Staff Profile: Dan Lalonde
May 30, 2004
FROM CRISIS MANAGEMENT TO CONVERSATION
As a support worker, Daniel Lalonde has worked with people of all ages, in schools and in group homes. But his work at Centre 507 has been some of the most gratifying of his career.
“I really enjoy working with these people,” Daniel says. “You hear so many different stories and meet so many interesting people.”
Daniel has been a support worker at Centre 507 for three years. That means he does everything from acting as an advocate for people who need help with jobs or welfare, to handing out toiletries or donated clothes, to crisis intervention, and supportive listening. Aside from his regular duties, he has overseen participants in
the snack and cleaning program and fills in as acting manager when Tracy Davidson is away.
Before coming to Centre 507, Daniel worked at the front desk at a downtown shelter.
“When I first started there, it was intimidating. Some people were very rough,” Daniel says. “But I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to deal with different people and situations.”
Daniel likes the mix of day and evening shifts he works, as well as the variety of work in every shift. Along with one or two other staff people, he serves up to 165 people who drop by the Centre per day.
“Half my day is giving people razors and soap, or helping them on the computer, say, to set up an e-mail ccount,” Daniel says. Another good chunk of the day is spent helping participants deal with a whole range of challenges.
“Sometimes even trying to get a health card can be a hassle. It’s tough if you don’t have the skills to figure it all out,” he says. He also helps with crisis intervention, which can involve helping people find immediate medical care or a place to stay.
But sometimes the most important thing he can do for some people is to sit down with them, listen to them, and try to offer some guidance. Still, it can be hard to fit in that valuable one-on-one time. It’s also a challenge to gauge the result of his work.
“You set something up for someone, and then you never see them again, so you never know if things worked out,” he says. “You have to live for the moment, knowing that you have helped someone, even just for five minutes, get what they need.”