My name is Cyrus Kamini, and I help people experiencing homelessness stay warm in the Lowcountry. Many folks experiencing homelessness are also experiencing Substance Use Disorder (SUD). When you're on the street and you're being met with cold from both being outside and from the people you interact with, it's hard to make the step to pursue recovery. And I'm there to make that step a little easier. Whenever it gets cold, I hit the streets looking for people who could use help. I give them a warm coat, I give them my card, and I give them my number. When they're ready, they call me, and I get them into recovery programs. I've developed relationships across the area with various recovery clinics and nonprofits, helping to fund and provide access to these organizations.

Favor Lowcountry, who you see in the video, is one of those recovery programs doing amazing work. Still, very few people were actually on the street helping people directly. My role, as I see it, is to connect all these different parties into a custom system of care, one that centers the person needing help first and ensures they get all the help they need. Thanks to Favor Lowcountry, to Dr. Jay Myers (a wonderful partner in this work), and to all the many individuals who have donated coats, toys, funds, etc, to help people survive, recover, and thrive.