Last April some of the Socks and Gloves crew got together to talk about directing our homeless outreaches to things that would meet more than temporal needs. (Here's a summary of that meeting)
I'd like to see us revisit what we value and how we get there in homeless outreach. I propose meeting at Temple Coffee House on 9th Street near J St. @ 5:30 PM 8/26/07 (that's right before our August outreach). Anyone available?
For the sake of reference, I've listed our upcoming S&G dates through the end of the year here:
S&G dates
August 26, 2007 @ 7PM (hopefully planning meeting @ 5:30PM)
Sept. 23, 2007 @ 7PM (this will probably be a good time to do the Soup on the Street event we've mentioned)
Oct. 28, 2007 @ 6PM
Nov. 25, 2007 @ 6PM
Dec. 2, 2007 Turkey In the Park (TIP) @ 3PM (- location TBA - how 'bout Freemont Park @ 15th & P Streets?)
Dec. 23, 2007 @ 6 PM
Dec. 25 2007 @ 10 AM TBC (Christmas in the Cold @ Cesar Chaves Plaza 8th & I Streets)
I'm working on some print material to help us publicize the events about to help networking with others for donations and participation.
Longer Range Community Partnership Idea:
I have been meaning to post for a while about a relatively new non-profit organization called Sacramento Self Help Housing. They have a Housing Resources program that provides housing, counseling, and referrals to over 2,000 desperate Sacramento residents each year. They also offer low-cost shared rooms in a Friendship Housing program for single men, women, and women with an infant.
I was approached by the Director of Sacramento's 10 year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness to see if Socks and Gloves might be interested in trying to leverage our networks to help stock up some of the housing units that Sac. Self Help provides. They need help furnishing their Friendship Housing Program ...We could do a drive to solicit donations of dishes, pots, and pans. They really need sheets, bedspreads, and linens. Or, we could take donations of mops, & brooms, or baby toys for the women w/ infants program. Maybe we could take donations of lamps as a theme to "Light the Way to Housing." ... These are just some cheesy first thoughts about something that could have longer range power to get people off the streets and in the accommodations of a homey atmosphere over the long term. Interested? Got any ideas?
Look at this testimony of one chronically homeless Sacramento person who has benefited from their services:
Cheri James has lived in Sacramento since 1983, where she spent nearly 20 years homeless. In early 2007, Cheri moved into a Permanent Supportive Housing program through Sacramento Self Help Housing. Cheri writes...
"I was homeless, living on the streets, sleeping by the river, behind buildings and sometimes not eating for days at a time. After moving into Self Help Housing I have maintained my sobriety and almost completed my Prop 36 Drug Court program successfully. I have been given the opportunity to continue doing positive things with my life. The County Drug Court has made me Client of the Month for outstanding success. I would not have been able to succeed without the support of Self Help Housing. Thank You."
Cheri was 1 of what is estimated to be 4367* chronically homeless Sacramento area residents.
*Taken from the 2007 Sacramento County Street Count statistics.
I want to be a part of helping to reduce that number.
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4 comments:
First off, thank you for taking the initiative to have us meet and for listing out these dates and for putting the soup one on the calendar. I think I am available to meet on 08/26, but I will let you know.
The only kink in meeting plans is 10am on Christmas which seems too early. I think we did 11 or 11:30am last year and that would be easier to pull off for us. But you let us know what works.
I really like the idea of helping to fill the needs for Sacramento Self Help Housing. This could be one very powerful way for the S & G crew to help develop homeless folks. I am in for anything that arises. I do like your initial ideas and I bet that we could get alot of support, especially from people in our workplace, churches, friends, and Craigslist.
What a hopeful testimony. I want to see more and more like that.
Thank Ry. I'd really like to see us partner with Self Help Housing. I get the impression that they might become a potential resource for us to give to people we meet. Maybe we could gather some kind of thematic things for Self Help Housing in the first part of 2008 since there's a lot on our plates from here through the end of the year. Maybe a bedding drive? ... I'll wait to see what thoughts the rest of our S&G crew might have.
I for sure think we should do a drive of some sort for these folks. Im down on whatever S & G community wants to do for them. I think I might be able to get Flood involved with this also. Keep the ideas coming!
mike
Along with these thoughts, having a flyer to give out to our contacts, whether business, church, or friends, will greatly help us partner with this organization. House of Grace, what a great find on your part!!! I think that if we can find out what they truly need, then that may be most relevant. If a bedding drive works, I bet we could raise a ton of support.
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