The Real Life Give-and-Take of NYC’s Homeless Outreach Efforts

The Upper West Side is still draped in darkness as the headlights from a Toyota Rav4 cut through its sleepy roads. Before the sunrise fills the streets with its warm light, two social workers from Goddard Riverside Community Center’s Homeless Outreach Team are patrolling in the car that’s marked with a “Makes Frequent Stops” bumper sticker. Brian Rodriguez, who’s been with Goddard for six years, is at the wheel while Gavin Wilkinson, a three-year team member, is going down the checklist of client names. They start their outreach shift at 6 a.m., leaving from the Uptown office at 965 Columbus Avenue.

“We can hit Broadway, we got somebody at 90th and Broadway,” Wilkinson said, replying to his partner about where to start.