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Supporting the Unsheltered in Burke County, NC

May 27, 2025 9:46:34 AM / by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC

In this episode of the Healthcare Insights podcast, you will hear the ground level experiences of two wonderful humans working directly with the unsheltered in Burke County, NC. Alice Horton, Director of the Burke United Christian Ministries and Karen Russell, Director of the HOPE Center share their stories of outreach and the importance of meeting people where they are.

Find out what it is like on the street level of care and service. Learn about the ways to connect communities and partner with organizations for a common goal of serving the needs of everyone in the community.

For those working in healthcare—especially in community health, behavioral health, or emergency medicine—this episode is a powerful reminder of the human stories behind the statistics. It challenges listeners to consider how their own practices can be more empathetic and responsive to the needs of the unsheltered.

Whether you’re a nurse, physician, social worker, or public health advocate, this episode provides valuable context for understanding the lived realities of homelessness in rural North Carolina and the grassroots efforts making a difference.

Listen to this episode, subscribe, or browse a list of previous episodes at the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina on SoundCloud.

Click the play button below to listen now. Or search for "Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina" and click on episode 124 wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Tags: mental health, Substance Use, human service, addiction, volunteering, communication, crisis, homeless, unsheltered

Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC

Written by Andrew L. Brewer, MS, NBHWC

Instructional Technologist at Northwest AHEC, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach

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