By james art 
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A new program aims to help Baton Rouge’s homeless community by bringing together multiple resources from across the city in one place.
“When you’re in a messy situation, you already, the eyes are already on you. And that can, that can be … hurtful,” said Baton Rouge resident Tamaika Cook.
Cook knows what it’s like to not have a place to call home. In Baton Rouge, more than 400 people are connected to this story, according to the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care.
“We saw a gap that was a need for people who had lost hope,” said Daryl Hurst, EBR Metro advisor.
While the Baton Rouge area has many resources for those in need, finding the right one can be a challenge for those on the street.
Hurst says he wanted to bring everything under one roof with the brand new Community Dish Network.
“So instead of hauling your clothes around or going to get mental health resources across town, we want to make sure there’s one place with multiple places where you can go from where you are to where where you need to be,” Hurst said.
Some organizational partners involved in the program include the Bridge Agency with detox and crisis intervention, mental health counselors with Beat the Street Band, the YMCA with workforce development and day care programs, and CATS Transportation.
“What some organizations have realized is that we are not competing with each other. We all share a common goal of making Baton Rouge the best place to live, work and play, as well as East Baton Rouge Parish, and by coming together we will see more happen in less time.”
Those in need will also have a place to clean with the city’s first shower trailer.
“It’s privacy, privacy, you can take a shower, you know what I’m saying, like it’s a great, great, great idea. I would never have thought of such an idea. And hopefully, I know it’s going to get bigger and bigger,” Cook said.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care, so what you see behind me right now is a $47,000 investment of taxpayer dollars to make sure that people who experience homelessness, have a place to shower, get your dignity back and let us love them,” Hurst said.
“With the help of the program, I have a roof over my head, medical resources, clothing, food and I’m back in the military,” said Zachariah Brown.
Love is exactly what Brown felt when Community Dish Network reached out to him, showing that what may seem like the end of the road is just the beginning of the next chapter.
“I want to thank the team for seeing in me what I didn’t see in myself. If it works for me, it can work for you,” Brown said.
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