Faith, Hope, and Charity Inc. Provides Outreach for Vulnerable Populations

No matter the day, rain or shine, Doyle Franklin is always walking.

He walks down the streets and along the riverfront in Corvallis, watching out for people who might be experiencing homelessness or abusing drugs. Out here, Franklin, a certified peer support specialist, wellness specialist and recovery mentor for the nonprofit Faith, Hope and Charity Inc., goes by his nickname, “Pops,” given to him by the teens he’s helped mentor and support over the years.

“All these people I come into contact with, I care about them,” Franklin said. “I don’t look down on anybody. I don’t hate anybody.”

Established in 2017, Faith, Hope, and Charity offers a range of services for vulnerable populations across Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, including emergency shelter, peer support and accessing basic needs like food and medicine.

To reach those in need, Franklin knows he needs to come to them — not the other way around. On a drizzly afternoon last May, he once again took to the streets, passing several familiar faces with a smile and a wave.

“When I’m walking, I’m always looking,” he said. “I never know who might need my help. You’d be surprised how many people want to talk to you.”

‘It Really, Really Helps Us’

Back at the Corvallis office, Frederick J. Edwards, founder of Faith, Hope, and Charity, opened a locked closet to reveal stacks of neatly folded tents, sleeping bags and medical supplies, including Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Everything here was purchased with funding provided by InterCommunity Health Network (IHN-CCO) through the Supporting Health for All Through REinvestment (SHARE) Initiative. That program requires coordinated care organizations in Oregon, like IHN-CCO, to reinvest a portion of their profits back into their communities, strengthening local health equity.

Last year, IHN-CCO awarded a little more than $1 million in SHARE grants, including $138,529 for Faith, Hope, and Charity.

“Anything they can give us, man, it’s so good,” Edwards said. “It really, really helps us.”

Born and raised in New York City, Edwards has long been a champion for community service and social justice. After coming to Oregon, he spent two years working as vice president of the Linn Benton NAACP chapter. He has also served on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, focusing on improvements to the criminal justice system.

Edwards started Faith, Hope, and Charity to rally community support around his mission. Today, the nonprofit has eight employees on staff and brings on another 8-10 volunteers when emergency shelters are activated. They focus particularly on reaching the local BIPOC community, which stands for “Black, Indigenous and people of color,” but Edwards said their doors are open to anyone who needs a helping hand.

“We see people crying, saying thank you,” Edwards said. “They write and tell you. I have cards all over. They’re just so appreciative.”

‘It’s Saving People’s Lives’

Sheila Thompson, outreach coordinator for Faith, Hope, and Charity, said they have succeeded in preventing overdoses and getting people off the street in extreme weather.

“It’s saving people’s lives,” she said.

Beyond saving lives, the organization’s programs have also helped to get people’s lives back on track, Thompson said. They can assist individuals or families with things like signing up for health care and benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In some cases, they can even help them to find jobs or housing.

“We stand with them and support them in any way of growing their lives,” Thompson said.

While Edwards said they are grateful for the community’s support, the need remains great, with housing and mental health resources still sorely lacking.

“We need more,” he said. “More housing, more vehicles, more employees.”

At 63 years old, Franklin said he plans to continue walking the streets until he is no longer physically able.  He said his work with Faith, Hope, and Charity is a calling from God.

“I love what I do,” Franklin said. “People need help. This job is not for the weak-hearted. You see so much, and you hear so much … I’ve made this city my home, and I’m trying to get these streets cleaned up.”

Pictured above: Better known as “Pops,” by the teens he’s mentored, Doyle Franklin is a certified peer support specialist, wellness specialist and recovery mentor for the nonprofit Faith, Hope, and Charity Inc. in Corvallis.