Build trust over repeated interactions

Building trust with unhoused individuals over repeated interactions in a street outreach program is a gradual and sensitive process. Trust is essential for effective engagement and support.

Here's a guide on how to build trust through repeated interactions:

Consistency

Consistency

Active Listening

Active Listening

Respect and Dignity

Respect and Dignity

Non-Judgmental Attitude

Non-Judgmental Attitude

Transparency

Transparency

Consent and Empowerment

Consent and Empowerment

Building Rapport

Building Rapport

Be reliable in delivering promised support and follow-through. If you commit to providing certain resources or assistance, ensure that you fulfill those commitments. Be dependable in your actions and responses.

Be reliable in delivering promised support and follow-through. If you commit to providing certain resources or assistance, ensure that you fulfill those commitments. Be dependable in your actions and responses.

Take the time to understand the unique needs and goals of each person. Conduct individual assessments to identify specific needs. Tailor your support to address their unique circumstances.

Take the time to understand the unique needs and goals of each person. Conduct individual assessments to identify specific needs. Tailor your support to address their unique circumstances.

Demonstrate genuine empathy and compassion in your interactions. Express understanding of or empathy with the challenges they face. Show compassion through both words and actions. Do your best to remain fully present in these interactions.

Demonstrate genuine empathy and compassion in your interactions. Express understanding of or empathy with the challenges they face. Show compassion through both words and actions. Do your best to remain fully present in these interactions.

Be culturally competent and aware of diverse backgrounds. Learn about different cultural norms and sensitivities. Adjust your approach to respect cultural diversity. For example if an individual is from a latin country, they might be hesitant to talk about mental health issues they have. If a person is from China, they might not be comfortable with direct eye contact for an extended period of time.

Be culturally competent and aware of diverse backgrounds. Learn about different cultural norms and sensitivities. Adjust your approach to respect cultural diversity. For example if an individual is from a latin country, they might be hesitant to talk about mental health issues they have. If a person is from China, they might not be comfortable with direct eye contact for an extended period of time.

Understand that building trust takes time, especially in disenfranchised populations. Continue outreach efforts even if trust-building is slow. Demonstrate patience and persistence in your interactions.

Understand that building trust takes time, especially in disenfranchised populations. Continue outreach efforts even if trust-building is slow. Demonstrate patience and persistence in your interactions.

Provide individuals with choices and agency in decision-making. Offer options for available resources and support. Respect their decisions, even if they differ from your recommendations.

Provide individuals with choices and agency in decision-making. Offer options for available resources and support. Respect their decisions, even if they differ from your recommendations.

Acknowledge and celebrate progress, no matter how small. Recognize and praise achievements and positive changes. Reinforce a sense of agency and accomplishment.

Acknowledge and celebrate progress, no matter how small. Recognize and praise achievements and positive changes. Reinforce a sense of agency and accomplishment.

Be adaptable to changing needs and circumstances. Adjust your approach based on the individual's evolving situation. Demonstrate flexibility in responding to their unique challenges.

Be adaptable to changing needs and circumstances. Adjust your approach based on the individual's evolving situation. Demonstrate flexibility in responding to their unique challenges.