.
In addition to their on-the-ground efforts, Stensrud has developed a mobile app to help individuals find resources for recovery, housing, food and clothing.