Moments of well-being with our patients, whether they live on the street or are housed, often begin with simple gestures: sitting down, sharing a coffee, enjoying a meal. These seemingly ordinary moments are actually essential. They build trust, create space for conversation, and often allow us to see our patients in a new light. In these everyday pauses, some find the confidence to open up and share part of their personal story.
This experience is beautifully captured by Gaëlle, a nurse, in this personal testimony:
“The question of meaning at work resonates deeply with me and has stirred me greatly over the past few years.
During a period when I wasn’t working, I had a realization while walking down the street: in the end, our job is really just that—‘having a coffee with our patients.’ Numbers matter, of course, but they don’t tell the whole story. From the outside, it may seem anecdotal, even insufficient if you focus only on quantitative data.
Yet that’s the heart of it: putting the human being back at the center of our mission. Supporting people, responding to their real needs, is first and foremost about social connection and relationships. Our society suffers from isolation, and having a social network is a true safety net. So yes, having a coffee with someone is essential.
When I rejoined the network recently, I realized how lucky we are, with Housing First, to operate in a framework that allows this kind of approach. Many envy that freedom.
That’s why it’s crucial to keep fighting to preserve this space, because nothing is ever guaranteed.”
Story from Gaëlle, nurse