Understanding Louisville Through the Eyes of an Outreach Worker

There are countless ways to experience a city — through its charming front porches, vibrant restaurants, or bustling tourist attractions. However, for Angel Sivado, the real essence of Louisville, Ky., is revealed through its homeless camps. She has become intimately familiar with the hidden corners of the city, knowing each overpass where someone seeks refuge on a worn piece of cardboard and every gas station that serves as a temporary shelter with tents tucked away behind dumpsters.

Sivado has honed her ability to recognize the subtle signs that often go unnoticed by others: the clearings in the woods behind a strip mall, abandoned shopping carts that tell stories of lives disrupted, and the thin tendrils of smoke rising from campfires that offer warmth and comfort amidst the chaos.

Every morning at precisely 7:45, Sivado, 51, embarks on her daily mission as an outreach worker for the St. John Center, a dedicated agency providing services to the homeless. She travels from one camp to another, armed with supplies that reflect the needs of those she serves — jerky and Pringles for sustenance, Narcan to combat potential overdoses, and clean socks to offer a sense of dignity. Many of Louisville’s homeless individuals consider her office their home address, forming connections that transcend the typical client-worker relationship.

On a particularly humid afternoon in July, Sivado made a visit to one of her clients, Jessica Miller. Since the beginning of the year, Miller has been diligently working on her application for a housing voucher. However, her current living situation is far from ideal; she resides in a tattered orange tent nestled behind the dumpster of a Thorntons convenience store. Miller’s challenges are compounded by her health struggles — one of her legs was amputated following a severe case of sepsis, and her prosthetic limb was unfortunately stolen by another person experiencing homelessness.

During the daytime, Miller can be found in her wheelchair, holding a rain-weathered cardboard sign that reads: “Homeless, anything helps, thank you.” This poignant message encapsulates the daily struggles and resilience of those living on the fringes of society, highlighting the urgent need for compassion and support.