HelpCopsHelpUs: Dr. Winkler helps homeless with renewed vision

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Dr. Winkler helps homeless with renewed vision

Dep.Donaldson(left),Dr.Winkler(center),David Delpino(right)

She wears a crisp white lab coat and walks at a pace that's hard to follow. It was my first initiation with Dr. Ruth Winkler -- LensCrafters Doctor of Optometry, it reads in blue stitching across her cotton jacket. It's a professionally aesthetic reflection that compliments the esteem that comes with such charismatic generosity I soon found out.

Many months ago, my counterpart in homeless recovery, Deputy Jerry Andrews, stumbled upon Dr. Winkler as a resource for homeless clients in need of eye exams and prescription eye wear. They don't fill out applications, present insurance cards -- or asked for payment of any kind. When accompanied by a homeless recovery officer they simply get the help that is needed.

Late Friday afternoon, homeless client David Delpino became the latest recipient of Dr. Winkler's larger than life goodwill. Surviving in the thickets of homeless existence things take a beating -- much like Delpino's over-sized opticals did in a recent camp site misstep.

"I tried repairing the frame with epoxy glue." Delpino said. "But, it just didn't work."

Delpino has become one of our top notch recovery clients -- having made such a dramatic turnaround -- he has proven to me his motivation is sincere. The Sheriff's Office Homeless Initiative rewards this forward momentum with a clear and convincing hand-up using private sector resources to fill the gaps when public resources are curtailed.

"I have never seen such a gracious staff, they even helped me pick-out a nice frame," Delpino said.

Dr. Winkler snuck-away in between waiting patients to capture the requested snap shot of her latest conclusion of altruism. Before I knew it she was gone again before I could pass off my business card -- as she faded into the distance of the examining rooms her staff whispers compliments about her: "She just great to work for," one employee said.

Deputy Steven Donaldson

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Homeless Initiative

District III Office: (813) 247-0330

Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us

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Welcome to Help Cops Help Us: A Homeless Initiative Blog

The Help Cops Help Us homeless initiative is a new problem-solving model centered on the root causes of homelessness. Its philosophy rests on the fundamental human principle that people, all people, will succumb to the human trait of inevitable behavior until intrigued or compelled to act differently.

The uniformed law enforcement officer is the epicenter of the street engagement model that uses a "coupling" technique, motivating each homeless candidate that becomes accountable to a singular and persistent mortal entity -- a street cop.

The coupling effect is a two-pronged approach where candidates who resist assistance and rehabilitation, by default will receive the law enforcement prong when behavior exhibits a callous disregard with laws and a communities desire in maintaining a certain quality of life.

The homeless candidate receives both direct and indirect assistance after a street assessment evaluates their individual needs and problems. We then solve their most basic problems so they may become self-sufficient.

We mend fences, rebuild character, solve their problems, then push them into the water where they are forced to learn how to swim again.

When they are off the streets and into housing we continue to monitor and follow-up until we are certain they have become self sufficient for long term sustainability.