Our Work: Spanish speakers

Since Thrive's inception, we knew we wanted to provide bilingual Spanish services. Equity and access are central tenets of our work. It took a couple of years and some growth to make it happen, and in the fall of 2019, our first bilingual Advocates started providing services.

Today, Thrive's team is 12 strong, with 4 bilingual providers (and hiring!). The work we do with Spanish speakers is similar to the work we do with non-Spanish speakers: housing applications, responding to interest letters, understanding the housing process, applying for and understanding health insurance, and connecting folks with basic needs. Applying for housing and health insurance are challenging even when you speak English, so much of our work is translating documents for folks. We then assist them in completing forms and required documents that are usually all in English!

Maya, our Community Outreach Advocate who provides services in Madras and Warm Springs, says, "I try to take time to go through each application and letter and explain what they mean." These processes can be intimidating and sometimes scary, and our Advocates serve as a point of safety in the ever-changing landscape of bureaucracy.

If you're a Spanish speaker and wondering about our services, please know that you don't need to disclose anything to us when you meet with us; we can still provide you with resources and info! We don't have any documentation or identification requirements.

Today, 15% of our clients are Latine/Hispanic, about half of whom work with a bilingual advocate and receive services in Spanish!

Our current drop-in sites with bilingual services are:

• Monday- Warm Springs Housing Authority

• Tuesday- Bend Central Library

• Wednesday - Bend Central Library

• Thursday - Jefferson County Health Department (Madras)

• Thursday - Bend Thrive Office on Forbes Rd.

We also love attending Latine/Hispanic-centered events throughout the year! You can find us at our Thrive table at...

• Día de los Niños

• Feria de la Salud y Bienestar

• Latino Fest