Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Stand Down on the Delta to help homeless and at-risk veterans needs volunteers at fairgounds in Antioch Sept. 20-23

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Volunteers assist veterans during the 2017 Stand Down on the Delta. Herald file photo.

By Sandee Wiedemann

The biennial effort known as Stand Down on the Delta to support homeless and at-risk veterans returns to Antioch at the Contra Costa Event Park (fairgrounds) September 20-23. This is a great opportunity for the community to show appreciation for their service to our country and to receive the reward of helping others.

Veterans will be given dental, medical, and counseling services, plus legal and VA claims assistance. They will also receive clothes, haircuts, shaves, meals, and sleeping accommodations. Real estate and banking leaders will be available to help the veterans possibly   purchase a home.

Delta Veterans Group needs the community’s help to provide the most possibilities for our veterans. There are opportunities for professional services in the fields of medical, dental, legal, and more. See volunteer options under categories of general volunteer and/or professional services at https://www.deltaveteransgroup.org/stand-down-on-the-delta. There is a place for every person or service club to make a difference in the lives of our Veterans.

The Contra Costa Event Park is located at 1201 W. 10th Street in Antioch.

Veterans relax on their bunks at Stand Down. Herald file photo.

 

 

Warming center for homeless to open in Richmond Monday, April 15

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West county will be opening its first warming center which will provide a space for unsheltered residents to have a warm space at night. The center will Be located at GRIP – Greater Richmond Interfaith Program.

While it isn’t a permanent solution to the great work that needs to be done to alleviate homelessness, it helps. If you know someone who needs help call 211.

Richmond has also started the Richmond-San Pablo CORE homeless outreach team to provide on the ground services to the unsheltered, including helping people get access to the warming center.

Contra Costa Health Services seeks volunteers for annual homeless count

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WHAT: Contra Costa Health Services’ Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) seeks volunteers for the county’s annual point-in-time count of residents who are experiencing homelessness.

Volunteers will work in groups at designated locations across the county to interview people and collect data.

WHO: Volunteers must be 18 or older. Spanish speakers are especially encouraged to volunteer.

WHEN: Each volunteer must attend a two-hour training during the week of January 21 and work a two- to three-hour shift during the week of January 28. Trainings and shifts are available across the county at a variety of times.

Volunteers are encouraged to wear warm clothing and comfortable footwear to their shifts and be prepared to stand for long periods.

WHY: Data collected during the count help H3 and its partners to improve services for Contra Costa’s homeless population and is used by federal, state and local government to determine funding for homeless services.

Visit cchealth.org/h3 for more information and to volunteer. For questions about volunteering, contact Georgia Lucey at georgia.lucey@cchealth.org or 925-608-6700.

County eyes MicroPAD miniature homes as new tool to reduce homelessness

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A MicroPAD miniature home can be towed to its location. Photos from Panoramic Interests.

Rendering of the interior of a MicroPAD home.

By Daniel Borsuk

Perhaps by this time next year, Contra Costa County officials will be offering MicroPADs as a new alternate form of housing in its repertoire of programs designed to reduce homelessness, a major economic and social issue that is, at least in this East Bay county showing signs of fading away.

The number of homeless individuals in the county declined seven percent from 2016 to 1,607 homeless persons as of Jan. 25, 2017, an annual report stated and accepted by the supervisors on a 3-0 vote at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

Board chair Federal Glover was absent due to a death in the family and Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood was absent because she was recovering from a surgical procedure.

The county’s success in decreasing the number of homeless individuals or families living outdoors or in cars can be credited to the county’s wide array of federal and state funded programs and services worth $15 million last year.  Those services range from emergency shelters, support services only, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, street outreach and preventive programs.

MicroPAD interior view.

Next month the county expects to learn how much money it will receive from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in its newest service designed to further drive down homelessness – the MicroPAD, said Lavonna Martin, Director of Contra Costa County Health, Housing and Homeless Services.

The MicroPAD miniature, stackable home is a relatively new weapon in the fight against homelessness.  It is now in use in San Francisco, a city and county well known for its high cost of housing and homeless population problems.

Each 160-square foot modular prefabricated dwelling unit comes with a furnished bedroom, private bathroom, and kitchenette.  In Contra Costa, in order for a homeless individual to be eligible to occupy a MicroPAD he or she would have to pay 30 percent of their monthly income (i.e. SSI) towards rent, said Martin.

Contra Costa County could have as many as 50 MicroPADs available for eligible homeless persons.

Supervisors wanted to know if a site had been selected to place the MicroPADs, but the county homeless director said that a site has not been selected even though the county and City of Richmond were co-sponsoring a presentation at the same time the Board of Supervisors meeting was in session.  At the Richmond Civic Center presentation, a MicroPAD was on display for the public to see.  A similar MicroPAD presentation was conducted on Wednesday at the Richmond Civic Center.

Another interior view of a MicroPAD miniature home.

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond was slated to appear at Tuesday’s civic center presentation following the board meeting.

“We do not have a site set yet,” Martin told supervisors.  “We’ll be working on that over the next few months.”

“It’s going to be challenging to find the right location,” acknowledged Gioia.  “The homeless will not get off the street if you offer them shelter, but this (i.e. MicroPADs) will get them off the street because it is housing.  The challenge will be finding an appropriate location.”

Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville was also supportive of the MicroPAD concept that the county is pursuing.  “What can we do to effect a positive situation?” she asked.  “I am excited about the MicroPAD program with its small units and the support services that will be available for occupants.”

To view a news report by KRON 4 TV news with video of a MicroPAD home, click here. To learn more about MicroPADs click here.

Supervisors Accept Winter Storm Preparedness Report

During the Tuesday meeting, Supervisors also approved a report that the county is prepared for whatever amount of rainfall this winter season will bring.  The report on Winter Storm Preparedness in Contra Costa County was presented by Tim Jensen of the Public Works Department.

The report highlighted Walnut Creek Intermediate School’s “Stay Out Stay Alive” publicity campaign to warn students and the public about the dangers of Walnut Creek especially when it is full of raging water during a major rain storm.  Two years ago, two persons died when they fell into the rain swollen creek that that bisects the school.

The report also informed the public about the county’s sand bag stations, media outreach, newsletter, and flood control district webpage – http://www.cccounty.us/5906FloodPreparedness

County’s annual homelessness count shows drop in number, shifting population

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Contra Costa’s annual survey to document people experiencing homelessness showed a 7 percent drop overall in 2017 compared to last year, but a substantial rise in Central County, according to a report released by Contra Costa Health Services’ Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3).

H3 and its community partners, including many volunteers, surveyed county residents living in emergency shelters or outdoors on Jan. 25 and released detailed findings this week in the 2017 Point in Time Count report, available at ccheath.org/h3

The report shows that 1,607 people without housing during that 24-hour period were counted, including 911 who were living outside. About 1,100 were documented living outside in 2016.

“We are glad that we found fewer people experiencing homelessness. But there is a great deal more work to be done, and the housing market makes it more difficult,” H3 Director Lavonna Martin said. “It’s not surprising that 80 percent of those we surveyed lost their housing right here in Contra Costa County.”

Substantially more people were counted this year in central Contra Costa – 331 living outdoors without shelter – after an atypically low count in 2016. Numbers did decline elsewhere, including East County, which had experienced a 30 percent increase from 2015 to 2016.

Since the count, H3 and the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness have launched Coordinated Entry, a new initiative to streamline service delivery and enhance collaboration among the county’s network of nonprofit, faith-based and government providers of homeless services.

Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek all joined the effort this spring. Martinez and Pleasant Hill split the cost of a full-time, county-operated outreach team to connect homeless residents within their borders with shelter and services. Concord and Walnut Creek are splitting the cost of a second team, and Contra Costa’s Public Works Department also funds a team for the county’s creeks and waterways.

Those city-specific Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement (CORE) teams join three other CORE teams that operate elsewhere in the county. Other elements of Coordinated Entry include:

• Regional service centers connecting clients to shelter, medical and mental health care, case managers, substance use disorder treatment and services, benefit counselors, and long-term housing;

• Overnight warming centers that supplement existing emergency shelters;

• A universal, web-based information management system used by all providers of homeless services in the county to maximize use of their collective resources;

• A standardized intake and assessment system that streamlines delivery of housing and other services to the most vulnerable clients.

Coordinated Entry is funded in part through $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Contra Costa’s point-in-time count also fulfills a HUD requirement to document the extent of homelessness within jurisdictions receiving its funding.

Visit cchealth.org/h3 to read the 2017 Point-in-Time Count report.

County Board of Education recognizes November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

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At the October 19th Board Meeting, the board approved a resolution to recognize and raise awareness of the issue of youth homelessness.  The goal of the resolution is to highlight the issue of youth homelessness within the county and our schools. Currently, Contra Costa County has over 3,000 children and youth living in homeless situations, as reported by the county school districts, charter schools and the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness. This includes children ages 0-5 and students in grades Kindergarten through 12.

In California, more than 298,000 youth up to the age of 18 experience homelessness each year. During November all students, schools and community members are encouraged to engage in discussions on this topic to raise awareness.

Below are some suggested activities for school sites:

  • Send a flyer home with students or create a display to inform students and families of homeless education rights and resources available at your school and in Contra Costa County.
  • Make a presentation to school teachers, staff and board members to raise awareness of homelessness in your community or school district.
  • Organize a food drive and donate to the local food bank or pantry.
  • Make a donation or volunteer at a local shelter.
  • Participate in Contra Costa Community Donation Day on November 19th.

The Contra Costa County Office of Education (Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program) coordinates the following:

  • Provides technical assistance regarding the proper identification, enrollment, and service needs of homeless students and their families.
  • Conducts professional development trainings for school personnel and community agencies regarding the rights and responsibilities of homeless students.
  • Educates students, parents and guardians on their educational rights, and promotes their participation in school-related activities.
  • Facilitates the school enrollment process to ensure equal access to educational services, free-or-reduced price meals, tutoring or other programs.
  • Assists unaccompanied youth with enrollment procedures, school placement options, and retrieval of records.
  • Provides assistance with transportation, backpacks, school supplies and clothing.
  • Provides medical, dental, and mental health referrals, in addition to other school/community services.
  • Provides assistance to specialized populations of homeless students, including pre-schoolers, homeless teen parents, children with special needs, and unaccompanied youth.

For more information, contact CCCOE’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program at (925) 942-3300.

Supervisor Glover’s office explains challenges with, what occurred in August at Bay Point shelter

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A press release from County Supervisor Federal Glover’s office on Friday, provided the following information regarding the challenges facing and what transpired during an attempted inspection by Glover and other county officials in August, of the Bay Point Homeless Recover Shelter of Love-A-Child Missions.

The clock is ticking for Love-A-Child Ministries, a privately run shelter for women and children in Bay Point.”

“If necessary, the county is prepared to assist in making arrangements for housing” for the women and children currently living at Love-A-Child, said Supervisor Federal Glover.

The shelter’s executive director, Jerome Knott has defaulted on $216,000 loaned to Love-A-Child by the Sacramento-based Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund. The (Contra Costa) county is not a party to this financial transaction. In addition, the privately run shelter owes over $100,000 in back taxes and other debts.

At stake are the 70 beds and the people currently living at the shelter, who through no fault of their own, are in danger of losing their shelter.

After reaching an agreement with Knott for an August 10 inspection, Nehemiah and county officials, including Supervisor Federal Glover, attempted to inspect the facility only to meet resistance from Knott and his staff. Knott was emphatic – at one point shouting at Glover – that he would not allow the visit to continue as planned.

Fearing that the situation could get out of hand, Glover asked that (Sheriff’s) deputies be sent to the facility.

“The officers showed up within minutes,” said David Fraser, the supervisor’s chief of staff, who was among the visitors.

Fraser also pointed out that in order to avoid a confrontation, Nehemiah needed to obtain a court order, which the deputies would then be able to enforce.

The Nehemiah representative agreed to that procedure and the visitors, which included the county’s homeless services director and a Building Code Inspector, left the facility. Nehemiah plans to conduct an inspection of the facilities in October and start the process of foreclosure.

The lender agreed to work with the county so that the people currently living there will not have to seek alternative housing or move their belongings.

Since Love-A-Child has had numerous building code infractions in the past, there is a possibility the current facility might not meet the county’s health and safety standards for a shelter.

“There is a dire need for shelter beds in our county,” said Glover. “We don’t want to see the women and children become homeless because of the poor financial decisions by Love-A-Child’s operators.”

For more information about Love-A-Child Missions and their Bay Point shelter, visit www.loveachildmissions.org.

Homeless outreach services in Contra Costa County begin again, in September

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One day event in October seeks volunteers

Contra Costa will once again have homeless outreach services in the County. Daytime outreach will start in September and consist of two two-person teams, one dedicated to East County and the other to serve Central and West County. Evening outreach will likely begin by early December with one team, and may be enhanced to two teams. All teams will report to a single Coordinator to ensure seamless collaboration and transition between day and night. All teams will receive the same training, utilize the same protocols, and be based on the same model of service delivery.

This new outreach model was the winning design in the State ESG competition, held recently. Day teams and the Coordinator will be County-run, and the night services are presently being sought in the Coordinated Entry RFP which is due in early August. If no other viable candidates are found for evening outreach, the County will likely contract for that function, as well.

Project Homeless Connect will be held at the County Fairgrounds in Antioch on Thursday, October 13th, from 9 am to 3 pm. Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event that provides on-site healthcare, social services and housing resources to persons experiencing homelessness. Community members who would like to learn more about volunteering can register here.